Rali da Madeira 2025 - Message from the President of the Organising Committee of RM

AND NOW, "Rali da Madeira" A warm welcome to the Autonomous Region of Madeira and to the "Rally Festival," the sporting event with the highest international visibility, which perfectly combines and fulfils the dual goals of promoting Madeira's tourism abroad and boosting its domestic economic activity. The enthusiasm with which successive generations of Madeirans embrace their rally continues and is renewed year after year, compelling the Board of Directors of the Madeira Sports Club to assume a lofty ambition to continue to affirm the history and national and international prestige of the oldest event on the Portuguese Rally Championship calendar. This tremendous and spontaneous connection of an entire region to this sporting event, and the collective and contagious experience among all who attend this sporting spectacle, are more than enough reasons to continue to affirm Madeiran values more broadly, through its rebranding, with vision, strategy, and future positioning. Starting this year, we are "Rali da Madeira." We have adopted the "Madeira Brand" for international projection and positioning, while continuing to promote our traditional products and, particularly, the famous and renowned "Madeira Wine," our institutional partner for over forty years. To demonstrate the prestige and international reputation of the "Rali da Madeira 2025," simply look at the extensive entry list, which surprised everyone. We can see the excellent quality of the competitors. Highlights include several previous winners of Rali Vinho da Madeira, other drivers who are renowned for their speed on asphalt and are familiar with our roads. Joining them are the feared Madeiran drivers and the most highly acclaimed continental drivers, as well as the renowned and world-class FIA driver Dani Sordo, the 2024 Portuguese Championship winner Kris Meeke, and the 2024 RVM winner Diego Rui Loba. There are many reasons to follow "Rali da Madeira 2025" closely along our roads in the various municipalities, or via RTP-Madeira, RTP Internacional, and streaming channels, which will provide coverage and broadcast of all the special qualifying rounds. Competitively, we have no doubt that we will witness a very healthy battle for the top spots in the standings. But there are other reasons for interest, including other "rallies," both in the RGT category and the RC4 class, where drivers from the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica Trophy will be joined by many others in vehicles of the same class. We are convinced that we will have a highly competitive race and many fans watching the caravan of competitors pass along our winding and challenging roads. With such a high number of participants, there's no room for error, carelessness, or oversaturation. Close to the excitement, but far from danger. Affirming the international brand "Rali da Madeira" means having a race that is both safe and environmentally sustainable. And it all depends on the behaviour, civic-mindedness, and attitude of each person. We must have, in each spectator, an element of our safety. We count on all of you! The rally doesn't belong to "Madeira." It's the "Rali da Madeira." For all of us! José Paulo Fontes President of Club Sports da Madeira  

Message from the Clerk of the Course to Rali da Madeira

It is with great pride and a sense of mission that I welcome the Rali da Madeira 2025 edition. This year, for the first time, called Rali da Madeira, the event, steeped in history, passion, and adrenaline, is much more than a sporting competition; it is a celebration of our identity, our hospitality, and our deep connection to motorsports. Since its first edition in 1959, then known as the Tour of the Island of Madeira, this event has established itself as one of the most emblematic motorsports events in Portugal and beyond. Over the decades, also under the name of Rali Vinho da Madeira, we have built a rich history, made of passion, perseverance, and a unique connection between Madeira and motorsports.Today, we continue this legacy, with the same pioneering spirit of those who began this journey, but with our eyes set on the future. Rali da Madeira is, and will continue to be, a celebration of talent, fair competition, excellent organisation and the warm welcome that characterizes our island. At every turn on our roads, filled with natural beauty and technical challenges, we feel the pulse of tradition and innovation that make this rally one of the most iconic on the calendar. We proudly welcome teams, drivers, mechanics, journalists, and fans from various parts of the world, who honour us year after year with their presence and dedication. I want to thank everyone who makes this event possible: the regional authorities, the sponsors, the technical and safety teams, the tireless volunteers, and, of course, our passionate public, who give this event its soul, demonstrating that they know how to enjoy the party, close to the excitement and far from the danger. I wish everyone an excellent, exciting, competitive, and safe rally, and may this event continue to honour its past and inspire future generations. Welcome to the heart of Rallying, which is Madeira. Best regards, José Filipe Sousa

Rali da Madeira hits the road tomorrow!

