Rali da Madeira

MRF tests and develops in Madeira

MRF is in Madeira to test and gather information for the development of future competition tires for two-wheel drive vehicles. A team from the brand, led by Spanish representative Fernando Viadero, participated in a private testing session yesterday with the duo of Vasco D. Silva and Tiago Fernandes, in a Renault Clio Rally4, and will accompany the team throughout the next edition of Rali da Madeira. Madeira's highly abrasive asphalt is very unique, and the technicians want to gather as much information as possible for the future. MRF stands for the Indian Madras Rubber Factory, the world's largest tire manufacturer. Over the past few years, the brand has been developing competition tires and offers products for formula racing, rallies, and karting. In partnership with Skoda, he won the FIA Asia-Pacific Championship title in 2014 with Jan Kopecky in a Fabia S2000 and also won the European Rally Championship in 2022 with Spaniard Efren Llarena in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.

Being in the podium would be nice

Kris Meeke returns, now in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, to Rali da Madeira, a "difficult event. I don't have much experience on the island, especially since I only did one special stage in 2023. Last year we had a problem in the super-special stage, but fortunately we made it to the finish. We only have one year's experience, but let's see what we can do. The car is fantastic for me, and I've loved driving the Toyota this year. We've only done one rally on asphalt, Castelo Branco, and it went well. We're hopeful for a good result, but the Madeira drivers and Campedelli are hard to beat. A podium finish would be a good chance. The race will be difficult, but we'll enjoy it to the fullest." Briton Meeke turned 46 about three weeks ago and made his rally debut in 2000 with a Peugeot 106 GTi. A driver "sponsored" by Colin McRae, he drove S1600s in the JWRC between 2003 and 2006. He returned to the international spotlight in 2009, driving for Peugeot, and driving the 207 S2000 to the IRC title. Between 2015 and 2019, he competed in the WRC representing Citroën and Toyota, winning four rallies. The 2024 national champion, he is currently driving for Toyota and leads the Portuguese Rally Championship after winning in Fafe, Algarve, and Terras d'Aboboreira.

What is the FIA European Rally Trophy?

Rali da Madeira has FIA status as an integral part of the FIA European Rally Trophy, a competition run by the international motorsport federation that underwent several changes in 2023. The number of events was reduced to 19 then and to 13 in 2024. The scoring system was also changed and 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. In 2025, the calendar for this trophy, which aims to act as a bridge between the national championships and the ERC and WRC, includes 15 events. So far, the rallies have been held: Terras d'Aboboreira (Portugal), Cesky Krumlov and Agrotec Petronas (Czech Republic), Chablais (Switzerland), and Zagreb Delta (Croatia). The second two-thirds of the season include the Madeira (Portugal), Rzeszow and Silesia (Poland), Ulster International (United Kingdom), ESOK (Turkey), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Sanremo (Italy), Valais (Switzerland) and Lausitz (Germany) rallies.

Heading towards the victory

José Pedro Fontes returns to Rali da Madeira in a Citroën C3 Rally2. The driver intends, "once again, to fight for the overall victory in the event and also in the national championship. However, I believe that this edition, with an excellent entry list, should be one of the most competitive. In addition to the local drivers, always favourites, we will have several drivers from the Portuguese Rally Championship, as well as foreigners and "world champions" with experience on the track. I always come to Madeira with great motivation because, it's no secret, this is my favourite asphalt event." The Sports & You team boss is 49 years old and has experienced almost every motorsport discipline. He made his rally debut in 1997 with a Seat Ibiza GTi. He has represented brands such as Fiat and Renault and has driven for Citroën since 2015. He was national champion in 2015 and 2016 driving a Citroën DS3 R5. Last year, he also won the FIA Iberian Rally Trophy and, for the only time, Rali da Madeira. His results this year haven't been the best, and he currently sits eighth in the CPR.

Fighting for top spots

João Silva is participating in Rali da Madeira with a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, which he debuted in the previous round. He hopes to "have a good race and fight for the top spots. I'd like to be able to fight for victory again. We're not at our peak because we're still adapting to our new car. We'll see if I can reach the level I was aiming for. This year we'll also be thinking about our championship and we can't go all-in. The rally has a very strong entry list, with many top drivers, and many have the potential to win. We'll have two days of testing, getting to grips with the car and fine-tuning it. Despite that, I'll be the one who knows the car the least from the start." João Silva is 37 years old and took his first steps in rallying in 2007 with a Toyota Yaris. The driver, navigated by Luis Rodrigues, spent many years racing front-wheel drive cars and even participated in the WRC Academy in 2012 with a Ford Fiesta R2. He was the Madeira Junior Champion in 2009 and 2010 and the two-wheel drive champion in 2023 with a Peugeot 208 Rally4. His first overall victory came in 2017 in a Citroën DS3 R5. In 2025, he drove a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, won the Marítimo Rally, and finished second in the regional championship.

