Cloudy start to IRC Azores reconnaissance

Cloudy conditions greeted competitors undertaking the opening day of reconnaissance for Sata Rallye Açores, round seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, yesterday.

The Atlantic archipelago is prone to adverse weather conditions and Bernardo Sousa, one of the expected frontrunners in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, explained there were already reports of the weather improving.

“It was difficult because there was a lot of cloud and that’s never easy although it’s the same for everybody,” said the 22-year-old Portuguese championship leader. “Also I am with a new co-driver [Nuno Silva] this year so we had to make completely new pacenotes. We are hearing the weather will get better today but, to be honest, the best thing to do is to ask the local fisherman, who will know for sure!”

Sousa, who hails from Madeira, venue of round eight of the IRC in August, has tackled the event five times in the past and achieved his best result of tenth place last season at the wheel of an Abarth Grande Punto.

The opening leg of Sata Rallye Açores gets underway tomorrow at 16:40hrs local time with the first of three stages. There are 19 stages in total with the first car due to the reach the finish in Ponta Delgada at 19:10 on Saturday