Giandomenico Basso Statement

Following a spinal compression sustained by the driver Giandomenico Basso on landing from the Campo da Choupana jump whilst riding the PEC3 – Palheiro Ferreiro stage, the team did everything possible to keep him in the race, providing physiotherapy and medication throughout the day. Unfortunately, on the first lap at SS 6 Santana, after the tunnel in the parish of Ilha, there is a compression in a fast section which the driver was unable to cope with given his existing injury. Following these events, the driver underwent scans (X-ray and CT scan) at CUF Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fracture of the D4 vertebra. Consequently, not only will the driver be unable to continue in the rally, but he will also be unable to take part in any kind of sport for the next three months. This situation is causing some disappointment amongst the team and the fans, as the real goal – as was evident from the start of the rally – was to win the event. On behalf of the team: Duarte Abreu

João Rodrigues extends his lead in the two-wheel-drive category

Among the competitors driving front-wheel-drive cars, too, the morning of the third day of competition saw the category leader consolidate his lead. João Rodrigues, in a Peugeot 208 Rally4 – the model used by the top five finishers – now holds an 18.5-second lead over Pedro Câmara from the Azores, who sits in second place. The driver who set the fastest time on the special stage most often this Saturday morning was Sandro Teixeira from Madeira, who is currently third in the class. The category’s top five also includes Martim Nunes and Hélder Miranda.

Miguel Nunes strengthen his lead in Rali da Madeira

Miguel Nunes, at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, strengthens his lead in Rali da Madeira – a rally that has been underway since last Thursday – during the fifth and sixth stages. The driver now holds a 36.1-second lead over the rest of the field. Having lost that position at Chão da Lagoa, João Silva and his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 quickly regained second place and also built up a 10.2-second lead over Armindo Araújo, in another Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, who occupies the lowest step on the podium. Miguel Caires, in a car identical to the leader’s, was on the rise and moved up to fourth place by late morning after overtaking Rúben Rodrigues, who, at the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, is in fifth place. There were no further changes to the occupants of the remaining places in the top ten, which also includes Pedro Almeida in another Toyota, Ricardo Teodósio in a Citroën C3 Rally2, Hugo Lopes in a Hyundai i20N Rally2, Pedro Meireles in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Diego Ruiloba in a Citroën. Lagging far behind, Kris Meeke failed to win just one of the timed stages in these sections with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The competitors are now returning to Funchal for another visit to the service park, followed by the final round through Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Pargo and Lameiros. Rali da Madeira concludes today at 7.30 pm with the prize-giving ceremony on the podium at Praça do Povo in Funchal.

Around 28 per cent of the cars in Rali da Madeira run on 100 per cent sustainable petrol

Sustainability is also evident on the special stages of Rali da Madeira. Of the 86 competitors entered for the 2026 edition, 24 Rally2 cars run on 100% sustainable petrol, representing around 28% of all participants – in other words, more than one in every four cars in the rally. Refuelling is provided by Brahma Motorsport, a distributor for ETS Racing Fuels, via a facility set up in the Service Park. The use of this fuel is mandatory for Rally2 cars competing in the Portuguese Rally Championship, reflecting the technological and environmental progress of motorsport. Produced from sustainable raw materials, this fuel has been developed to maintain the high levels of performance, power and reliability required by the competition, whilst contributing to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout its life cycle. The adoption of sustainable fuels is in line with the strategy of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which has been promoting the decarbonisation of motorsport through the introduction of innovative technological solutions, without compromising competitiveness or the spectacle. The presence of 24 Rally2 cars powered by 100% sustainable petrol demonstrates that Rali da Madeira continues to keep pace with international best practice, combining tradition, innovation and environmental responsibility. Because the future of motorsport does not lie in silencing the engines, but in finding ever more sustainable ways to make them roar.

Kris Meeke the fastest Driver

Despite being well down the standings in Rali da Madeira, Kris Meeke was the fastest at Chão da Lagoa, the first special stage of the third day of competition. The Briton, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, had already won the last three special stages of the first leg. Meanwhile, Miguel Nunes and his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 were the second fastest at the restart of the rally, consolidating their lead and extending their advantage over their closest rivals. João Silva, who was second after the first leg, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, set the seventh-fastest time on the special stage and dropped to third place after being overtaken by Armindo Araújo in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The drivers are now separated by 0.6 seconds. Rúben Rodrigues, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, retains fourth place, now with a 5.3-second lead over Miguel Caires in his usual Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The competitors are now heading west across the island to tackle the first of two rounds of special stages at Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Pargo and Lameiros.

Miguel Nunes leads Rali da Madeira (Updated)

Miguel Nunes is leading Rali da Madeira now that the first leg of this event – which counts towards the FIA European Rally Trophy and the Portuguese and Madeiran rally championships – has been completed. The driver, in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, took the lead halfway through the second day of competition and has not relinquished it since. Leading after yesterday’s super-special stage in Funchal, Kris Meeke had a minor collision on today’s first special stage and lost a great deal of time. He returned to the road in his repaired Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, won all the special stages in the fourth section but is now well behind in the standings. Giandomenico Basso spent most of the time at the top of the standings, but the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver eventually retired on the penultimate timed stage of the leg. The Italian took the lead on the day’s first special stage but then felt the physical toll of the ‘landing’ on the Choupana jump during the first pass through Palheiro Ferreiro and also suffered two punctures. João Silva is second in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 23.4 seconds behind the race leader. Having set some very fast times, Armindo Araújo, in another Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, occupies the lowest step of the podium, 25.2 seconds behind the leader. Rúben Rodrigues is fourth, also in a Toyota, 25 seconds off the podium places. Miguel Caires, in a car identical to the leader’s, is fifth, ahead of Ricardo Teodósio in a Citroën C3 Rally2 and Pedro Almeida in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The top ten also includes Hugo Lopes in a Hyundai i20N Rally2, Pedro Meireles in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Diego Ruiloba, winner of the last two editions, who lost a lot of time on the second stage due to gearbox problems in his Citroën C3 Rally2. Rali da Madeira returns to the road tomorrow for the second and final leg, which includes eight special stages, opening with Chão Lagoa and also featuring a double loop through Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Pargo and Lameiros. The prize-giving ceremony will take place at 7.30 pm in Funchal.

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