The challenge...
Round two of this year’s IRC takes place on the Rally Portugal, which is based in the Algarve city of Faro. The rally also contains the most impressive entry list yet to be seen on an IRC event, with former World Champion Didier Auriol amongst the leading entries and two-time World Champion Marcus Gronholm driving the zero car.

These top drivers have been attracted by what is well-known as a classic event. The Portugal Rally has formed part of the sport’s history over the years, and it is well-known for spectacular gravel stages, breathtaking scenery, and a warm and enthusiastic local public.

In the past, the Portugal Rally used to be based towards the north of the country, in the city of Oporto, but for the last three years it has found a home in Faro.
The actual stages are top quality, providing a massively enjoyable challenge to all the drivers, with the surfaces made up of soft and loose gravel. There are not too many rocks, and the surfaces tend to clean moderately after the passage of the first car – making things fair for everybody. Although the summer months are almost upon us, the weather at this time of year in the Algarve can be unpredictable: two years ago the rally was blighted by thick fog.

New for this year is a two-kilometre spectator superspecial stage around the streets of Faro. This new stage is compact but very quick, so is sure to provide plenty of entertainment for the many spectators that are expected. After the initial taster, the opening day of real action will see the competitors tackle seven special stages on Friday, with two service halts in total during the day. Competitors return to parc ferme at 18:09, having completed the first 118 competitive kilometres of this challenging event.

The action resumes at 0805 the following morning, when the crews tackle a morning loop of three stages that is repeated in the afternoon, with central service at Faro stadium in between. The winner is scheduled to cross the finish ramp at 18:10 in Faro on Saturday evening.

The competitors...
A measure of the quality of the IRC field can be seen from the fact that two-time World Champion Marcus Gronholm, who retired only last year, is driving the zero car! In total there are 30 registered IRC competitors, including 15 Super 2000 cars. The first car off the ramp will be Francois Duval, one of Belgium’s most promising young drivers and the winner of the 2005 Rally Australia. This will be Duval’s second outing at the wheel of a Super 2000 Abarth, having previously won the Condroz Rally back home in Belgium with a similar machine.

Another highlight of the entry list will be Didier Auriol: the 1994 World Champion who captured the record for the most number of victories in one season.
Manfred Stohl – a regular World Champiobnship competitor who finished fourth in the 2006 series – will also be present. The Austrian will be making his debut behind the wheel of a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 machine. Another well-known Austrian – Andreas Aigner – will also be taking the start in Portugal. Aigner – who recently claimed his first Production Car World Championship win in Argentina – is backed by the Austrian drinks giant Red Bull, and he will drive a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer in Portugal. Some tough opposition will come from flying Finn Juho Hanninen and Italian ace Paolo Andreucci, also at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Other local Mitsubishi drivers who are sure to be strong include Bernardo Sousa (Aigner’s team mate on the World Championship) and the experienced Armindo Araujo: a former winner of the Portugal Rally two years ago. As well as this incredible range of drivers making a guest appearance in Portugal, all the regular IRC competitors will be trying to make their mark. Luca Rossetti, who won the opening round of this year’s IRC in Istanbul (as well as Ypres and Sanremo last year) will be trying to extend his series lead on the Portuguese stages.

The regular Abarth team of Giandomenico Basso and Anton Alen are sure to be contenders for victory, as well as the Peugeot Belgium line-up of Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz. The team has an extra member in Belgium: Miguel Campos, who has a third factory Peugeot drive courtesy of the BFGoodrich drivers’ team.

The expectations...
“I think it should be good fun to drive the zero car on this event: Portugal has always been a nice rally, which I have enjoyed competing on. As zero car my priority is to stay on the road, but it should be a really interesting rally: I’ve looked at the entry list and there is Didier [Auriol] and some other very interesting people there. It’s really hard to predict what will happen, but it is sure to be a good event.” Marcus Gronholm, World Rally Champion 2000 and 2002

“I am looking forward to the challenge, although I have really no idea how I will go against these young drivers who are all used to Super 2000 car. For me it is mostly fun, but of course I would like to do well: the feeling of competition never goes away...” Didier Auriol, World Rally Champion 1994, Abarth driver