WRC Rally de Portugal 2012

WRC Rally de Portugal 2012 – Preview

RSL Staff

– March 29, 2012Posted in: Featured, News, WRC

Rally de Portugal, the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is based in Faro at the Algarve Stadium and is the second of six consecutive gravel rallies. As in 2011, the event starts in Lisbon, following the successful running of last year’s super special stage around the streets of the city. This stage will once again open the event on Thursday afternoon. New this year, however, are three stages run that evening, all of which will be in darkness.

Rally de Portugal marks the third round of the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship, as well as the opening round of the FIA WRC Academy. Now into its second year, the WRC Academy provides young drivers with the opportunity to take the first step on the WRC ladder and all of the registered crews will be competing in identically-prepared Ford Fiesta R2s running on Pirelli tyres.

Finally, following the successful “Road Show” in Porto last year, the organisers have once again planned another such event this year with the support of the leading manufacturers and teams. Based in the north of the country, the Rally Sprint will take place over the iconic Fafe-Lameirinha stage, providing a spectacular appetizer for the thousands of fans in the country the weekend before the rally.

RALLY DE PORTUGAL – ROUTE GRAPHICS

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2011

This year, 35.9 per cent (84.92 km) of the route has changed since 2011, and competitors will face 59.48 competitive kilometres that is totally new to the Portuguese round of the WRC.

There are two new stages this year – Gomes Aires at 10.19 kilometres and Tavira which covers 25.01 competitive kilometres.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,564.26 km
434.77 km
22

RALLY DE PORTUGAL TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 28 March
Free Practice (P1 & P2) - 08:00 – 10:00 hrs
Qualifying (P1 & P2) - 10:40 hrs
Shakedown (P3) - 11:30 – 12:30 hrs
Shakedown (non-priority) - 12:30 – 13:30 hrs
Start Position Selection, Service Park - 13:00 hrs
FIA WRC Academy Launch, Service Park - 14:00 – 14:45 hrs

Thursday 29 March
FIA Season Photo-Shoot, Torre de Belém, - 12:45 hrs
Avenida de Brasilia, Lisbon
FIA press conference, Press Room, Lisbon - 13:15 hrs
Autograph signing session, Lisbon (WRC and SWRC) - 13:00 – 14:00 hrs
Driver Parade, Lisbon - 14:40 – 14:50 hrs
SSS1, Lisbon - 15:00 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, - 22:30 hrs
Algarve Stadium

Friday 30 March
First car arrives for re-group, Media Zone and service, - 14:25 hrs
Algarve Stadium
First car arrives for end of day service and Media Zone, - 18:20 hrs
Algarve Stadium
End of day press conference, Service Park - During the 45’ service

Saturday 31 March
First car arrives for re-group, service and Media Zone, - 12:50 hrs
Algarve Stadium
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, - 17:40 hrs
Algarve Stadium
End of day press conference, Service Park - During the 45’ service

Sunday 1 April
First car arrives for re-group, service and Media Zone, - 10:24 hrs
Algarve Stadium
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, - 15:17 hrs
Algarve Stadium
Prize-giving and podium ceremony, Algarve Stadium - 16:30 hrs
FIA press conference, Press Room, Algarve Stadium - 17:00 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 29 March
João Silva, WRC Academy Alastair Fisher, WRC AcademyPedro Meireles, FIA Super 2000 World Rally ChampionshipYazeed Al Rajhi, FIA Super 2000 World Rally ChampionshipMikko Hirvonen, Citroën Total World Rally TeamPetter Solberg, Ford World Rally TeamOtt Tänak, M-Sport Ford World Rally TeamArmindo Araújo, WRC Team MINI Portugal

Sunday 1 April
Winning FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship crewTop three crews in the overall classificationRepresentative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park at the earliest opportunity during the end of day service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.