In the next Rali Vinho da Madeira, Armindo Araújo’s main goal is the Portuguese Rally Championship. “At this time, I lead the competition and I want to leave Madeira in the leadership. If possible, with the same quite increased. This is a challenging and difficult rally and my performance will be determined according to what my opponents in the Portuguese Rally Championship can do. We always have the goal to try to win the rally, but the management of the championship makes us, sometimes, choose another rhythm. As it happened in previous years, that is our goal.”
Armindo Araújo is 43 years old and is in the rallies since 2000. His debut was behind the wheel of a Citroën Saxo which made him the National Championship of Promotion and won the trophy. Such accomplishments were seen by the French brand that, with a Saxo Kit-Car, made him defend his colours. With such vehicle, was National Champion in 2003 and 2004. After that, he raced with Mitsubishi and became, once more, the National Champion in 2005 and 2006. Then he joined the World Rally Championship and was World Champion of Production in 2008 and 2009. After difficult years with Mini, he had a break in his career and was back to the competition in 2017. He was the National Champion in 2018 with a Hyundai and, in 2020, with a Skoda. He leads at the moment the Portuguese Rally Championship after two victories.