Rali da Madeira

42nd participation of José Camacho

José Camacho will be taking part in Rali da Madeira for the 42nd consecutive time. The Skoda Fabia R5 driver approaches it “as if it were the first time, with the same enthusiasm. We want to give it our all, and to that end we’ve prepared down to the last detail. The Masters Championship hasn’t gone as well for us as it did in 2025, but it’s not easy competing in a first-generation RC2 car against drivers with newer cars, or even against Gil Freitas, whose Alpine is very competitive. We’re aware of the limitations, but we’re going to give it our all. Over all these years, everything has changed – usually for the better – even me… I’ve kept up with all the developments and always stayed up to date. Forty years ago, everything was different. One thing that’s been lost is the friendship; today, everything is very individual and we lack that connection that used to exist between teams and even with other people involved in the sport. The differences are huge, but the costs are also very different. Of course, today’s cars are nothing like the ones I used at the start of my career. They’re much easier…” At the age of 63, José Camacho made his rally debut in 1985 in a Ford Escort RS 2000. He later drove a Peugeot 205 GTi and it was in this model – in its 1.9-litre version – that he became a two-time Madeira rally champion in 1990 and 1991. He has since driven countless models and, although he has not competed regularly in the island championship, he has always lined up at the start of Rali da Madeira – which he will do for the 42nd time this year – and holds the record for the most appearances in the event organised by Club Sports da Madeira. Camacho was regional Masters champion in 2025 and is currently second in that competition in 2026.

Keeping the pressure on our rivals

Armindo Araújo is once again competing Rali da Madeira, “which is always a very challenging event for us. In recent years we’ve managed to set a very fast pace and we’ll be looking to maintain that consistency. We always aim to achieve the best possible result and, following a start to the season where the results weren’t quite what we’d hoped for, we’ll be giving our all and keeping the pressure on our rivals. We really enjoy Rali da Madeira and we’re highly motivated to tackle the island’s roads once again.” Araújo, aged 48, made his rally debut in 2000 in a Renault Clio 1.8 16V. He then switched to a Citroën Saxo and won the one-make trophy the following year. Since then, he has represented brands such as Citroën, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Škoda, and even Mini in the WRC. During his career, he was World Production Champion in 2009 and 2010 and seven-time overall national champion, in 2003, from 2004 to 2006, 2018, 2020 and 2022. In 2023, he began driving the current Skoda Fabia RS Rally2; he finished third in the 2025 CPR and currently sits sixth in this year’s Portuguese Rally Championship.

Winning the RC5 group

André Freitas is setting off for what will be the fourth Rali da Madeira of his short career, with his “main aim being to finish. However, of course we’d like to win the RC5 class and score points in the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy. There’ll be fierce competition in this event, but we’ll try to stay at the front of these classes. It’s a very demanding rally, both technically and physically, due to the large number of Special Stages it comprises. We need to be great physically, and also know how to manage things at times to try and reach the finish line. Our car is very reliable and already incorporates the latest upgrades. It’s very good concerning and shouldn’t cause us any concerns.” Freitas is 28 years old and began his rallying career in 2023, already driving the model he currently competes in, the Renault Clio Rally5. Throughout his four years of competition, he has consistently been in contention for the lead in the RC5 group and, as such, has also been in contention for a podium finish in the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy. With three victories in his group, in 2026 he is the leader of that trophy, which pays tribute to a figure who was a major influence on motor racing in Madeira and across the country.

A reason to be proud

Laura Ferreira is set to be the driver for the only all-female team on the starting grid for the upcoming Rali da Madeira. Her goals are “the same as always: to try to reach the finish line whilst pushing ourselves to do better on each special stage. In a rally with characteristics like this one – longer overall and with longer special stages – simply reaching the finish line is already an achievement. We’re doing our ‘homework’, preparing well, especially for the heat that usually accompanies the event.” The driver says that being the only woman on the starting grid is “a reason to be proud”, but she issues a challenge: “We need more women behind the wheel; we have to attract more women to this sport.” Aged 27, Laura Ferreira took her first steps in motor racing in 2023 with a Toyota Yaris. In that same car, in 2024 she competed in hill climbs and two rallies. In 2025, she competed at the wheel of a Renault Clio Rally5, co-driven by her sister Inês, who, being a minor, had to obtain special authorisation from the Portuguese Motor Racing and Karting Federation to hold a sporting licence. In 2026, she competed in the São Vicente, Ribeira Brava and Calheta rallies and is currently ranked 10th in the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy.

