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.