On the first weekend of August, the 67^th 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