After opening the year on snow in Sweden and asphalt in Croatia, the championship now moves onto one of the FIA World Rally Championship’s classic gravel fixtures. Seven Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo crews will take on Portugal’s demanding mix of fast, sandy roads and famous stages including Amarante and Fafe.
For Calle Carlberg and co-driver Jørgen Eriksen, Portugal offers the chance to build on a strong start to the season after victory in Sweden and a podium finish in Croatia. The Swedish crew lead the championship after the opening two rounds and sit 25 points clear of Ali Türkkan and Oytun Albayrak, with Leevi Lassila and Gil Membrado tied for third on 24.
“I’m looking forward to Portugal,” said Carlberg. “I’m hungry for some revenge after the puncture in Croatia. We’ve not managed to fit a test in ahead of this event, but I’ll prepare by checking the organiser videos as much as possible and spending time on the simulator.”
Türkkan arrives with momentum of his own after claiming victory in Croatia, where he resisted late pressure from Carlberg to score his first Junior WRC win of the season. The Turkish driver and compatriot Kerem Kazaz - who sits sixth in the championship - were both present at Rally Bodrum in Türkiye last weekend before switching focus to Portugal. Kazaz competing and finishing 1st overall in Rally2 machinery while Türkkan was coaching younger drivers in the Castrol Ford Team Türkiye.
Membrado is another driver with confidence high. The Spaniard claimed his maiden WRC3 victory on home soil at Rally Islas Canarias last month and now heads across the border to Portugal aiming to carry that form back into Junior WRC competition.
“I’m really excited to start the gravel part of the Junior WRC championship in Portugal,” said Membrado. “It’s near Spain so it feels like home, and in rally it’s always good to have some knowledge about the terrain and the stages.
“We’re coming from Rally Islas Canarias with a win in WRC3, so we’re confident and ready to drive in the next round of JWRC. I think that Portugal will be a long and a demanding rally, but we’ll try to do our best.”
Lassila, currently level with Membrado in the standings, is also relishing the move away from sealed roads, even if Portugal’s surface is expected to pose a very different challenge to the gravel he knows best.
“I’m happy to be back on gravel,” said the Finn. “Of course, it’s a different kind of gravel than I’m used to [in Finland]. Portugal is a new rally for me, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it will be.”
Raúl Hernández, fifth in the standings and just one point behind Lassila and Membrado, also expects the move to gravel to play to his strengths.
“I am very confident about the upcoming event in Portugal,” said Hernández. “Gravel is our favourite surface. Let’s try to push to be in the fight.”
For Craig Rahill, Portugal brings another major step in his Rally3 education. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver scored his first Junior WRC podium with third place in Croatia, but this week will be his first gravel start in the four-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo.
“We’re looking forward now to making a switch to gravel and getting a taste for the Rally3 on the loose,” said Rahill. “This will be our first time on gravel in the car and in four-wheel-drive, so we will have a lot to learn.
“From looking back at previous years, Portugal is a finishers’ rally, so we’ll be hoping to stay clean, stay out of trouble and hopefully get good points on the board again.”
Crews begin with shakedown at Baltar on Wednesday before the rally starts on Thursday with Águeda / Sever, Sever / Albergaria and the Figueira da Foz super special. Friday features Mortágua, Arganil, Lousã and Góis, before Saturday’s northern loop of Felgueiras, Cabeceiras de Basto, Amarante, Paredes and Lousada. Sunday’s finale centres on Vieira do Minho and Fafe, with the second pass of Fafe forming the Wolf Power Stage.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said: “Portugal is always one of the highlights of the Junior WRC calendar and this year it comes at a really important point in the season. After two very different rallies in Sweden and Croatia, we now move onto gravel, which brings a new set of challenges for our crews. It is a rally where speed alone is not enough. The crews need to manage the car, understand the changing road conditions and know when to push. That is exactly what Junior WRC is about, and with seven crews ready to take on these stages, we are looking forward to a very competitive week.”
