The Portuguese round of the WRC took place last weekend. During the event, the organisers concluded a three-year agreement with the WRC promoter covering the 2026–2028 seasons.
The gravel event in Portugal is one of the championship’s most traditional rallies. It was part of the inaugural WRC calendar in 1973 and has only been absent from the series during the 2002–2006 seasons.
The rally is currently held in the northern part of the country, where the sport enjoys a strong fan base.
“We only need to look around us here [in Fafe, on the Power Stage] to see what an important spectacle this is – sporting, promotional and spectator-wise. This is an important event for us. This is an important step for the WRC and for Portugal,” said WRC Promoter’s Event Director Simon Larkin.
Last weekend’s Rally Portugal received criticism from drivers due to long and exhausting competition days. The reason behind this unusual schedule was the event’s visits to several different towns and municipalities, all of which contribute to the organisational costs.
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of spectators had the chance to witness rally cars on the special stages and liaison sections.
“This is very good news for the organisation and for all the mayors who trust us to bring this fantastic rally to the interior of the country, for the fans and for the economy,” said Carlos Barbosa, president of the Portuguese Automobile Club.
“The confidence of WRC Promoter is also very important, so we are very glad to push for another three years of the rally.”
The next round of the WRC season will be held in Sardinia in two weeks’ time.
