Magalhaes gets extra IRC outing

Bruno Magalhaes was able to take some consolation from his disappointing outing on Rali Vinho Madeira earlier this month when he learned his Peugeot Sport Portugal team would be entering him on Rally Sanremo in September.

Magalhaes had feared that the island rally would be his last in the IRC this year due to a shortage of funding. However, such has been the success of Peugeot Portugal’s inaugural IRC campaign that company chiefs have agreed to extend the 30-year-old driver’s programme from eight to nine events.

"The IRC programme has brought good success, not only in terms of the results of the races but also the projection of the Peugeot brand in Portugal," said a Peugeot Sport Portugal spokesperson. "It is for these reasons that we enter Bruno in Sanremo as well."

Magalhaes started Rali Vinho Madeira on a high after winning Sata Rallye Acores in July, his maiden victory in the IRC. After dropping out of contention with a puncture on stage two in Madeira, a heavy crash on the very next stage resulted in his first retirement of the season.