The Rally of Portugal must remain on the World Cup calendar, at least until 2025, the president of the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) revealed this Tuesday during the presentation of this year’s edition, marked by the return to Figueira da Foz.
“We will sign very soon [o contrato para a continuidade da prova no Campeonato do Mundo (WRC)]for another two years, after this one,” said Carlos Barbosa, for whom “it is almost unthinkable to hold a World Cup without the presence of Portugal as one of the European leagues”.
To maintain this condition, it is important to maintain a focus on environmental sustainability – already recognized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) – and above all on the safety of both competitors and spectators.
“Safety is fundamental to us and that is why we spend the money we spend, because with the slightest carelessness in safety we lose the rally and at the moment there are several European countries that want to participate in the World Cup.” need the public to take notice”, warned Carlos Barbosa.
At the competitive level, the race organizers have no doubts about it. The Portugal Rally benefits from “the best stages in the world” and “a spectacular crowd”, which will make the race, the fifth stage of the 2023 championship, between May 11 and 14, “a great success”.
For Carlos Barbosa, the participation of the drivers demonstrates the virtues of the Rally de Portugal: “On average, the World Cup rallies have around 40 to 45 cars. Last year we had 90 and this year I think we will still get that . number,” noted Carlos Barbosa.
The 56th edition of the race will start on Friday May 12 in the center of the country, with double passages through the sections in Lousã (12.03 km), Góis (19.33 km), Arganil (18 km .72) and Mortágua (18.15), for the debut of the super special in Figueira da Foz.
“Returning to Figueira da Foz is very important, because it was part of the tradition of the old Rally of Portugal. We will also have a new special in Paredes (…) and sections in reverse [sentido inverso]not to let the pilots think that they have already been trained from last year and thus create problems for them,” emphasized the chairman of the ACP.
On Saturday May 13, the rally heads north to the stages in Vieira do Minho (26.61km), Amarante (37.24km), Felgueiras (8.91km) and the super special stage in Lousada, which will decide on Sunday May 14 . after passing Paredes (15 km), Fafe (11.8 km) and Cabeceiras de Basto (22.23 km), for a total of 1,636.25 km, 329.06 timed.
Carlos Barbosa also stressed the importance of the rally for the national and regional economy, to which he contributed 153.7 million euros (ME) last year, an increase of 8.9% compared to the 2019 edition, the last held without the restrictions caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
Source: DN
