With a long record and inheritor of the famous 'Tours of the Island', the Madeira Wine Rally holds a top position of prestige and reference among the elite of the International Rallies, being considered one of the most spectacular and competitive Competitions competed on asphalt.
 
We are experiencing times of great movement, also in Competition Motor Sport and both the Management of Club Sports Madeira and all the Organizing Commission of the 2015 Madeira Wine Rally are aware of the economic and financial difficulties of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and of the option taken, by the Regional Government, to lower financial support to Sporting Events  with international notoriety, due to the current economic and budgetary situation and to the state of great uncertainty with regard to the political future of the European Project as we idealize and perceive it.
 
This time of difficulties for some is a time of opportunities for others, who with greater financial resources and with a set stake in the touristic promotion of their Countries and Regions through Motorsport Competitions, are, with their competitions, coming up to the highest ranking of Championships of World and of Europe Rallies, relegating to a second level, the Competitions with a past and a record of success, as in the case of our Madeira Wine Rally.
 
And we know that in order to recover the place to which we have the right in the European Rallies Championship, promoted by Eurosport Events, we need a substantial increase in public financial subsidy attributed to the Event, or alternatively, find one or two Sponsors interested in investing in the brand name 'Madeira' and 'Madeira Wine Rally'. As well as that, it is also fundamental to guarantee that the maritime transportation of the vehicles should be carried out by means of a ship such as a Ferry.
 
Without these two fundamental conditions, it is impossible to dream again of the inclusion of our Rally in the Championship of Europe.
 
And so, the 2015 Edition of the Madeira Wine Rally will continue to count towards the 2015  FIA European Rallies Trophy, which includes another 12 Competitions, together with ex-rallies of the Championship of Europe and of the World, such as Bulgaria, Bosphorus (Turkey), Prince of Asturias (Spain) and the Croatia Rally. Others such as the Mille Miglia, the San Remo, the Canary Islands Rally, opted for, purely and simply, ceasing to be an FIA Competition.
 
However, it is fundamental for the Organizing Commission of the 2015 Madeira Wine Rally to continue to organize this international event under the aegis of the FIA.
 
In spite of all the financial and logistical conditions which we have referred to, the Madeira Wine Rally continues to be the greatest Socio-Sporting Event to take place annually in Madeira and from a touristic perspective that which best promotes the Island and its famous wine.
 
The Competition is always awaited with great anticipation and the weekend of the Rally has become a popular festival, not only for young people but also for the coming together of families and friends so they can make for the roads and hillsides of our Island and watch the drivers and the cars pass by, always with great enthusiasm and social integration between the generations.
 
The Rally is therefore, experienced and embraced by all Madeirans, like no other event organized in Madeira. It mobilizes not only the residents and tourists who visit us during that week, but also all our enormous immigrant community who accompany us in the diaspora with eagerness and a fair amount of emotion through RTP International.
As well as a strong television coverage promoted by RTP-Madeira, which will have live coverage for RTP1 and 2 at national level and the above-mentioned RTP International, which will also broadcast live and recorded to all the countries where it is present.
 
We will also have the Promo G Broadcast with broadcasting rights of the FIA Trophy and which transmits programme and condensed versions of our event in more than 40 countries and on various general and thematic channels, besides all the other Web platforms and promotional videos of the Rally and of Madeira.
 
This sporting event is also fundamental for the progress and development of the Regional economy, as in the past tradition of the 'Tour of the Island', its itinerary passed through all the councils of the Region, empowering and animating all sections of Rural Tourism, as well as restaurant and bar establishments, in the places where the Competition takes place. 
 
Besides external promotion, the event is a strong incentive to the regional economy, being that about 80 percent of the value of financial subsidy is for the payment to companies supplying goods and services to operate in Madeira, including the payment of VAT in relation to those supplies.
 
After the restoration and renovation works on the Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, we are returning to the pattern of beginning the Rally on Thursday, 30 July, with the ever-spectacular Special Stage of the Avenida do Mar, where once again about 30,000 people will be waiting to watch this sporting event which is available to all fans of Motor Sport.
 
At this point, our apologies for the upset caused to the normal road and pedestrian circulation in the centre of the city of Funchal, especially those who are hindered in the access to their residences and places of work, but the images of our sea front, renewed and restored, will be an excellent tourist advertisement and a cause of pride for all of us.
 
For the 2015 edition, counting for the European Rallies Trophy, National Championship and Madeira Rallies, we have adapted the organizational structure, the programme and the itinerary, to the requirements of the FIA, and to the current Regulations of the National Championship and 'Coral' da Madeira Rallies.
 
Due to FIA Regulations and the FPAK Nationals, where, essentially the cars admitted to the competitions have different homologations, we will have three Particular Competition Regulations, one for each Championship; one regulation for the FIA Competition, another for the FPAK National Championship and yet another for the Coral Rallies Championship of Madeira.
 
Therefore, on the road competing in the 2015 Madeira Wine Rally, will be the classic cars and their  FIA homologation, such as the 'Porsche' cars which have brought so much competitiveness to the regional rallies, but which, being unable to count for the FIA Rally, will compete for the Championship of Madeira. We are in talks with the FIA with the aim of minimizing the effects of its regulations, with regard to the participation of these cars, where their starting position, passage through the start and finish podium, are included.
 
The Organizing Commission of the Madeira Wine Rally will do all it can in order that the quality and organizational standards remain high, as well as assuring the presence of one or two foreign competitors, with given guarantees that together with the main national drivers and all the Madeiran drivers, will certainly ensure a fine performance, and a sporting and competitive contest up to the end of the Rally.
 
We thank all the Sponsors and Companies who maintain their financial support even in times of less economic activity and to all those who collaborate with the Organizing Body of the Competition.
Without the commitment and contribution of so many, it would not be possible to have on the roads of our lovely Madeira this year, another Edition of the Madeira Wine Rally, the 56^th Edition of the Tour of Madeira Island.
 
To all participants, competitors, organizers, police and military forces, we renew our grateful thanks.
 
We look forward to meeting all of you, in the last weekend of July, to take part in another great and competitive sporting spectacle. The success of the Competition depends in great part on safety and the attitude and behaviour of each spectator. We are counting on all of you.
 
The Rally does nor belong to the Club Sports Madeira, It belongs to Madeira.
 
We would like to wish everyone a good Rally.