Portuguese Rally News

Good win for Meireles at Mortágua. He was fastest than Fontes, that came in second and managed to keep a safe margin as champ leader. 3rd was Barbosa, showing a fair progression on his first rally season. Ribeiro won Gr.N and Antunes was the best 2wd, after last stage retirement of his main opponents.

1. Pedro Meireles/Mário Castro – Fabia R5 1:33:00.90
2. José Pedro Fontes/Inês Ponte – DS3 R5 +0:31.50
3. Miguel Barbosa/Miguel Ramalho – Fabia R5 +1:16.40
4. Carlos Martins/Daniel Amaral – DS3 R5 +2:42.10
5. Joâo Barros/Jorge Henriques - Fiesta R5 +3:10.80
6. Miguel Nunes/João Paulo – Fiesta R5 +4:19.00
7. Fernando Peres/José Pedro Silva – Fiesta R5 +5:46.10
8. Manuel Castro/Luis Costa – Fabia S2000 +6:15.10
9. Vitor Ribeiro/Rui Raimundo – Lancer Evo IX +9:15.10
10. Gil Antunes/Diogo Correia – Clio R3T +9:28.80

Nice video by Mondego Sport: https://youtu.be/EX1QS4PY34I

Rallye Casino de Espinho, next to last rally of Portuguese champ, will start tonight with some SSS’s. Rain is expected on tomorrow stages, bringing some hope for champ chaser Meireles (Fabia). If the road keeps dry, Fontes (DS) is the favorite and can become champion.

Live timing: http://cnr.cronobandeira.com/

Congrats to J.P.Fontes, Inês Ponte and Sports & You team for their 2016 champ titles.

After a ridiculous first day, with 4 street stages in 2 different towns (our ASN must limit SSS’s number on national rallies!), the new champ was found at today’s first road stage with Meireles (Fabia) off road due to an oil leak. Fontes (DS) title road become clear but he also managed to get rally victory, after a strong pressure on Vieira (DS) and Barros (Fiesta). 2wd category was tottaly dominated by Gago (208) and Ribeiro managed to get RC2N title on his Evo 9.

1. José Pedro Fontes/Inês Ponte - Citroën DS3 R5 1:14:28.30
2. Miguel Barbosa/Miguel Ramalho - Skoda Fabia R5 +1:46.00
3. Elias Barros/Ricardo Faria - Ford Fiesta R5 +2:03.60
4. Joaquim Alves/Luis Ramalho - Ford Fiesta R5 +2:05.90
5. Diogo Gago/Hugo Magalães - Peugeot 208 R2 +3:14.40
6. Manuel Castro/Luis Costa - Skoda Fabia S2000 +3:57.30
7. Paulo Neto/Vitor Hugo - Citroën DS3 R3T +4:08.60
8. Gil Antunes/Diogo Correia - Renault Clio R3T +4:46.70
9. António Costa/Nuno Rodrigues da Silva - Renault Clio R3 +6:07.60
10. Vítor Ribeiro/ Valter Cardoso - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +8:12.60

Nice video from Rosmanão: https://youtu.be/gSYRsPrQkm4

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Originally Posted by Rally Power

Congrats to J.P.Fontes, Inês Ponte and Sports & You team for their 2016 champ titles.

After a ridiculous first day, with 4 street stages in 2 different towns (our ASN must limit SSS’s number on national rallies!), the new champ was found at today’s first road stage with Meireles (Fabia) off road due to an oil link. Fontes (DS) title road become clear but he also managed to get rally victory, after a strong pressure on Vieira (DS) and Barros (Fiesta). 2wd category was tottaly dominated by Gago (208) and Ribeiro managed to get RC2N title on his Evo 9.

1. José Pedro Fontes/Inês Ponte - Citroën DS3 R5 1:14:28.30
2. Miguel Barbosa/Miguel Ramalho - Skoda Fabia R5 +1:46.00
3. Elias Barros/Ricardo Faria - Ford Fiesta R5 +2:03.60
4. Joaquim Alves/Luis Ramalho - Ford Fiesta R5 +2:05.90
5. Diogo Gago/Hugo Magalães - Peugeot 208 R2 +3:14.40
6. Manuel Castro/Luis Costa - Skoda Fabia S2000 +3:57.30
7. Paulo Neto/Vitor Hugo - Citroën DS3 R3T +4:08.60
8. Gil Antunes/Diogo Correia - Renault Clio R3T +4:46.70
9. António Costa/Nuno Rodrigues da Silva - Renault Clio R3 +6:07.60
10. Vítor Ribeiro/ Valter Cardoso - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +8:12.60

Nice video from Rosmanão: https://youtu.be/gSYRsPrQkm4

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You should have put the 11th place and you got all the guys that finish the event!!! Crapy rally...

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Originally Posted by TheFlyingTuga

Crapy rally...

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Indeed. Let’s see if our ASN will have the guts to replace it on next year calendar and get back to a balanced gravel/tarmac series.

Is this the only DS3 R5 who managed to be national champ???

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Originally Posted by Ucci

Is this the only DS3 R5 who managed to be national champ???

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No, also Keith Cronin in Ireland. Fontes also won last year's Portuguese title still with DS3.

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Originally Posted by focus206

No, also Keith Cronin in Ireland. Fontes also won last year's Portuguese title still with DS3.

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but with the diference it was only tarmac champoinship

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Last CNR event, Rallye Casinos do Algarve, runs this weekend. Fontes is already champion but 2wd title still open: Gago (208), Antunes (Clio R3T) and Neto (DS3) fighting for it.

Live timing:http://cnr.cronobandeira.com/

Fontes (DS) won Rallye Casinos do Algarve, ahead of Barros (Fiesta) and Vieira (DS). Meireles (Skoda) fought for 2nd place till a tech problem (bearing?) took him out of the race. Gago won 2wd’s and become the category champion on his 208. Congrats to him, his codriver Hugo and Inside Motor team!

2016 CNR Champions
Overall: José Pedro Fontes/Inês Ponte http://www.ralis.fpak.pt/sites/defau...fe-t/16447.jpg
2wd: Diogo Gago/Hugo Magalhães
http://www.ralis.fpak.pt/sites/defau...-espinho16.jpg
Photos: www.ralis.fpak.pt/fotos

CNR's season review is a positive one, having in mind the top crews quality, but the championship needs to attract more competitors in 2017. Our ASN must include non homologated cars on CNR, as there’s no room for 2 national series. Rallye de Portugal also should be back to CNR (as a joker event) and instead the ‘beginners championship’ we need a proper Junior category inside the main series. With a handful of sensible measures our national championship can became great again…fingers crossed!