At the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N5 built by RMC Motorsport, Miguel Carvalho & António Reis made history by becoming the first-ever winners of the Rally Series. After the event, the duo shared what drew their attention and captivated them about the Rally Series format.
“I’ll be competing in all the rounds of the Portugal Rally Series this year. I’ve been following the project and knew it was going to be a sure bet.” Regarding the competitive side, the driver — who also won in the N5 Cup by RMC Motorsport — highlights that this trophy “adds spice to the competition, as there are several N5 cars in Portugal, and the prize money can attract these drivers and increase the competitiveness of the events.”
António Reis, the co-driver, highlighted three innovative pillars of the Rally Series sporting format: “the on-foot reconnaissance of the Arena, similar to super specials, to prevent surface degradation; refueling before the time control, allowing teams to meet liaison section times without exceeding speed limits on open roads; and the new ‘Refresh Zone’ format (which combines regroup and service), ensuring that teams with issues can rejoin the rally in the next section without losing the entire day — a benefit for both competitors and fans.”
Emanuel Moreira, Sporting Director and author of the praised regulations, emphasizes that the Rally Series is an “open and flexible” format. “We’re very pleased with Round #1, but we’re always attentive to feedback from teams, co-drivers, and fans in order to keep evolving.”
The Fibromade Arena was packed with fans throughout the two days of the event, where spectators enjoyed the action surrounded by various activities — such as karting races, rally simulators, food trucks, and the service area.
For André Lavadinho, promoter of the Rally Series, “this ease of access and comfort was key to the event’s success — measured not only by the number of people present but also by the fact that many of them weren’t traditional rally fans and got involved in a rally event for the first time. This confirms that we have a tangible product to offer, and all stakeholders were pleased with the debut.”
On the special stages, both the Arena — which used part of the WRC Rally de Portugal shakedown — and the traditional stage, which included sections of the Paredes stage, were widely praised by drivers for the excellent condition of the surface and the organizers’ effort to ensure ideal competition conditions.
Pedro Silva, an emerging name in Portuguese rallying, highlighted the competitive level as his standout feature and regretted that “more colleagues haven’t joined yet, because as drivers we’re always asking for promotion of rallies, for our partners, and to involve people and families.” He also challenged more national drivers to participate in future rounds.
Manuel Martins, driver of the Toyota GR Yaris RZ returning to competitive driving, summarized the event positively, emphasizing that the Rally Series “addresses some gaps present in Portuguese rallies. Overall, I see a fantastic event concept with real potential to grow.”
Debuts and a new path for the future
The weekend not only marked the debut of the Rally Series but also provided a first rally experience for many drivers. The new accessible format allowed names like João Ribeiro — with a strong background in rallycross — to venture into rallying, even managing to win on his debut. Pedro Gastão and Telmo Garcia, who secured a victory and a podium in their respective classes, were able to step up to more advanced cars (Rally4/5). Meanwhile, Ricardo Rodrigues and André Almeida, two brothers who had always dreamed of rallying, found the Rally Series to be the perfect opportunity to kickstart their careers.
With a successful launch and praise from the community, the Rally Series team is already focused on the next four rounds of 2025, with the next one set to take place in Castelo Branco on April 18–19.
