The return of rallying to Ponte de Lima and the debut on asphalt
Ponte de Lima hosts the third round of the Portugal Rally Series, the new rally format designed to be more dynamic and accessible, with a full weekend program of sports and entertainment on July 12–13. This stage marks the series’ debut on asphalt, adding a new challenge for the competitors.
The course includes the passage through an iconic special stage of the region — Cerquido, which will be run three times on Sunday along with the Arena stage — featuring, for the first time, an urban layout as the heart of the entire event, combining action, comfort, and entertainment within the official FanZone.
Public activities in the town center
Festivities kick off on Saturday, July 12, at 12:30 with the opening of the FanZone at Expolima. Throughout the afternoon, fans will be able to see all the competition cars up close, take part in the autograph session, and enjoy the DJ Sunset Party that will close the day.
Between 14:30 and 15:00, the cars will take part in a special parade across the Roman and Medieval Bridge, offering a unique opportunity for the public to watch and interact with the drivers and their machines. The shakedown and co-drive sessions will take place from 15:30 to 19:00 at the Arena Expolima, providing an exciting show for the most dedicated fans.
VIP Experience: new exclusive offer for partners
For the first time, the promoter of the Portugal Rally Series is offering a VIP Experience for partners and brands. This experience will include privileged access to the event and close-up viewing of the action, access to the VIP lounge and networking area, among other benefits — all designed to strengthen the connection between sponsors, partners, and sporting projects. Further details will be announced soon.
It’s worth noting that, for now, this is an exclusive package available only to partners and brands. Portugal Rally Series events remain free to attend for the general public.
Sunday of competition with seven timed special stages
On Sunday, July 13, the competition begins at 10:13 at Arena Expolima and features seven timed special stages, alternating between the Arena and the external stage, with service breaks and a refresh zone — an innovative Rally Series concept designed to reduce retirements and keep drivers in the race. The day concludes with the podium ceremony at 18:15, also in the Expolima FanZone.
Emanuel Moreira, Sporting Director of the Portugal Rally Series, explains:
“With the arrival of the Rally Series in Ponte de Lima, we mark the debut of our trophy on asphalt, which has generated great interest among drivers — especially those who didn’t have gravel-spec cars for the first two rounds. For that reason, we’ve increased the maximum number of participants from 40 to 50. The debut of the urban-style Arena layout, different from the closed-circuit format of previous rounds, is expected to attract a large number of spectators. In addition, we’ve allowed three reconnaissance runs per driver on the stage instead of the usual two, since surface degradation isn’t a concern on asphalt. There will be three passes on the external stage and four on the Arena, ensuring between 30 and 40 kilometers of special stages — consistent with the average across Rally Series events.”
AMF Mobilidade & KGM as main partner in Ponte de Lima. Monster Energy and Castrol join as new sponsors of the Rally Series.
Joining AMF Mobilidade & KGM, which will appear as the main sponsor of Round #3 of the Portugal Rally Series, Monster Energy, Brand Store, and others have also reaffirmed their commitment to motorsport and to promoting events that combine excitement, safety, and fan-focused entertainment.
Castrol has also reaffirmed its support for motorsport, once again hosting its space in the FanZone — already home to the rally simulators — and now adding a competitive section to the Ponte de Lima event layout with the “360 by Castrol,” a show area where competitors will perform a spin to entertain the crowd during the special stages.
André Lavadinho, promoter of the Portugal Rally Series, added that “We’re very excited about returning to Ponte de Lima, a historic stage for rallying in Portugal. We expect to welcome a large audience who, besides watching the competition, will be able to enjoy the many activities prepared for all ages. The atmosphere will be one of celebration and motorsport festivity, filled with fun, adrenaline, and memory-making moments. The presence of our sponsors helps reinforce the message of responsible fun at an event designed to deliver strong emotions while remaining family-friendly and inclusive.”
“We expect a memorable event for everyone involved, made possible only through the support of our partners who joined us for this round, and the Municipality of Ponte de Lima, which mobilized early on and prepared all the logistical and structural support for the event at the highest level.” added André Lavadinho.
The AMF Mobilidade Rally Series Ponte de Lima officially kicks off on Saturday, July 12, with the opening of the FanZone at 12:30 and a full day of activities for all tastes in the heart of Ponte de Lima. The on-road competition takes place on Sunday, July 13, featuring seven stages throughout the day and concluding with the final podium at 18:25.
The doors are open to all motorsport fans — from the FanZone at Expolima, a vibrant and accessible weekend unfolds, designed to bring the public closer to the excitement of rallying.
