Only one competitor skipped verifications

Fifty nine were the competitors that were present at the checkup of the 61. st edition of the Rally Vinho da Madeira. Of those enrolled only one competing team, Pedro Nascimento/ Igor Velosa, number 62, did not show up at Praça CR7. Pedro Nascimento would drive a Renault Clio RS. As for this race's tradition, many were the enthusiasts who did not miss the chance to see their idols from up close, as well as to feel the roar of their vehicle's engines. They also did not miss the opportunity to see, from a distance, the open car hood of the competitor's vehicles. 

Verifications going on in Funchal

Initial technical and administrative verifications for the Rally Vinho da Madeira 2020 are currently taking place in Funchal. These are being hosted at Praça CR7 and the Northen pier of the Harbour of Funchal. The number of people who do not wish to miss the chance to see their idols and competition vehicles, from closer than usual, is quite big. 

Tempo instável

The weather forecast for the next few days, predicted by the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), is as follows: Forecast for Friday, the 7. th of August 2020 Sky with periods of high cloudiness, becoming generally cloudy, particularly, from late morning. Some possibility of the occurrence of periods of light rain and drizzle in the afternoon. Weak wind, occasionally moderate (around 20 to 30 km per hour) coming from North quadrant. Forecast for Saturday, the 8.th of August 2020 Sky with periods of heavy cloudiness, becoming generally very cloudy from late morning, and with the possibility of occurrance of periods of light rain and drizzle. Weak to moderate wind (up to 30 km per hour) coming from the North quadrant.  

RTP Madeira and Antena 3 Madeira schedule

RTP Madeira Schedule: Friday, August the 7. th:  9 a.m. to 11.15 p.m. - At the Podium at Av. do Mar, Live from the Golf Court Special Stage  12. 45 a.m. to 1.45 p.m. - Live from the Santana Special Stage  3. 25 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. - Live from Gof Court 2 Special Stage 6. 05 p.m. to 6.57 p.m. - Live from Santana 2 Special Stage 9.50 p.m. to 10. 25 p.m.- Resume of the day  Saturday, the 8. th of August: 11.20 a.m. to 12.20 a.m. - Live from the Ponta do Sol Special Stage 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. - Live from the Rosário Special Stage  3. 35 p.m. to 4.35 p.m. - Llive from the Ponta do Sol 2 Special Stage 5.15 p.m. to 6.57 p.m. - Live from the Rosário 2 Special Stage and the Final Podium.  9. 50 p.m. to 10.50 p.m. - Resume of the day.  Monday, the 10. th of August Special programming on the Rally Vinho da Madeira 2020 from 10.20 p.m. to 11 p.m.  Antena 3 Scheduling: Live continuous coverage throughout the entirety of the competition.   

Statistics and curiosities from the excellent entry list of enrolled participants

A Rally of Champions Besides the four champions in title, Alexandre Camacho, the Madeiran champion, Luís M. Rego, the Azorean champion, Ricardo Teodósio, the Portuguese champion and "Pepe" Lopez, the Spanish champion, at this year's edition of the Rally Vinho da Madeira other five national champions, plus four absolute regional champions will be present.    A tie or a tie breaker? Three are the drivers who have previously won the Rally Vinho da Madeira four times: Américo Nunes, Andrea Aghini and Bruno Magalhães. By having managed three cosecutive wins, these past three years, the current champion, Alexandre Camacho may come to join the group in case he wins this 2020 edition. On the other hand, in case Bruno Magalhães comes out the winner, he will become the absolute record holder of the event. The Lisbon driver, in case he goes on to hold a place at the podium, may also become the first to manage the feat of doing so in nine different editions.    Geographical distribution: Of the 60 enrolled competitors in this edition of the Rally Vinho da Madeira, 21 come from outside the archipelago. If all goes as planned, this edition will count with 39 Madeiran teams, 17 teams from Peninsular Portugal, two Azorean teams, one Spanish driver and one Portuguese competitor residing abroad.    Excellent cars: In the entry list of enrolled participants in this edition, there are  22 RC2 vehicles (18 R5, 1VR4K and a 3 NR4), two RGT, five RC3, ten RC4, one RC5, one P3 (WRC), seven X2, three P2 and eight P1.  

1.502 people take the Rally on to the roads

More than 1.500 people are involved in the organization and construction of the Rally Vinho da Madeira. From the elements of the Organizing Committee, who began the conception and planning of the event, to the Road Commissioners, passing through the secretariat, assembly teams, media, controls, security personnel and those responsible for the results, all together the directly involved collaborators number almost 600. As for competitors and their assistance teams, the number is of over 400 people, while around 200 will be working for TV stations, radios and other media. The security forces account for almost two hundred people, while civil protection elements, such as first-aid suppliers, physicians and nurses account for a group of almost one hundred people.  

Rally Vinho da Madeira will hit the road tomorrow

It is already tomorrow, August the 7. th, that the 61. st edition of the Rally Vinho da Madeira hits the roads. The race, organized by the Club Sports of Madeira and directed by Pedro Melvill Araújo, is, this year, shortened, with sixteen Special Stages divided into equal numbers amongst the two days of the competition. This reduction of this year's event route came up as a result of the necessity to reajust the competition to the economic consequences brought upon by the pandemic. It also functions as to avoid places that, traditionally, are places of large gatherings, facilitating this way the enforcement of the sanitary and distancing rules.  Sports-wise, the Organizing Committee, presided by Paulo Fontes, managed to pull together a list of 60 enrolled competitors, from which four current title holders, Madeira, the Azores, Portugal and Spain, as well as names that usually compete nationally, regionally and both at the absolute level and in specific groups. The multi-time winners of the race Bruno Magalhães (Hyundai i20 R5), Alexandre Camacho and José Fontes (Citroën C3 R5) will try to conquer another victory, one which, in normal conditions, might also fall on the shoulders of the Madeirans Miguel Nunes and Pedro Paixão (Skoda Fabia R5) or the Spanish José Maria "Pepe" Lopez (Citroën C3 R5). Thinking about conquering the biggest sum of points possible for the Portuguese Rally Championship, the current title holder, Ricardo Teodósio (Skoda Fabia R5 Evo) and Armindo Araújo, in an identical vehicle, or even the Madeiran Rui Pinto (Ford Focus RS WRC), will also try to get a top standing. The superior quality of those enrolled also allows for the anticipation of an animated fight for the second spot, both at general standings as well as at groups and classes. The First Leg of the Rally Vinho da Madeira establishes a double passage by the Special Stages of the Golf Court, Palheiro Ferreiro, Boaventura and Santana City, in a competitive total of 80, 38 kilometers.   

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