The FIA World Rally Championship celebrates its 50th season in 2022 and this week’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal forms the centrepoint of the half-century festivities.
The biggest ever gathering of world rally champion drivers, co-drivers and team managers, including Walter Röhrl, Carlos Sainz, Marcus Grönholm, Petter Solberg and Miki Biasion, will attend a series of events on Wednesday (18 May), culminating in a gala dinner for 250 VIP guests.
Almost 30 classic cars will be on display in the Matosinhos service park and at other locations around the route during the rally.
The super special stages at Coimbra, Lousada and Porto-Foz will host a parade of cars ahead of the rally action. Additionally, a small number will be driven through Sunday’s legendary Fafe stage between the two competitive passes – headlined by double world champion Röhrl in an Audi Sport Quattro.
Please find attached for your information biographic details of the cars taking part, many of which have been supplied by members of the Slowly Sideways group. You will also find start lists for the four stages at which the cars can be viewed.
The timetable of celebration events is:
Wednesday 18 May
Am Classic cars on display at Exponor service park
16.00 WRC50 world champions press conference, Exponor media centre
17:30 WRC50 Red Carpet opens and Cocktail Reception, Exponor Rotonde Gal6
18.45 WRC50 champions group photograph, Exponor Rotonde Gal6 via main entrance
19.00 WRC50 Gala, Exponor Gal6
Thursday 19 May
15.30 Cars on display at Coimbra holding area
17.30 Cars cross start podium
18.00 Parade of cars in SS1 Coimbra
Friday 20 May
All day Cars on display at Exponor service park
16.00 Cars on display at Lousada
17.45 Parade of cars in SS9 Lousada
Saturday 21 May
15.30 Cars on display at Porto-Foz
16.30 Parade of cars in SS16 Porto - Foz
Sunday 22 May
10.00 Selected cars on display at Fafe regroup
10.45 Demonstration run of selected cars in SS 21 Fafe
Total de visitas
