One of the highlights of edition 56 of Rali Vinho Madeira (RVM) is the comeback of an historical duet of the regional rallies: Rui Conceição and Roberto Fernandes are, together, on the road again.
“I missed it a lot. We are all good friends, we have a good environment in the team and is good to be back”, aknowledged co-driver Roberto Fernandes, who moved to Porto Santo and has been away from motorsports lately.

The last time they were together in the championship was 15 years ago. Many things have changed since then, as driver Rui Conceição reminds: “It is a big difference, the goals were different then. I think we competed with less responsibility and less stress.”

They had good performances they remind with enthusiasm: “We were the best madeirans in 1996 and 1999. We were regional champions overall in toruing and production.”

These last weeks before RVM were used mainly to improve the pace. “I had to adapt to the new stages I had never done in competition, and I am also approaching the pace of the notes”, said Roberto Fernandes.

On the eve of the event, Vespas team had very busy times. “A few weeks ago we had a problem in the car, with damages in the engine, that was replaced only on wednesday morning. Internally, race against time to be ready on time has begun already. We were not used to it any more”, stressed Rui Conceição, speaking to RVM site.

The madeiran duet in take part in RVM with a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The goals are “to do the best and get the best possible result”, and they hope “to be cherished by the public”.

It should be mentioned that this was an unexpected comebac, due to an health problem of the usual co-driver Duarte Coelho, entered at first in RVM with Rui Conceição. “Duarte is fighting another war. We can say he is facing the most important rally of his life”, regretted Roberto Fernandes.