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Portugal countdown: Rally route

After a thrilling 2017 event, Vodafone Rally de Portugal returns this weekend (17-20 may) with a near-identical route as last year but with the addition of an exciting street stage in downtown porto on friday night.

The rally, one of the WRC's founding members in 1973, is once again based in the city of Matosinhos, on the edge of Porto. From there, the WRC field will tackle 20 stages and 358 competitive kilometres predominantly on gravel tracks in northern Portugal.

The action starts on Thursday night when a head-to-head superspecial gets the sixth round of the championship underway at the Lousada rallycross circuit.

Thursday (17 May) - WRC+ Live Stream from 18:30 until 20:15 local rally time (UTC+1)

Crews will head off north on Friday for two loops of the Viana do Castelo (26.73km), Caminha (18.11km) and Ponte de Lima (27.54km) stages before the brand-new 1.95km Porto Street Stage which will be run twice that evening.

Friday (18 May) - WRC+ Live Stream from 7:45 until 20:15 local rally time (UTC+1)

Six tests are on the itinerary for Saturday - the longest day of the rally. The action is based east of Porto in the Cabreira Mountains, and features two passes of the Amarante (37.60km), Viera do Minho (17.50km) and Cabeceiras de Basto (22.22km) stages.

Saturday (19 May) - WRC+ Live Stream from 7:15 until 19:15 local rally time (UTC+1)

The iconic Fafe jump is the highlight of Sunday's final day with the 11.18km stage tackled twice - the second time as the Live TV Power Stage - giving fans two opportunities to watch the rally cars take flight in the Portuguese countryside.

In between Fafe, there will be two runs of the 8.64km Montim test and a single visit to Luílhas (11.89km).

Sunday (20 May) - WRC+ Live Stream from 7:00 until 13:45 local rally time (UTC+1)

Top highlights

Thursday's ceremonial start will be held in the picturesque surroundings of Guimarães Castle where fans have the opportunity to meet the stars of the WRC and get autographs and photos.
35,000 fans watched the action at the Lousada rallycross circuit last year and SS1 is expected to be just as popular in 2018.
The new Porto Street Stage offers something different during the rally, with the asphalt test winding through the city - allowing fans to get up close to the action.

Zdroj: wrc.com