Madeira Wine Rally: The festival on asphalt
 
As well as the importance of the competition on the road and of its media-coverage component, the Madeira Wine Rally continues to rouse strong support from the Madeiran population. 

Being an emotive Competition, with a long tradition in the Autonomous Region, it  has become indisputable from the point of view of public interest and of the regional economy, that it should take place annually for all that it represents and energizes, both for the enthusiasts of this sport, and for the people who transform the Race or the Tour of the Island, into a festival on asphalt. 

In this way, the Madeira Wine Rally gains positive notoriety in several components, particularly in popular tradition and tourism. 
Popular tradition because it has become ingrained in local culture. 
Tourism because it attracts visitors and residents to opt for making tourism 'at home', taking advantage of the excellent range of hotel accommodation which Madeira offers. 

On the other hand, it is a great marketing tool for the destination itself and for one of the brand products of the Region, Madeira Wine, taking into account the media coverage, especially televised, of the event. 

I wish all the Participants and the Organizing Body of the Rally the greatest success.

Miguel Albuquerque
 
President of the Government of Madeira