Forty-six crews set for Madeira IRC battle

Forty-six crews will contest Rali Vinho Madeira, round eight of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, next week (August 5-7).

The impressive list of entrants for the island event was released during a press conference in Madeira’s capital Funchal yesterday evening.

Topping the list is Luca Rossetti, a four-time IRC event winner who will take part in an Abarth Grande Punto, one of 17 Super 2000 machines set for action next week. He is followed by IRC title leader Juho Hänninen (Škoda Fabia) with Kris Meeke carrying number three on his Peugeot 207.

Bruno Magalhães, the winner last time out in the Azores, is the top Portuguese runner in his Peugeot, one place ahead of islander Bernardo Sousa, the leading Ford Fiesta exponent.

Other notable names on the entry include Geko Ypres Rally winner Freddy Loix and former event winners Vitor Sá and Miguel Campos.