Grupo Desportivo Comercial announces that the 2020 edition of the rally of the Azores, the 55th Azores Rallye, will not take place, being postponed to 2021.
The difficult decision to postpone the rally is due to the lack of human and material resources to ensure that it takes place without the presence of spectators.
This could compromise the safety of the participants and stakeholders in what is the biggest promotion event in the region, as well as the public health of the Azoreans, which we claim from the first hour to be something we would care for without any concessions.
Grupo Desportivo Comercial and Eurosport Events, promoter of the FIA European Rally Championship, are already working to include the Azores Rallye in the sporting calendar of the FIA ??European Rally Championship, the FIA ??ERC, in 2021, according to the agreement that ensures the rally until 2022 in this prestigious international competition.
Grupo Desportivo Comercial deeply regrets the postponement of the rally, sharing the disappointment of its affiliates, the fans of motorsport and the Azoreans in general, certain that they will understand the decision now made.
AZORES RALLYE RESCHEDULED TO 17-19 SEPTEMBER 2020*
Posted: March 13, 2020 4:25 PM
The 55th Azores Rallye has been rescheduled due to the widespread coronavirus outbreak.
Originally scheduled for 26-28 March as the opening round of the 2020 FIA European Rally Championship, the event will now take place from 17-19 September as round six of the season.
To allow drivers and teams to contest both the Azores Rallye and subsequent Cyprus Rally, the Cyprus Rally will from 9-11 October to 16-18 October. Both date changes are subject to FIA validation.
What is an ever-changing and extremely challenging situation has been closely monitored on an ongoing basis over several weeks. Throughout that time the organisers, promoters, governing bodies and government departments involved in the running of the 55th Azores Rallye have engaged in regular dialogue to determine the best course of action in the interests of all stakeholders and the wider community.
While it was hoped that a postponement would not be necessary, increasing health concerns and restriction of movement in certain countries led to a postponement being considered.
Everyone connected with the organisation of the Azores Rallye and promotion of the ERC is aware lives are being lost and the inconvenience and difficulties the postponement will cause. But the decision to postpone is based solely on health and wellbeing considerations, for which there is no compromise.
More details on the rescheduled Azores Rallye will be provided in due course, while the 2020 ERC season is now set to begin on Rally Islas Canarias from 7-9 May.
*Subject to FIA validation
Event Postponed
Posted: March 12, 2020 6:37 PM
The 55th Azores Rallye has been postponed to a later date due to the widespread coronavirus outbreak.
Following an extraordinary meeting of the Council of the Azores Government last night (11 March) and taking into account its recommendation to postpone all events scheduled up until 31 March, Grupo Desportivo Comercial, the rally organiser, was left with no alternative than to postpone the rally from 26-28 March.
A new date has been submitted for FIA approval and will be communicated as quickly as possible.
The thoughts of all those involved in the FIA European Rally Championship and organisation of the 55th Azores Rallye are with those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Promo Video
Posted: March 11, 2020 10:11 AM
Unrivalled Volcano stage to decide ERC Azores Rallye
Posted: March 4, 2020 6:45 AM
The stage that former event winner Craig Breen said is unrivalled in terms of “spectacle” will decide the FIA European Rally Championship season-opening Azores Rallye next month.
Organisers Grupo Desportivo Comercial have confirmed the iconic Sete Cidades volcano stage, which traditionally ran during the middle day of the Azores Rallye, will now serve as the closing test of the spectacular event on the mid-Atlantic Ocean island of São Miguel.
Breen, who won the Azores Rallye in 2015 and returns to the ERC this season in a Team MRF Tyres Hyundai i20 R5, said: “There’s probably no other spectacle in sport like Sete Cidades. To drive a rally car along the ridge of a volcano is an incredible experience.”
In other exciting changes for the 55th edition of the Azores Rallye, which takes place from 26-28 March, the Ponta Delgada-based, all-asphalt City Show switches from a Wednesday evening demonstration event to a competitive stage on the night of Thursday 26 March under a new name, PDL Stage.
Graminhais and the jungle-style Tronqueira on the east side of São Miguel, will form part of the leg one itinerary on Friday 27 March having previously taken place on the final day. And having been used twice in the past, there will be just one not-to-be-missed visit to the quarry-based Grupo Marques superspecial, which gives fans a grandstand view of the action.
Meanwhile, with drivers not due to complete the reconnaissance until the morning of Thursday 26 March under new regulations for 2020 to contain events within a shorter, four-day period, Free Practice and the Qualifying Stage will move back to early afternoon slots.
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most