CPR podium

Hugo Lopes returns once again to Rali da Madeira, “the first event I’m competing in again with the Hyundai i20N Rally2, a car I already have some experience with. In 2025, this wasn’t a very easy event with this car, but we now have upgrades that will help us. We already have a good set-up baseline to start with, and that will make things easier. All in all, we’re aiming for a podium finish at the CPR. This is perhaps the tarmac rally I like best and, despite there being new special stages, I’m confident. Let’s see if luck is on our side…”. Lopes is 29 years old and took his first steps in rallying in 2015. Over the years, he has competed in various two-wheel-drive cars and was national junior champion in 2023 and 2024, the year in which he also won the junior competition of the FIA European Rally Trophy and the Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal. In 2025, he represented Hyundai’s official colours in an i20N Rally2, through the Portuguese Automobile and Karting Federation’s Junior Team programme, and won his first rally at senior level in Viseu. In 2026, he is once again representing the Korean brand, but has faced several challenges in achieving consistent results.

Operation centre at the Harbour of Funchal

Rali da Madeira’s operations centre is now set up at the Harbour of Funchal ( Gare Marítima). These premises will be used this year by Club Sports da Madeira to house the secretariat, Clerk of the Course, Stewards of the Meeting, the results room and also the press room, before the latter moves, on rally days to Praça CR7, next to the service park, which will once again be located on Avenida Sá Carneiro. The start and prize-giving ceremonies will once again take place on the podium to be set up in Praça do Povo.

Category podium

Nuno Ferreira is competing Rali da Madeira in a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4, in what he describes as “a season of learning, during which we have been improving and becoming more competitive. In this rally, we want to continue that progress and aim for a podium finish in our class. This is a very special event, which demands a different approach from us, and it won’t be easy. Thanks to the team’s excellent work, both the car and we are ready to rise to the challenge. It’s a rally where the weather conditions can change rapidly, so it could be a bit of a lottery. Let’s hope it’s the same for everyone.” Ferreira is 42 years old and made his rally debut in 2014 in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. He drove that car until 2016 and in 2017 switched to a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. In 2019, he acquired a Renault Clio R3T, which he kept until last year. During that period, he also drove the Ford Escort RS Cosworth on a few occasions. He has contested the podium several times in his class. In 2026, he took the wheel of the car he is driving in this Rali da Madeira, with which he has put in some strong performances. He is currently third in the regional two-wheel-drive championship.

Competing in the second group

Henrique Moniz from the Azores returns to Rali da Madeira, this time in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, and his goals are “the same as for the other rounds of the national championship. We want to develop within our new circumstances. This is a very demanding rally, with an increase in distance, and we want to come away from here stronger. At the moment, we’re competing in the second group of the CPR and have managed to set a strong pace in what has been a learning year. In this event, there are many drivers with RC2 cars, and that could make the competition even more exciting for those of us with older cars. Taking part in this rally will be a dream come true.” Moniz is 42 years old and competed in his first rally in 2006 in a Peugeot 106 S16. In 2009, he switched to a Citroën C2 R2, which he drove until 2013. Later, driving a Citroën DS3 R3T, he was the Azores two-wheel-drive champion in 2014 and 2015. In 2024, he switched to a Peugeot 208 Rally4 and last year chose to leave the neighbouring archipelago; he competed in the CPR and was runner-up in the national two-wheel-drive championship. This year, he has been battling for a place in the top ten and is currently 10th in the overall national championship.

Regaining confidence

Décio Perestrelo is setting off for Rali da Madeira with the aim of “getting back behind the wheel after the crash in Calheta and regaining confidence. We want to make the most of the event’s high media profile and enjoy this legendary rally. The year was going well for us, both in the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy and in the RC5 group, but then the crash happened. I don’t think we’ll be that fast over the first few kilometres; we’ll get a feel for the car again and, later on, think about results. This is also an endurance rally, so we’ll see where we stand as the race progresses. Restoring the car is a process that’s still taking time, and we probably won’t be able to test it beforehand.” Aged 29, the Renault Clio Rally5 driver began his career in 2025 driving this very model. From his debut in Santana, he proved to be one of the fastest drivers in his category, and it was only natural that he finished the year in third place in his class. In 2026, he once again achieved good results and was leading the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy until the Calheta Rally, an event in which he suffered a violent crash that severely damaged his car, forcing a rushed repair ahead of the most important event on the calendar.

