Portugal - 21-24 May 20 - CANCELLED

Event not going ahead in 2020

Posted: May 17, 2020 5:40 AM

2020 WRC VODAFONE RALLY DE PORTUGAL CANCELLED

Posted: April 30, 2020 5:26 AM

As a result of the global situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Vodafone Rally de Portugal will not be organised on its initially scheduled date in May. The Automóvel Club de Portugal made significant efforts to run the event this year at the end of October.

After a joint assessment together with our partners, the various municipalities, national authorities and sponsors, all health and safety conditions needed to run the WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal in a safe way are not achievable given the unpredictable situation that we live in these days, and also the uncertainty of opening the national borders or airspace.

Due to this critical situation, the Automóvel Club de Portugal is forced to cancel the Portuguese round of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship.

The Automóvel Club de Portugal deeply regrets this decision. But it is the responsible decision bearing in mind the thousands of supporters, teams, municipalities, sponsors and all the people involved in the event, that was responsible in 2019 for an economic impact in the national economy of more than 142 million Euros.

ACP has already applied for WRC Rally de Portugal to return to the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship in a May date.

FIA WRC ROUNDS IN PORTUGAL AND ITALY POSTPONED

Posted: March 27, 2020 12:01 PM

Following the extension of a state of emergency in Portugal and similar emergency measures in Italy, extensive discussions were held involving national authorities in both countries, the FIA and WRC Promoter.

With the unanimous agreement of all parties, organisers Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) and Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) requested a postponement of their rallies.

Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round five of the FIA World Rally Championship, was due to take place in Matosinhos on 21 - 24 May. Rally Italia Sardegna, round six, was due to take place in Sardinia on 4 - 7 June.

ACP president Carlos Barbosa said: “We wish to thank all our supporters and partners for their understanding and look forward to welcoming them in Matosinhos at a later stage this year.”

ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani said: “Automobile Club d'Italia, as the federation of Italian motor racing and as Rally Italia Sardegna organiser, has made itself available, with the FIA and with the WRC Promoter, to study a possible new date for an event of great prestige and great historical importance.”

WRC Promoter and FIA continue to closely monitor the situation in affected countries due to host future rounds, as well as the home countries of WRC teams and all competitors.

“All parties will work to identify potential alternative dates for the postponed rallies later in the season should the COVID-19 situation improve, taking into consideration championship logistics, the ability of competitors to travel again and the ability of the country in question to prepare and host the WRC at such a time,” said WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla.

In these challenging and extraordinary days, the entire teams at WRC Promoter and FIA send a strong message of solidarity to all competitors, officials, personnel, volunteers and fans across the globe who are fighting this pandemic together. Please follow medical advice and stay safe and healthy.

Rally Guide / Details / Event Website

Posted: March 5, 2020 7:29 AM

Rally de Portugal