Leading the two-wheel drive team

Vasco Diogo Silva returns to Rali da Madeira with the Renault Clio Rally4 and intends to "lead the two-wheel drive team. There will be more than 25 competitors in this highly competitive category. Before the rally, we will test new MRF tires, whose potential we still don't know but which we hope will improve our performance. This is a longer event, and we will strive to be consistent from start to finish. Some of our visiting competitors have been here before and know the roads, so it's normal for us to have many more names in the front group. With uncertain weather, a wrong tire choice will be enough to compromise the result. But it will be the same for everyone; some luck is needed..." Vasco D. Silva is 33 years old and made his rally debut in 2015 with a Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9. The following year, he switched to a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, a model he drove until 2018, the season in which he won the Production category of the Madeiran championship. He then took a break from his career to return last season with his current Renault Clio Rally4, the car with which he won the two-wheel drive category of the local championship.

Third Day of "Rally Talks" to Recall Memories

The third day of "Rally Talks" takes place today at 12 p.m. at Plaza Madeira, with the theme "Growing Up in Rallies... Stories from the Past and Present." Joining Duarte Lagos will be Roberto Fernandes, whose life is tied to competition, and Luís Boiça, who has been involved in motorsports since a young age, having begun his career in karting and currently competes as a co-driver. Join us for these live conversations or through social media, with the live broadcast on Streamadeira. In yesterday's conversation, Paulo Almada, a journalist for RTP Madeira, shared his perspective on rallying from a different perspective: life behind the camera.

Material delivery sets the start of Rali da Madeira 2025

Drivers, co-drivers, and representatives of the teams registered for the 2025 edition of the Rali da Madeira have been passing through the event's Operations Centre since early morning to collect all the materials and documentation required by the regulations. This crucial stage marks the official start of pre-race activities. Documents with essential information, plaques with the number assigned to each team on the entry list, stickers with regulatory advertising, official RM badges, and exclusive merchandising created for this 2025 edition are being distributed. This material delivery operation continues throughout the day and is expected to conclude around 6:00 p.m., restarting tomorrow.

Doctors and nurses training for Rali da Madeira

Rali da Madeira Organisation is conducting training for the doctors and nurses who will support this year's event. This initiative brings together a team of 25 healthcare professionals, focused on reviewing and optimizing first aid procedures. The main goal of the training is to deepen knowledge about assisting victims in the event of an accident, with a special emphasis on the specific characteristics of rally vehicles. These vehicles have specific characteristics that require very specific approaches and rescue techniques, ensuring the safety and effective treatment of drivers and co-drivers. The training will take place at the Funchal Fire Department's facilities, located on Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian, strengthening collaboration between the various entities involved in the Rali da Madeira’s safety.

In today's "Rally Talks," we debate the world Rali da Madeira television broadcasts.

Plaza Madeira hosts the second session of "Rally Talks" today at 6 p.m. on the upper floor. The debate will focus on the behind-the-scenes nature of television broadcasts, with the presentation "What Happens Behind the Cameras in Rally Broadcasts." Paulo Almada, a sports journalist for RTP Madeira, will reveal how the entire complex machinery is orchestrated to ensure that images and commentary reach viewers' homes with the highest quality during the rally. This complex work involves dozens of professionals, spanning dozens of hours of broadcasting. You're invited to watch the talks and get up close to driver João Silva's Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, used in the 2024 season and the beginning of the 2025 season.

Showing We're Stronger

Miguel Caires heads to Rali da Madeira, "a rally with many Rally2 competitors, many competitive competitors, many strong teams, with three to five drivers for the overall victory. This should guarantee plenty of excitement. For us, this will be another opportunity to demonstrate all the development work we've been doing. In the last two races, we've managed to establish a growing pace; in Calheta, we were fighting for victory until the final stage. This pleases us and the many fans of the sport. Our goal is to maintain this consistent record, to show that, with each step, we're a little stronger, and if that happens, it will be an interesting result for us. Our opponents are very strong and eager to win. We won't get involved in that fight; this is a very different race from the Regional, and we have to know how to manage every kilometre we cover, as any mistake could be fatal. We have to keep our feet on the ground." Miguel Caires is 43 years old and made his rally debut in 2019 in a Peugeot 208 R2. For the following two years, he drove a Ford Fiesta Rally4. In 2022, he switched to a Renault Clio Rally4 and won the RC4 class in the Madeiran championship. Since then, he has competed in versions of the Skoda Fabia from the Rally2 group. In 2025, he drove a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, finished third in the regional championship, and led the Calheta Rally for the longest time.

"RALLYE" Exhibition Celebrates the History of Rali da Madeira in Funchal

From July 29th to August 7th , 2025, the Madeira Congress Centre in Funchal will host the "RALLYE" painting exhibition. The exhibition, which coincides with the 2025 edition of Rali da Madeira, pays homage to one of Portugal's most iconic motorsport events and its deep connection to the island's identity. Artist Rill captures the essence of this tradition in his works, focusing on iconic moments of the event. From historic vehicles to vintage photographs, the exhibition transports the audience to the vibrant atmosphere of the rally, including the famous advertising banners that flood the island during the event. The vibrant colours and textures, combined with the use of images and brands associated with the rally, promise an immersive visual experience. With the support of Casino da Madeira and Coral, the "RALLYE" exhibition offers a unique meeting point for lovers of art, motorsports and Madeiran culture, celebrating the symbiosis between the passion for speed and the island's cultural identity.

