The Red Bull Rally Team are to race again for the first time since their superb success in Argentina (P-WRC win for Aigner and Sousa also scoring points in eighth).

Andreas Aigner and Klaus Wicha’s Mitsubishi EVO IX is to join local boy Bernardo Sousa’s in starting the rally next weekend (8 to 10 May).

The rally will be run this year under the banner of the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) but will be added to the world championship as of next year. The competition is going to be intense with no less than 17 Super 2000 teams confirming their place.

13 stages are going to be held in the 250-km long event. It all gets going on Thursday with a 1.30 km special stage at 6pm.

Team boss Raimund Baumschlager: “Getting to know the course is going to bet he most important thing this weekend and neither driver will have to risk a thing. I am pleased that we will be racing with our new tyre partners Pirelli for the first time in Portugal.”

Andreas Aigner: “As I am in Portugal for the first time I will just be aiming to reach the finish as we look ahead to next year’s world championship run. I am really looking forward to the chance to compete with so many Super 2000 cars.

We have been loosing a second per kilometre on asphalt but it should be a little easier on gravel. Being assigned start number eight is a cause for optimism as I should be able to enjoy the luxury of a relatively empty track.”

Bernardo Sousa: “I am immensely excited – rallying in my home country is always something special. After my good performances at the first two PWRC races I managed to pick up a lot of confidence. It remains my number one goal just to make sure I complete the rally without suffering any serious problems.”