Tomorrow, July 31st, the 66th edition of Rali da Madeira takes to the road. It has been organised since 1959 by the Club Sports da Madeira and is part of the FIA European Rally Trophy, the Portuguese and Madeiran championships, and the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica. The event, now with Filipe Sousa as the Clerk of the Course, has assembled a high-quality field of 97 entrants, promising excitement, competition, and excitement over three days on the island's roads. With a total distance of 629.07 km, 177.56 of which are selective, this truly celebratory event on the archipelago is divided into two stages and 13 special qualifying rounds. The sports program kicks off tomorrow morning with the Shakedown, an official session in which teams make final adjustments to their vehicles, and, in the late afternoon, the Funchal City Super-Special Stage, which takes place, framed by tens of thousands of spectators, in the downtown area of the host city. The remaining first Special Stage, to be held on Friday, August 1st, includes two stops at Campo de Golfe, Palheiro Ferreiro, and Santana, while the second Special Stage, the following day, includes two stops at the redesigned Ponta do Sol, Calheta, and the iconic Rosário. The starting ceremony will take place tomorrow at 4:00 pm at Praça do Mar, on Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, which will also host the awards ceremony on Saturday, August 2nd, at 6:30 pm. In sporting terms, the battle for the top positions is eagerly awaited by, among others, drivers such as "world champions" Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke, Italian Simone Campedelli, Spaniard Diego Ruiloba, the event's most recent winner, national championship protagonists such as Armindo Araújo, José Pedro Fontes, and Ricardo Teodósio, and Madeiran specialists João Silva, Miguel Nunes, Miguel Caires, and Alexandre Camacho, the record-holder for victories in the race. With a good field and a diverse range of entries in both classes and single-make competitions, the audience will be thrilled to see the best current racing cars and other spectacular models.

The Rally's Special Stages: SS 10/13 – Rosário

Crosses the island on the imaginary line between São Vicente and Ribeira Brava, from Rosário to Serra d'Água, passing through Encumeada. It requires a lot of driving on the climb to Encumeada and then great recklessness on the steep descent to the finish. It is one of the Rally's most popular special stages. Access: With no alternative access roads, it requires timely travel between the start and finish.

The Rally's Special Stages: SS 9/12 - Calheta

Introduced two years ago, this is one of the rally's most demanding Special Stages. Because it features very similar sections, it requires a lot of hard work in reconnaissance with accurate and reliable pace notes. It is also very demanding for the navigators. It begins on the descent from Paúl da Serra to Prazeres, where it turns west, along the ER 222, to Ponta do Pargo. Weather conditions can differ from the day's other Special Stages, and the road is often wet on the first time. The route is very convoluted and fast. Access: By VE 3: Prazeres, Maloeira, Raposeira, access to the Motocross Track and Lombada dos Marinheiros.

How is the FIA European Rally Trophy going?

Intended as a bridge competition between the national championships and the ERC and WRC, the FIA European Rally Trophy includes 15 events on its calendar this year, two more than in 2024. This trophy maintained the points system that takes into account, with a coefficient, the number of entries in each category, which means that a competitor with a less competitive vehicle, such as a Rally4, can compete for the title. This is exactly what happened in the last two seasons, when drivers with two-wheel drive vehicles emerged victorious. The trophy kicked off in early May with the Portuguese Terra d'Aboboreira Rally, won by Kris Meeke in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, a driver who scored as many points as Ricardo Sousa in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. At the end of the same month, the Rallye Cesky Krumlov took place in the Czech Republic, with Jan Kopecky in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 winning, and Filip Ocelka in a Renault Clio Rally4 also achieving the maximum points. On the first weekend of June, Switzerland hosted the Rallye du Chablais, won by Sebastien Loeb driving an Alpine A110 RGT. The most points were collected by Mike Coppens in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Aurelien Devanthery in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. A week later, it was Croatia's turn to see the Zagreb Delta Rally, where the best driver was Manuel Kossler in a Hyundai I20 R5. The winner also achieved top scores, as did Jan Dvorak in an Opel Corsa Rally4 and Marko Fakin in a Renault Clio Rally5. The last rally contested was the Agrotec Petronas Rally, near the end of June in the Czech Republic. The winner was Adam Brezik driving a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, who scored the same 90 points as Filip Ocelka in a Renault Clio Rally4. The trophy is held by German driver Rene Noller, who, driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4, earned points in three events. Rali da Madeira is the sixth event of the year, and the calendar also includes the Rzeszow and Silesia (Poland), Ulster International (United Kingdom), ESOK (Turkey), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Sanremo (Italy), Valais (Switzerland), and Lausitz (Germany) rallies. Classification: 1st Rene Noller, 192; 2nd Filip Ocelka, 180; 3rd Jan Kopecky, 162; 4th Adam Brezik, 135; 5th Erik Cais and Filip Sipos, 129; 7th Filip Mares and Edgar Vigo Lopez, 126; 9th Jan Dvorak, 123; 10th Albert von Thurn und Taxis, 111. 105 drivers have qualified.

