The national rally championship expanded to nine events for 2026, promising excitement through clashes between different generations of drivers: established stars like Armindo Araújo, Ricardo Teodósio, and Pedro Meireles; the increasingly experienced Rúben Rodrigues and Pedro Almeida; and young talents Gonçalo Henriques and Hugo Lopes. The season kicked off in April with the Terras d’Aboboreira Rally. As preparation for the WRC round in Portugal, Japanese driver Takumi Matsushita won the event in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. However, for the purposes of the CPR standings, the victory went to Azorean driver Rúben Rodrigues, driving an identical car. Armindo Araújo finished next—once again in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2—followed by Pedro Almeida in another Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. May saw the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, a WRC event won by Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20N Rally1. Only the event's first leg counted toward the national championship standings. Rúben Rodrigues was once again the top performer, closely followed by Gonçalo Henriques in a Hyundai i20N Rally2 and Pedro Almeida, who again took the final spot on the podium. Late May marked the debut of the Lisbon Rally in the championship. In the year's first tarmac event, victory went to Pedro Almeida, followed just one second later by Rúben Rodrigues. José Pedro Fontes took the final podium spot; after many years representing Citroën, he is competing for Lancia this year in a Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. In mid-June, it was the turn of the Castelo Branco and Vila Velha de Ródão rally, an event that many competitors did not attend due to the obligation to choose between this event and the Lisbon rally to collect points. Victory once again went to Rúben Rodrigues, who shared the podium with João Barros in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Ricardo Sousa in a Citroën C3 Rally2. Rali da Madeira is the fifth event of a season that will continue in September in Chaves with the Água Rally and in October with the Casinos do Algarve and Six Cities/North of Portugal rallies, ending in November with the Vidreiro/Centro de Portugal Rally. Classification: 1st Rúben Rodrigues, 80; 2nd Pedro Almeida, 63; 3rd José Pedro Fontes, 48; 4th  Gonçalo Henriques, 45; 5th Pedro Meireles, 41; 6th Armindo Araújo, 39; 7th Ricardo Teodósio, 39; 8th Diego Martins, 24; 9th João Barros, 22; 10th Henrique Moniz, 14. There are 35 classified competitors.

João Silva heads into Rali da Madeira aiming to be "as competitive as possible. I’m going to focus on being as fast as I can and scoring the maximum number of points for the Madeira championship. If that focus allows me to fight for the win or a podium finish, that would be great. We’d like to be as competitive as we were in 2025, though we’re curious to see how this year plays out given the inevitable evolution of all the competitors. This edition of the rally features new elements and introduces new variables—not to mention the weather conditions awaiting us. Some of the changes may place new demands on certain mechanical components, particularly the brakes; we’re mindful of this, and it will require us to be even more efficient. My only regret is not receiving recognition from the FPAK, which affects my starting position." Silva is 38 years old and began his rallying career in 2007 driving a Toyota Yaris. He spent many years developing his skills in front-wheel-drive cars and even competed in the WRC Academy in 2012 behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2. He was the Madeira Junior champion in 2009 and 2010, and the Two-Wheel Drive champion in 2023 driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4. He secured his first overall victory in 2017 in a Citroën DS3 R5. In 2025, he drove both the Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo and the current Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. That same year, he battled for the overall win at Rali da Madeira right up to the final kilometres. A regional runner-up for the past two years, he has won three of the five rallies held so far this season and currently sits second in the championship standings.

This is one of the changes for 2026. It starts on the ER 203, in Carreiras, and climbs to Nicho and Pedra do Poiso, an area where it turns left onto the ER 103 and descends to Ribeira das Cales. At the South Gate of Chão da Lagoa, it turns and runs through the Funchal Ecological Park, from where it descends to Poiso. There it turns left again onto the ER 103 and descends to Ribeiro Frio. It finishes in Cedro Gordo, near the junction for São Roque do Faial. It mixes very technical sections with very fast ones. The enormous final descent may cause brake fatigue problems. Access: Via Santo da Serra: Nicho (junction of ER 202 with ER 203), Poiso (Caution: Emergency Exit) and Pedra do Poiso. From Funchal: South Gate of Chão da Lagoa (Warning: Emergency Exit).

