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Portugal countdown: Rally route

Why change a winning formula? That's the message from Vodafone Rally de Portugal organisers whose itinerary for this week's fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship is virtually identical to 2015.

However, the one major change promises a real treat for fans with a city centre street stage in Porto introduced on Friday evening to close the opening leg. The 1.85km test on the Avenida dos Aliados, close to the city hall, will be driven twice and broadcast live on TV and WRC+.

The rally returned north to great acclaim last year following several years in the south coast Algarve region and the only other change to the route is a new 1400 metre section at the end of Sunday's double run through Vieira do Minho.

The rally is based in Matosinhos, north of Porto, and starts alongside the picturesque castle in Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal, on Thursday evening. The ceremony is followed by a spectacular super special stage at Lousada rallycross circuit.

Friday takes competitors north for two identical loops of stages near the Spanish border, close to Viana do Castelo. Service in Matosinhos separates the loops, with the two Porto stages closing the 132.04km of action.

Saturday is the longest of the weekend as competitors journey east for two loops of three tests near Amarante covering 165.28km. The Amarante stage, at 37.67km, is the longest of the rally.

The final day comprises two laps of two stages totalling 67.32km. But it is the iconic Fafe test that will capture the imagination. Enormous crowds will pack the hillsides for one of the WRC's most legendary stages, culminating with a spectacular jump before the finish.

The second pass through Fafe will form the live TV Power Stage with bonus points available to the fastest three drivers. There will be 19 stages in all, covering 368km in the 1687.66km route.

Zdroj: wrc.com