Finishing in the top three in the RC4 class

Tiago Nunes, driving a Renault Clio Rally4, is competing Rali da Madeira once again in a year in which “the results are starting to come in and we’ve been making steady progress. I’d really like to finish in the top three amongst the RC4 cars. The weather conditions will be crucial, as I struggled a bit with the heat in Calheta, and the changing weather conditions that are typical of Rali da Madeira put me at a disadvantage because, having been out of competition for a while, I’m not as used to adjusting the car’s set-up whilst on the road. The fact that this year’s event features a revised route might actually help me, as I won’t suffer as much as usual from being unfamiliar with the terrain compared to my rivals.” The driver is 32 years old and began his rallying career in 2015 in a Toyota Yaris. The following year he was absent from competition and returned in 2017 at the wheel of a Citroën C2 R2, a car he kept until 2019 – following another sabbatical in 2018 – and with which he was in contention for a podium finish in his class. This was followed by another break in his career and a comeback at a hill climb in 2025 with his current car. Nunes has been steadily improving his performance and remains one of the favourites in his category in the regional championship.

Making it to the finish line

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.

What is the FIA European Rally Trophy?

Rali da Madeira holds FIA status as an integral part of the FIA European Rally Trophy, a competition organised by the International Automobile Federation which underwent significant changes three years ago. The number of events was reduced at that time to 19; in 2024 it was reduced again to 13; and in 2025 it increased to 15. The points system has also been changed and takes into account, using a coefficient, the number of entries in each category, which means that a competitor with a less competitive car, such as a Rally4, can still challenge for overall victory in the trophy. In 2026, the calendar for this competition – which is intended to act as a bridge between the national championships and the ERC and WRC – will once again feature 15 rounds. So far, the Terras d’Aboboreira (Portugal), Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Chablais (Switzerland), Zagreb Delta (Croatia) and Malopolski (Poland) rallies have been held. The remaining two-thirds of the season comprise the rallies in Madeira (Portugal), Rzeszów (Poland), Rokiskis (Lithuania), Bulgaria, Lazio, Cassino and Sanremo (Italy), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Valais (Switzerland) and 3 Städte and Lausitz (Germany)

Driving the best possible

Artur Quintal is tackling Rali da Madeira for the second time in an RC2 car, determined to “drive as well as possible”. “The group we’re in is very competitive and our car is less competitive than more recent models. Even so, we’ve been doing our best and have even been racing alongside rivals in newer cars. Our results aren’t what we’d hoped for and sometimes we’re a bit disappointed not to have done better. However, at Rali da Madeira there will be many more competitors in this category against whom we can measure ourselves. A place in the top ten would be excellent, but above all we want to enjoy the event and try to improve so that we can then apply what we’ve learnt to an even more competitive car.” Quintal is 36 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 frequently finished among the top places in his class. In 2023 and 2024, he finished third twice in the Madeira two-wheel-drive championship with a Peugeot 208 Rally4. In 2025, the driver switched to a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo and, showing consistency, finished fifth in the Madeira Coral Rally Championship. So far this year, the driver has fluctuated between fourth and sixth place in the rounds already contested and took a podium finish in São Vicente.

Information of Rali da Madeira is available on various platforms

All documentation contained and published in the Official Notice Board and Notice Board for the 67th edition of Rali da Madeira is once again available on the event’s official website, www.ralidamadeira.com, on the event’s social media channels, Facebook and Instagram, and also on the Sportity app. This app is free and available on both the App Store and Google Play. Once the app has been installed on a mobile device, users should join the event’s channel, organised by Club Sports da Madeira, using the password RMADEIRA26. Internally, this system also allows competitors to receive notifications from the Cleck of the Course and the Stewards of the Meeting electronically, with confirmation of receipt.

Poster of Rali da Madeira unveiled

The poster for the next edition of Rali da Madeira – an event organised by Club Sports da Madeira, which in 2026 will take place between 30 July and 1 August – has now been unveiled. The event poster follows the style of previous editions and, designed by sculptor Ricardo Veloza, features a stylised image of the Citroën C3 Rally2 in which the young Spaniard Diego Ruiloba, teaming up with Angel Vela, won the last edition of the rally after a fierce battle with Madeira’s João Silva in a Toyota GR Rally2. The 2026 Rali da Madeira will feature a number of changes compared to recent years, one of which is the relocation of the event’s operational centre to the Funchal Port Maritime Terminal at Pontinha. These facilities will house the secretariat, the race control centre, the panel of stewards and the results room. The service park, as well as the press room, will remain at their previous location on Avenida Sá Carneiro.

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