On the first weekend of August, the 67th edition of Rali da Madeira hits the roads, in an edition that, once again, has all the makings of a success, living up to its historic and popular legacy and which will undoubtedly captivate the people of Madeira, whose passion for the sport is well and truly recognised. With this in mind, and given the large crowds expected on our roads, both in Funchal and throughout the region, I would like to reiterate the importance of civility and safety, so that, together, we can look back on this year’s event as yet another huge success. As Mayor of Funchal, I would like to point out that the local authority supports, as far as possible, the mobility of motorsport, as well as this event in particular, given that one of the stages that attracts the most spectators is, without a doubt, the super-special stage on Avenida do Mar, right in the heart of our city. Our support for Rali da Madeira, formalised through a cooperation agreement with Club Sports Madeira worth 49,000 euros, is intended to cover the logistics of the race and to promote the event. Furthermore, we also support Rali da Madeira by coordinating various municipal services, particularly in the areas of traffic and mobility, in close coordination with the security forces. In addition, within the framework of Municipal Civil Protection, we cooperate with emergency services to ensure a faster and more efficient response to emergencies. It is also worth noting the support provided in the areas of the environment and urban hygiene, with cleaning and waste collection operations before, during and after the drivers’ passage, in order to restore normality to the streets; we have also increased the number of recycling bins and cleaning operations both in the press area, in this event, as well as in the Service Park, and we carried out a strategic increase in the number of recycling bins and waste containers on Avenida do Mar. Still on the subject of the environment, we would highlight the environmental awareness-raising initiatives, particularly at the Funchal Ecological Park, alongside the presence of ‘Simão’, the Funchal City Council’s environmental mascot, at the autograph session with the drivers and at the opening of the first special stage on Avenida do Mar, as well as the ‘Most Sustainable Team Trophy’, which we also sponsor. That said, we would like to emphasise that Funchal is ready for another edition of Rali da Madeira. It is worth noting that the event’s logistics hub has been moved to the Gare Marítima, which frees up the Praça do Município and considerably reduces the impact of the event on the city centre. We would also like to highlight the competence and professionalism of Rali da Madeira organisers, who do everything in their power to ensure the event continues to set an international standard. Finally, a word to all the teams and participants, as well as to everyone who helps organise and promote this event: we wish you all the very best for an excellent rally and express our sincere gratitude for what you contribute to the sport and to raising the profile of the Region and Funchal. Mayor of Funchal Jorge Carvalho

Diego Ruiloba returns to Rali da Madeira in a Citroën C3 Rally2, aiming to "win for the third time in a row. I am very happy to be back with Citroën; it’s a car that has brought me great joy and many victories, and I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel again. We know the local Madeiran drivers will be very fast, as will Basso, and Meeke will be pushing to the limit—it’s going to be flat-out from start to finish. The rally features a new itinerary with special stages that are new to me, and they will certainly be very challenging. Some drivers will already have experience there, whereas we don’t. I want to thank my team and everyone who made it possible for me to be here. I am very proud to once again enjoy such a special event and to defend last year's victory." Born in Asturias, the 25-year-old Spaniard made his debut in 2019 driving a Peugeot 208 1.2. In 2021, he switched to a Suzuki Swift and won the Spanish trophy dedicated to that model. The following year, at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 Rally4, he won the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica. Between 2023 and 2025, he represented Citroën in a C3 Rally2. He secured his first overall victories in 2024, and in 2025, he competed in several WRC events, though he also recorded a few retirements. In 2026, he is racing for Lancia and currently sits third in the Spanish Super Championship. He has won the last two editions of Rali da Madeira.

The only stage of Rali da Madeira held exclusively in the north of the island, it begins on the ER 219 road—just above the turnoff for the village of Ilha—and ends at Estrada das Eiras. It is run almost entirely uphill, with the exception of a few flat, very fast sections. The route includes highly technical areas featuring several hairpin bends. Racing conditions here are often distinct from those found elsewhere on the island. Access points: Via Santana: via Caminho das Queimadas, Estrada Padre Agostinho J. Cardoso, Rua Joaquim S. Branco (Note: Emergency Exit), and Caminho Feiteira do Nuno.

This special stage begins at approximately 2026, about a third of the way along the ER 224, which connects Água de Pena to Santo da Serra, before turning right onto the ER 207 in a sequence of straights and very fast curves until Santo da Serra. From there to Fonte de Santo Antonio, the route is quite winding and narrow. A very fast climb follows the Ribeira de Machico to the Portela "spiral" (spinning top). The timed section continues through a flat and very winding area until Santo da Serra. Access: From Santa Cruz: at the junction of ER 224 with ER 207. From Santo da Serra: at the ER 207 roundabout before Santo da Serra (Caution: Emergency Exit), at the intersection with Est. Fonte de Santo António, via EM Caramanchão in Lombo das Faias or Ribeira de Machico. From Machico: At Fonte de Santo António, in Ribeira de Machico (Caution: Emergency Exit), Portela via Cam. Fajã dos Rolos. From Porto da Cruz: via ER 108 in Portela (Caution: Emergency Exit).