Better competitive pace

Belgian Joachim Wagemans returns to Rali da Madeira with an Alpine A110 RGT. The driver believes that "this year should be better. I have better competitive pace because I raced in Italy. It was with a Rally4, but it's always about driving. The biggest difference will also be that I now have more experience with a car I wasn't familiar with in 2024, and I hadn't been in action for five years. We also have pace notes, which gave us a lot of work last year. The Rally2s are faster and our cars are the same, so I think it will be very difficult to achieve a result like we did in 2024. Let's hope we don't have any problems and can use our experience to go faster." Wagemans is 30 years old and made his rally debut in 2012 with a Ford Fiesta R2. He used this vehicle until 2014 and the following year switched to a Peugeot 208 R2, the model he drove in his debut at Rali da Madeira in 2017. In the following edition, he returned with a Peugeot 208 T16 R5. It was also in 2018 that he won the TER two-wheel drive cup. He returned to Madeira in 2024 with an Alpine A110 RGT and finished seventh. In 2025, he competed in three rallies in Italy with a Peugeot 208 Rally4 and a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF.

Be consistent

Artur Quintal is taking on Rali da madeira for the first time in a Rally2 car. While he's away from the country, co-driver Vítor Henriques admits that "the first goal is to get to know the car and finish. We want to fight for top spots, but we know we're in what we could call a second row. We've been working hard and will maintain our strategy for the future. We want to close the gap to the front runners, and we're working hard to achieve that. We must be consistent. This rally also offers us the opportunity to see where we stand, with drivers in similar conditions to ours, and to discover our true worth. Fortunately, we have the support of a great team, and we will continue to progress." Quintal is 25 years old and made his rally debut in 2014 in a Toyota Starlet. He kept that car until 2016 and in 2017 drove a Citroën C2 R2. In the following years, he switched to a Peugeot 208 R2 and repeatedly finished top of his class. In 2023 and 2024, he twice finished third in the Madeiran two-wheel drive championship with a Peugeot 208 Rally4. This season, the driver opted for a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo and is fourth in the Madeira Coral rally championship.

97 entries for Rali da Madeira

Dani Sordo will have the number 1 on his Hyundai i20N Rally2 in the 66th edition of the Rali da Madeira, which takes place in a week's time. The Spanish Hyundai driver tops the list of 97 entrants revealed this afternoon by Club Sports da Madeira, the entity responsible for the event since its first edition in 1959. The list revealed today is marked not only by a large number of competitors but also by their high quality, promising a memorable rally. The list made public today includes 24 competitors with Rally2 cars, 7 with RGT and 26 with Rally4, which, under normal conditions, will allow many spectators to watch for about an hour the evolution of teams with the best cars available at this time at the international competitive level. Rali da Madeira will feature international stars as well as drivers competing for the top positions in national and regional championships and those from single-brand competitions that include the event in their calendar. In addition to Sordo, Simone Campedelli and Diego Ruiloba, the two fastest drivers in last year's edition, will be at the start of the event, and, among others, names such as Kris Meeke, Armindo Araújo, Ricardo Teodósio, Miguel Nunes, José Pedro Fontes, João Silva, Rúben Rodrigues, Alexandre Camacho, the record holder for victories in the rally, Miguel Caires, and Rui Jorge Fernandes. These and other competitors will be behind the wheel of all the brands present in this group, Skoda, with several versions of the Fabia Rally2, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Citroën C3 Rally2, Hyundai i20N Rally2 and even a Ford Fiesta R5. Filipe Freitas, Gil Freitas, Joachim Wagemans and Paulo Mendes are references in the low and efficient RGTs made by Porsche and Alpine. Competition within competition, the fight for supremacy among front-wheel drive vehicle users will be fierce. In addition to the drivers who set the pace in this category at both national and regional level, Rali da Madeira will once again feature the main contenders in the Peugeot Rally Cup Iberica and Portugal. The balance between RC4 cars even leads names such as Vasco Silva, Sandro Teixeira, Carlos Ferreira, Henrique Moniz, Ricardo Sousa, Giovanni Fariña and the previous winner of the rally, Adruzilo Lopes, to predict how the various stages of the race will unfold. The event, directed by Filipe Sousa, will also feature drivers in the not-so-current R3T, Nuno Ferreira and João Alix, as well as stars of the show such as Cláudio Nóbrega in a Datsun 1200, Miguel Gouveia in a BMW E36 and Mário Oliveira in a Ford Escort RS Mk II. There are plenty of reasons for the rally-loving locals and the many visitors who come to Madeira at this time of year to be impatient for Rali da Madeira to get underway.

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