Paulo Mendes will be setting off for Rali da Madeira, “as always, aiming to make it to the finish, having fun, and trying to achieve the best possible result. At least better than last year, when the event didn’t go well for us. This year we’ll have different special stages, and that means we’ll have to work even harder. We’ve fitted a specific rally kit to the car and are still fine-tuning some very specific components. I haven’t noticed any major differences yet, but the front end feels much more secure. Let’s hope the weather plays along so we don’t face the perennial problem of tyre choice. For these cars, there are only soft or hard tyres. There are no intermediates…”

Paulo Mendes is 62 years old and competed in his first rally in 2014 with a Porsche 997 GT3. Over the years, he has combined hill climb events with rallies, and is known for his fast performances, which are always underpinned by great consistency. He won the RGT class in the Madeira championship in 2021 and 2023. Two years ago, he made his debut in his current car, the Porsche 992 GT3, becoming the first driver in Europe to use this model in the sport. In 2025, he finished second in his group in the Madeira Championship, and in 2026 he only competed in the Calheta Rally.