Adruzilo Lopes is back to Rali Vinho da Madeira, “something I always do with great pleasure, as it is no secret that this is my favourite competition in the National Sports calendar. This will be my 18th time here and, due to the fact that I cherish so deeply this competition, I will do everything to reach, at least, 20 times.
This year I obviously can’t aspire, unlike the previous years, to win this race, as this time I do not have a winning racing car. Nevertheless, I will have an interesting vehicle, a Fiat Grande Punto R3D, diesel but with a sequential box and great suspension. Behind the wheel of such car, I will commit myself to try to give the best performance to the many friends and fans I have in the Island. And hope to finish the rally quite happy.
Adruzilo Lopes is 58 years old and started the rallies in 1988 with a Toyota Corolla GT. Then he drove a Mazda 323 4WD and a Citroën AX but it was mostly as part of the Portuguese Peugeot Team that he shone the most. Behind the wheel of models such as 306 Maxi and 206 WRC, he was the National Champion in 1997, 1998 and 2001. He has been active, as he has been driving very different vehicles and he is, in 2021, the current leader of the Rally of the North Championship.