Alexandre Camacho number one at departure
The entrants list for the 59th edition of Rali Vinho da Madeira (RVM) was made public. The FPAK team Alexandre Camacho/ Pedro Calado has been handed the number one position. They are Madeira Rally Champions and they won last year’s edition of RVM.
Carlos Vieira, 2017 leader of the Portuguese Championship is absent due to an accident and Armindo Araujo has been given number two, followed by the Italian Giandomenico Basso, four times winner in RVM and TERSERIES leader.
According to the president of the Organizing Committee, José Paulo Fontes, pilots up to number nine position are included in FPAK category and their sorting follows classification obtained both at the Portuguese Rally Championship and at the Madeira/ Coral Rally Championship. Pleased with the “well-adjusted list of entrants”, Fontes added that the number of R5 vehicles is outstanding and thus very promising.
José Paulo Fontes noted that there are only two foreigner pilots but that in the overall this year’s edition of the rally counts with 15 teams from the mainland. Admitting that “the ferryboat connection is vital to both national and international teams “he clarified that teams prepare the racings months ahead and that although efforts were made to bring Canary Island and Spanish teams, negotiations failed. However, and for next year’s edition when Rali Vinho da Madeira will be celebrating its 60th anniversary and Madeira will be commemorating the 600-discovery anniversary and once the ferry boat connection is settled, contacts will be made in time to guarantee the participation of more teams.
He concluded by admitting that “all the efforts have been made to organize this year’s edition with proficiency” explaining that in 2019 in addition to the regular model of the racing, an extra category with renowned cars that were part of the former Volta à Madeira will be included.
