Portugal Rally takes place in May and is part of the World Cup for the 15th consecutive time – Observer
The Portugal Rally will be held between May 11 and 14, 2023, integrated for the 15th consecutive time in the calendar of the world rally championship (WRC), the organization announced this Friday.
Uninterruptedly present at the Worlds since 2008, despite the cancellation in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 56th edition of the Rally de Portugal will be the fifth stage of the 2023 championshipcomposed of 13 rallies, and will open a dirt stage in Europe, after passing through Mexico, also on dirt floors.
Carlos Barbosa, president of the Automóvel Clube de Portugal (ACP), organizer of the race, stated that he is proud that the Rally de Portugal remains on the World Cup calendar in 2023.
Above all, it is recognition of the quality of our organization and the passion of the Portuguese for motor sport and rallies in Portugal, which this year has resulted in an impact of 153 million euros for the national economy. Even more so when this calendar reinforces Portugal’s prominence in the rallies held in Europe”, he said, quoted in a statement.
The calendar starts with the Monte Carlo Rally, between January 19th and 22nd, followed by races in Sweden, Mexico and Croatia, and ends with the Japan Rally, between November 16th and 19th.
The main novelties on the calendar of the World Rally Championship are the return to Chile, which debuted in the World Championship in 2019, and a new tripartite event, the Central Europe Rally (on asphalt), at the end of October, divided between Austria, Czech Republic and Germany.
“We are certain to bring the WRC calendar back to the pre-pandemic scenario, with a good division of events between Europe and the other continents”, said WRC Promoter Director Simon Larkin, expressing satisfaction with “the scope and variety of races of the next calendar”.
The Finn Kalle Rovanperä won the 2022 edition of the Rally de Portugal and ended up becoming world champion, the youngest ever, then aged 22 years and one day.