Since its debut in 1967, the Rally of Portugal has been the scene of many memorable fights and many other episodes that help tell the story of one of the most spectacular and demanding rounds of the national and international sporting calendar.
This is a journey through the 54 editions of the race organised by the Automóvel Clube de Portugal. Here are some interesting facts and figures.
95,735.84
The total number of kilometres of the global route of the 54 editions already contested - an average of 1,772.88km per edition.
3,060.30
The distance of the largest edition ever and the only one in which the race exceeded 3,000km. It took place in 1970, in a year in which the competitors departed from 11 different cities (Lisbon, Porto, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, London, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Amsterdam). Even in such a long edition, the race had only one leader: Simo Lampinen. At the wheel of a Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF, the Finn dominated from the first to the last control.
1974
This was an edition that very nearly didn’t happen because of the oil crisis at the time. That year, César Torres, the ‘father’ of the Rally de Portugal, convinced the FIA to channel part of the 500,000 litres of fuel provided by Venezuela to motor racing. And, because of that, the rally ended up taking place.
737.50
The longest distance in timed sections. This took place in 1979, in an edition that also holds another record: the Rally of Portugal that took the longest time for the winner - Hannu Mikkola (Ford Escort RS1800) in a total of 9hr 13min 52sec.
274.84
This was the distance of the shortest ever edition. In 2004, the TMN Rally of Portugal was based in Macedo de Cavaleiros, and counted only for the National Championship, in a race that was won by Armindo Araújo (Citroën Saxo Kit Car). It was also the edition with the fewest qualifying kilometres to date - 151.82km.
240
The advantage in seconds that Walter Röhrl managed to accumulate in the fog of the Arganil section against Markku Alén and which allowed him to win one of the most memorable editions of the Rally of Portugal in 1980. After making five passes through the 42km section in the reconnaissance, the German driver imposed a devilish pace (based not on the notes, but on the time between each curve).
155
The record number of drivers who lined up in one edition of the race (190 were registered). In 1968, the event was called the 2nd International Rallye of the Cultural and Sports Group of TAP, in an edition where only 13 teams reached the finish.
138.46
The highest average (in km/h) recorded on an asphalt section of the Rally of Portugal. A record obtained by Henri Toivonen (Lancia 037 Rally) who, in 1984, needed just 2min10sec to complete the second pass of the 5.00km Lagoa Azul stage.
131
The record for the number of stages won by a driver in the Rally of Portugal. This belongs to Markku Alén and was achieved between 1974 and 1993. Mikki Biasion (108) and Hannu Mikkola (88) follow.
129.85
The highest average speed (km/h) recorded on a dirt section of the Rally of Portugal. It belongs to Carlos Sainz, in a Subaru Impreza 555, and was obtained in the Lamego stage (9.27km), which the Spaniard completed in 4min 17sec.
93.2
The highest percentage recorded in an edition of the race. In 1971, in the 5th Rally Internacional TAP, of the 133 teams that lined up at the start, 13 arrived in Estoril, but only nine were classified.
70
The number of Portuguese drivers who have been classified in the Top 10 since the first edition of the TAP Rally, in 1967.
56.50
The distance in kilometres of the longest section contested in an edition of the race. It was the long version of Arganil, used between 1983 and 1986.
43min 49sec
The time that Carlos Bica's Lancia 037 Rally took, in 1986, to complete and record the best time in the Arganil 1 stage, the longest ever in the race.
42
The number of times (including the 2022 edition) that the Rally of Portugal counted for the World Rally Championship. The first time was in 1973. After that, in 1996, between 2002 and 2006, in 2008 and in 2020 (cancelled), the race was removed from the WRC.
31
The age at which Michèle Mouton became the first and only woman to win the Rally of Portugal. It was in 1982, behind the wheel of an Audi Quattro.
26
The record for the number of participations by a driver in the Portuguese competition, a milestone reached by Manuel Rolo. Victor Calisto, with 24 participations, is the driver who comes closest, while the foreign record holder for participation is Markku Alén, who took part on 15 occasions.
25
The number of drivers who won the Rally of Portugal only once. Five have triumphed twice, three on three occasions and two five times.
19
The number of competitions, between championships and the FIA Cup, that will be eligible during the Portuguese competition in 2022.
11
The record number of lead changes in one edition of the rally. It was in 1978, during the famous Sintra night duel, in which Markku Alén defeated Hannu Mikkola. In addition to the two flying Finns, who together won 30 of the 46 special stages, Bernard Darniche, Walter Röhrl, Björn Waldegård and Jean-Pierre Nicolas also led the race.
9
The podium record achieved by a driver in all editions of the event. In this case, the laurels are shared between Markku Alén and Sébastien Ogier.
8
The record of victories obtained in the competition by one Manufacturer… or, in this case, by two: Lancia (1968, 1970, 1976, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992) and Citroën (1969, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2016).
5
The current record of wins in the rally, shared by Markku Alén and Sébastien Ogier.
5
The number of occasions when the Rally of Portugal was awarded the title of “Best Rally in the World” by FISA/FIA.
4
The number of podiums achieved by a Portuguese driver in the 54 editions of the race. Armindo Araújo. António Peixinho, Francisco Romãozinho and Pedro Leal share this statistic.
2.1
The shortest difference (in seconds) recorded between first and second in the race, in 1998. In a rally where eight World Champions lined up, Colin McRae (Subaru Impreza WRC) beat Carlos Sainz (Toyota Corolla WRC) in the last 11.05 km of the Amarante stage.