WRC: 2016 Rally de Portugal - Preview

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After its successful move back ‘home’ to the north last year, Rally de Portugal remains based out of Matosinhos, near Porto, for the first of four European gravel rallies in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship. First held in 1967, it is one of the founding events in the series, having been included in the inaugural 1973 championship. As such, it has a legendary reputation, mythical stages and a passionate fan base.

This is the first event of the season where the youngsters in the FIA Junior WRC Championship make their appearance. Eleven crews competing in identical specification DS3 R3-MAXs join the WRC, WRC 2 and WRC 3 competitors, making up a bumper entry of 81 cars in Portugal. For the Juniors in this six round series, competition will be fierce as the prize for the winner at the end of the season is six events in a DS3 R5 in the 2017 FIA WRC 2 Championship.

Four stages will be broadcast live internationally; Thursday’s opening stage, the new Porto street stages on Friday, and both runs through the Fafe stage on Sunday. In addition, both passages of Saturday’s Amarante stage will be broadcast nationally by RTP.

Just one new stage has been added to the itinerary this year; a spectacular 1.85 kilometre street stage in Porto, which is run twice to close the action on Friday evening. Apart from this, just 1.41 kilometres of the Vieira do Minho stage on Sunday is unfamiliar. So, with only 6.52 kilometres new this year, crews will be able to draw on their experience from 2015. 

On Thursday, the action kicks off with the official start close to the medieval castle in Guimarães and then takes in a short super special stage at the Lousada rallycross circuit. Friday the route heads north towards the Spanish border before the longest day, competitively, of the event on Saturday, which takes the contenders to the east for two loops of three stages and 165.28 competitive kilometres. Sunday is the shortest day but takes the crews to the classic Fafe test, one of the iconic stages of the event where thousands of fans watch this rollercoaster stage.

MEDIA ACCREDITATIONThe Accreditation Centre is located at the EXPONOR Feira Internacional do Porto, Av. Dr. António Macedo, 574 – 4454-515 Matosinhos, Portugal. The opening hours are:

RALLY DE PORTUGAL TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLY DE PORTUGAL

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the WRC Stage in the service park at the earliest opportunity during the 45' service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/standings

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/stage-chart-3

World Rally ChampionshipRally de PortugalWRC

SEASON 2016SportRallies1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2016Rally de Portugal00Friday, May 13, 2016 - 3:31pmFriday, May 13, 2016 - 3:31pm

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