Simone Campedelli keeps the lead in Rali Vinho da Madeira

Simone Campedelli, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, maintained top spot in the Rali Vinho da Madeira after completing the first round through the Campo de Golfe, Palheiro Ferreiro and Santana special stages. However, the Italian lost some advantage at the end of the Special Stage as he had a touch and a double puncture. Best on the north coast of the island, Spaniard Diego Ruiloba is second, now 6.2 seconds ahead. Increasing his pace on his debut with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Alexandre Camacho ended the morning in third place, tied with Miguel Nunes at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, 6.4 seconds behind the driver ahead of them in the standings. The top five at this stage is completed by José Pedro Fontes, in a Citroën C3 Rally2. The second day of the rally will see another run through the special stages already contested today.

Simone Campedelli isolates himself in the lead of Rali Vinho da Madeira

Simone Campedelli, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, maintained a much stronger pace than the rest of the caravan and won the first pass through Palheiro Ferreiro, the longest special stage of Rali Vinho da Madeira, by 9.8 seconds over Spaniard Diego Ruiloba, in a Citroën C3 Rally2. These two drivers, separated by 15.3 seconds, share the top two positions in the event organised by Club Sports da Madeira. Armindo Araújo, in another Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, drove the second stage of the day in almost the same way as Ruiloba and is in the same position in the rally standings. Close behind are José Pero Fontes, in a Citroën C3 Rally2, and Alexandre Camacho, making his debut in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Second before the timed section, João Silva had a touch, punctured and damaged his Skoda Fabia Ralky2 Evo. The second section of the event also includes the first round through Santana, on the north coast of the island.

Simone Campedelli increases lead in Rali Vinho da Madeira

With good weather conditions, Rali Vinho da Madeira started its second day of competition with the first stage through Campo de Golfe. Leading after the first day, Simone Campedelli started the second leg with a very strong pace and broke the record for the Special Stage. The Italian, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, is leading the race with a lead of 5.3 seconds over João Silva from Madeira who, in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, has "jumped" into second place. The third best time in the Special Stage was achieved by Alexandre Camacho and the Toyota GR Yaris driver is sixth. In third place in the rally, which is on the road until tomorrow afternoon, 3rd August, is Armindo Araújo, in an identical car and 5.4 seconds behind the leader. The top five also includes Spain's Diego Ruiloba and José Pedro Fontes, both in Citroën C3 Rally2s, 5.5 and 6.3 seconds off the front respectively.

José Pedro Fontes' time readjusts classification

The Clerk of the Course of Rali Vinho da Madeira has awarded José Pedro Fontes, at the wheel of a Citroën C3 Rally2, a time of 1.37.4 in Cidade do Funchal, a mark that guarantees the driver second place at this stage of the race. This is justified by the time lost by the winner of this race in 2016 due to the problems experienced by Kris Meeke, the driver who preceded him through the opening timed section. Diego Ruiloba is in fourth place and Miguel Nunes is fifth.  

Kris Meeke's problems mark opening of Rali Vinho da Madeira

Kris Meeke, leader of the Portuguese Rally Championship and one of the favourites to win the Rali Vinho da Madeira, was forced to stop during the opening stage, Cidade do Funchal, due to mechanical problems with the Hyundai Portugal team's i20N Rally2. The team responsible for his participation is currently working to ensure that the Briton can return to the race.

Gonçalo Henriques at the top of the two-wheel drive standings

The race for the lead among two-wheel drive in Rali Vinho da Madeira is very lively, with four drivers in the same second after the event's opening Special Stage. At the top of the standings is Gonçalo Henriques, at the wheel of a Renault Clio Rally4, 0.7 seconds faster than both Hugo Lopes and Miguel Garcia, both in Peugeot 208 Rally4s. Also in a Peugeot, Luis Morais is 0.8 seconds behind the leader. The Madeirans Vasco Silva and Rui Jorge Fernandes are in the next positions, separated by 0.3 seconds. The Madeira Wine Rally is also eligible for the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica. In this mono-brand competition, for drivers with Peugeot 208 Rally4s, first place is shared by Portuguese Hugo Lopes and Spaniard Miguel Garcia. Pedro Silva is third.

Simone Campedelli in the lead of Rali Vinho da Madeira

Simone Campedelli, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, is the first leader of Rali Vinho da Madeira, an event organised by Club Sports da Madeira that is on the road until next Saturday. The Italian covered the 2.18 kilometres of Cidade do Funchal, the opening stage of this event eligible for the FIA ERT and national and regional championships, which saw a huge crowd, in 1.36.8, 0.6 faster than the rest of the 85-team caravan. The second best time was achieved by Armindo Araújo, in a car identical to the leader's, and he was ahead in the standings, at the end of the first day of competition, of Spaniard Diego Ruiloba who, in a Citroën C3 Rally2, was 1.2 seconds behind the leader. In the next positions are Miguel Nunes, from Madeira, in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Ricardo Teodósio, in a Hyundai i20N Rally2, and João Silva. The Special Stage through the centre of the host city was marked by problems with the Hyundai of the national championship leader, Kris Meeke.

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