Magalhaes closes on full IRC campaign in 2011

Bruno Magalhaes is closing on a deal to contest all rounds of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge with the Peugeot Sport Portugal operation.

Carlos Barros, the team’s sporting and technical director, said negotiations were underway to secure the finances needed to expand his driver’s current programme of eight events in 2011.

“There’s a strong possibility Bruno will do all rounds next year,” said Barros. “Of course we need to close the budget but things are moving in a good way. It would be a big shame if Bruno could not come back to the IRC after all the experience he has gained this year and the great job he has done. We are working very hard to make it happen because the IRC is the best championship for our team and the coverage we get has made our sponsors very happy.”

Magalhaes, who returns to IRC action on Rallye Sanremo this week, has impressed throughout his maiden season in the series, winning Sata Rallye Acores in July at the wheel of his Peugeot 207 S2000. Sanremo is set to mark the last of his eight planned rallies although Barros is hopeful an agreement can be reached to allow the 30-year-old Portuguese to undertake the recces for the season closing events in Scotland and Cyprus.