IRC Madeira preview : The challenges

With six winners from the opening seven rounds, the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season is already proving to be an epic. Less than a month after a thrilling climax to Sata Rallye Acores, when the lead changed hands three times on the final two stages, the IRC continues with Rali Vinho Madeira next week (5-7 August).

While the battle in the Azores was fought out on largely gravel stages, Madeira is an all-asphalt affair and is set to throw up another dazzling contest between some of Europe’s top rally drivers. Last season, the top two finishers were separated by 3.5 seconds.

Following a short special stage along the seafront in Funchal on Thursday evening, crews will tackle six repeated stages on Friday with four more repeated stages on the schedule for Saturday prior to the finish in Madeira’s capital at 17:12hrs local time.

With a total of 21 special stages over a distance of almost 300 kilometres, the event is a mini test of endurance for both car and crew. With a 22.01-kilometre stage bringing the action to a close on Saturday afternoon, predicting a winner will be virtually impossible.

The stages are narrow, tight and twisty in their nature and parallels can be drawn with the roads used on Rally Islas Canarias, venue of round four of the IRC in late April. With so many acute turns writing an effective set of pacenotes is a fine art, which means that Madeira is a rally where experience is rewarded.

Unlike on other asphalt events, drivers cannot lower their stage times by taking ‘cuts’ through corners due to the fact the bulk of the roads are lined with brick walls and rock faces. It means road position will be less crucial than on some other rallies as the stage surface will be kept clear of gravel and other debris.

Madeira is also mountainous, which means the stages are undulating and adds to the challenge facing the drivers. Good corner exit speed is essential for attacking the climbs, while braking precision is essential on the descents. With high ambient temperatures expected, coupled with the gruelling competitive distance, braking performance and wear, not to mention the mechanical strain placed on cars, will be in the spotlight.

As with all islands, Madeira is susceptible to changeable weather conditions, which can have a huge influence on tyre choice, particularly if drivers opt for a dry weather slick tyre only to be met with rain on the stage.

Rali Vinho Madeira, which runs for a 51st time this season, has hosted the IRC for the last three years. The event is also a counting round of the European and Portuguese championships.

The event marks the second time the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy will be presented. The award is handed to the most spectacular driver who best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend on rounds of the IRC this season. Its recipient is chosen by a panel consisting of IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Gilbert Roy, the Director of Editorial and Programme Development at Eurosport Events, and Jim McRae, Colin’s father.