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).

Giandomenico Basso returns to Rali da Madeira and says he is "happy to be back on the island, and I would like to thank everyone who made this participation possible. Of course, I hope to have a good race. We have a good pace from the European Championship, but we know that in Madeira, both the pace and the drivers are always very strong. We will give our all to be competitive and win. Not being forced to get a specific result changes nothing, as I am used to racing under pressure—something that usually only happens at the end of championships. I have great confidence in the car, but I might face the difficulty of not having competed in this event for a few years. However, we are also used to new rallies. We expect a very high pace, but we are ready. I can't wait to catch up with so many people, drivers, friends, fans, and the many rally enthusiasts that the island has." Born in Montebelluna, the 52-year-old Italian made his rally debut in 1994 behind the wheel of an Opel Astra GSi 16V. He was crowned European champion in 2006 and 2009, won the IRC in 2006, and claimed the absolute Italian title in 2007, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2025. Between 1995 and 2010, he raced as an official factory driver for FIAT, a period during which he also won the FIAT Cinquecento trophy in 1998 and the FIAT Punto S1600 trophy in 2003. Since then, he has driven for brands such as Proton, Peugeot, Ford, Hyundai, Skoda, and Toyota. He has won Rali da Madeira on four occasions: in 2006, 2007, and 2009 with a Fiat Punto Abarth S2000, and in 2013 in a Peugeot 207 S2000. He has been at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 since 2025. In 2026, he stands second in the ERC, a championship where he leads the Master competition.

The doctors and nurses who make up Rali da Madeira's safety team participated in a training session this Saturday morning at the Funchal Fire Department facilities, aimed at preparing for the 2026 edition of the event. The workshop, which combined a theoretical component with various practical exercises, had as its main objective to review and improve the rescue procedures to be adopted in case of an accident, reinforcing the coordination between all professionals involved in the medical response during the event. The training focused, in particular, on the specificities of the competition vehicles and the procedures for approaching, stabilizing, and extracting occupants, allowing participants to consolidate knowledge and standardize methods of action in emergency scenarios. Rali da Madeira's medical team will consist of 16 doctors and 16 nurses, strategically distributed along the race route to ensure a quick and effective response in any eventuality. As a new feature for the 2026 edition, the team also includes a psychologist, who will provide psychological support in situations of trauma or critical incidents, reinforcing the human component of the security system. The implementation of this training action reflects the Organising Committee's ongoing commitment to improving its rescue resources and preparing all those involved, maintaining safety as one of the priorities of Rali da Madeira. The Organising Committee also thanks the Funchal Fire Brigade, which once again made its facilities and resources available for this initiative, contributing to the success of the training and strengthening the preparedness of the emergency teams.

Miguel Caires heads to Rali da Madeira with “the desire to continue setting a strong pace and, if possible, occasionally insert our car among the top positions. A huge challenge, considering all the regional, national and international names that will be present at this event. However, it is something that motivates us. I expect a very difficult race, with very long stages, some practically unknown to me, which translates into an immediate disadvantage compared to our competition. But, as I said, we will do everything to bring more excitement to the spectacle. That has always been the goal and I think we have achieved it. Miguel Caires is 44 years old and his rally debut was in 2019 with a Peugeot 208 R2. In the following two years he was at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally4. In 2022 he switched to a Renault Clio Rally4 and won the RC4 class in the Madeira championship. Since then, he has progressed in the RC2 versions of the Skoda Fabia. In 2025, he took the wheel of the current Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, even leading a race and finishing third in the regional championship. In 2026, he was the best in several stages and, having started the season late, is fifth in the championship.

Alexandre Camacho is competing in this year's Rali da Madeira with a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and aims to "try to finish in the top three. I hope to be more competitive than in the last event and maintain that pace. Obviously, we always have our sights set on victory. However, the competition is very strong, and by fighting for the podium, we are right up at the front of the pack. We have made significant strides in that direction, showing improvement, and we will be even stronger. So far, we have been getting to know a new car and getting faster as we clock up the kilometres. It will be a way to repay the trust our sponsors have placed in us." Camacho is 46 years old and made his rally debut in 2001 driving a Toyota Yaris. He won the FIA ​​European Rally Trophy in 2018 and is a seven-time regional champion: in 2008 and 2009 with a Peugeot 207 S2000; in 2015 with a Porsche 997 GT3; in 2017 with a Peugeot 208 T16; in 2018 and 2019 behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia R5; and in 2023 driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. With six victories, he holds the record for the most wins in Rali da Madeira. He competed in 2025 with a Hyundai i20N Rally2, and this year he is driving a car from the Italian team Delta—a vehicle he adapted to during the Ribeira Brava and Calheta rallies.

Tickets for the grandstands at the Cidade do Funchal Super Special Stage – the opening round of the 2026 Rali da Madeira – are now on sale at the Rally office, located at the Funchal Maritime Station, where the event’s Operations Centre is based. As in previous years, grandstands have been set up along the Special Stage route, allowing the public to watch the competition from various strategic points on the course, with excellent visibility and safety conditions. Tickets are priced between €20 and €30, depending on the grandstand chosen. Each ticket specifies the respective grandstand, enabling effective access control and ensuring a more comfortable experience for spectators. The location of all grandstands can be found on the official event map, available at the Rally Office and on the official Madeira Rally channels. Given the usual high demand for the Funchal City Super Special Stage, the Organising Committee recommends that those interested purchase their tickets in advance, as the number of seats is limited.The Funchal City Super Special Stage takes place on Thursday 30th July at 7.30 pm, marking the start of the 67th edition of Rali da Madeira and promising, once again, to provide a unique spectacle for the thousands of fans who follow the event every year.