Moura dreams of ‘impossible’ home win

Leading Azores rally driver Ricardo Moura has conceded that he will never win the archipelago’s round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge until he can get his hands on a Super 2000 machine.

Moura was the top Group N finisher in a stunning fifth overall on Sata Rallye Açores last season in a near-standard Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. He will tackle the event again this season when it forms round six of the IRC from 14-16 July.

The Azores resident, a multiple champion on the Atlantic group of islands, will be a favourite to claim top honours in the new-for-2011 IRC Production Cup but admits that will be the limit of his ambitions when he enters the gravel rally this summer.

“We won Group N there last year and I hope we can do it again this year,” said Moura. “Of course to win overall will be so difficult because the Super 2000 cars are unbeatable. I have two Evo IXs and to change is just too expensive.”