41 Drivers in the Shakedown

Forty-one teams signed up for Rali da Madeira Shakedown, which will take place tomorrow, July 31st, between 8:30 and 11:00 am on Estrada dos Cardais, between Água de Pena and Santo da Serra, and ER234. The Shakedown is an official testing session that, even though timed, has no impact on the race's outcome. However, it allows competitors to experience a route properly prepared for the competition and with characteristics similar to those they will encounter in the coming days along the 13 stages that make up the route. With a dedicated Service Park at the Água de Pena Sports Park, it is a perfect opportunity to make final adjustments to the car setup and, in some cases, to better connect with new cars. The list can be found here.

Special Stages of the rally: SS 8/11 – Ponta do Sol

Ponta do Sol is the big new addition to this edition of Rali da Madeira. It's the second-longest timed stage of the event and features a significant elevation gain of 1,360 meters between the start and finish lines. The Special Stage begins just above Madalena do Mar beach and climbs along Torreão Road, through a section with some road hooks, to the ER222. From there, it descends to Ribeira da Madalena and continues to the crossroad with Dr. Tito Cabral Noronha Road. It climbs to Carvalhal, a traditionally crowded area, and from there, the stage resumes its climb to Paúl da Serra. This section is characterized by very fast sections, interspersed with some road hooks and others that require a lot of caution, until reaching the beautiful top of the mountain. Access: From Ponta do Sol: via ER 222 and Est. Eng. Teixeira de Sousa. From Calheta: via ER 222

Sportity provides information of Rali da Madeira

All documentation contained and made available in the Official Bulletin of the 66th edition of Rali da Madeira is once again available on the official event website, www.ralidamadeira.com, and on the Sportity app. This app is free and available on both the App Store and Google Play. Once installed on your mobile device, users must join the event channel organised by the Club Sports da Madeira using the password RMADEIRA25. Internally, this system also allows competitors to receive electronic notifications from the Clerk of the Course and Stewards, confirming receipt.

Rali da Madeira Reinforces Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Environmental concerns are once again a prominent feature of this year's Rali da Madeira, with several innovative measures implemented by the organisers and partner organisations, including the Funchal City Council (CMF), which has been adopting an active solid waste management strategy during the event. Given that Funchal is one of the main hubs of Rali da Madeira, the installation of recycling bins for selective collection of urban waste has been reinforced in key areas such as Avenida do Mar, Avenida Sá Carneiro, Chão da Lagoa, Caminho dos Pretos, and Alameda Engenheiro Rui Alves. These initiatives aim to facilitate the proper disposal of waste generated during the event, especially in areas with higher concentrations of spectators. In addition to concrete measures on the ground, the CMF is also committed to raising environmental awareness, especially among campers staying at the Funchal Ecological Park. The mascot Simão will play an active role in this mission, making his presence felt along the Special Stage Cidade do Funchal route in the moments leading up to the race and also at the official Autograph Session. The municipality will also reinforce urban cleaning operations before and after the Super Special, ensuring that the event's environmental impact is minimized. Club Sports Madeira, organiser of the event, emphasizes its commitment to sustainable practices. Through the Environmental Sustainability Plan, several guidelines and actions were systematized to be implemented before, during, and after the event, with the aim of minimizing environmental impacts and promoting a culture of responsibility among all stakeholders—organisation, teams, sponsors, and the public. Rali da Madeira thus reinforces its vocation not only as a major sporting event, but also as an example of good environmental practices in the region.

Tomorrow there is Scrutineering

Rali da Madeira begins tomorrow with the initial administrative and technical scrutineering. The administrative scrutineering, during which all documents related to the competitors' participation are reviewed, will take place between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM at Praça CR7. Meanwhile, the initial technical scrutineering, the session in which the technical commissioners assess the vehicles' compliance with their homologation form and their roadworthiness, will take place between 5:15 PM and 9:30 PM at Pier 6 in the Port of Funchal. Both the administrative and technical scrutineering sessions are usually attended on-site by many enthusiasts of the sport, who will not only have another opportunity to be close to the drivers and co-drivers who will liven up Madeira's roads over the course of three days, but also to the machines whose sound and speed will be a dream come true.

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