The Historic Rally Fafe (November 7–8), making its debut in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC), features a star-studded entry list, including no fewer than the top five overall contenders in the standings. The event will be decisive for the crowning of three champions (Category 2, Category 4, and Overall). The asphalt stages of the northern “cathedral” of rallying will set the scene for nostalgic moments among motorsport fans, showcasing legendary machines such as Jari-Matti Latvala’s Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD, Will Graham’s BMW M3, Richard Genesca’s Subaru Legacy 4WD Turbo, and Philippe Mermet’s Renault 5 Turbo Cevennes, among others. Former Production World Champion Rui Madeira (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III) will be the only Portuguese driver in the event.
Although positioned as the 10th and final round of the EHRC calendar, the Historic Rally Fafe benefits from the fact that much remains undecided after nine events, attracting many of the championship’s main contenders. As a result, the rally will bring together 16 teams, including one Portuguese entry, and will feature the top five drivers in the overall EHRC standings: Maciej Lubiak (Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0), Will Graham (BMW M3), Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD), Ernie Graham (Ford Escort RS 1800), and Jesús Ferreiro Pérez (Ford Escort RS 1800).
The championship title will be decided among those top three drivers, with favoritism leaning toward the Finnish driver who also serves as Toyota’s team principal in the WRC—temporarily replaced this week at Rally Japan by his compatriot Juha Kankkunen—and who dominated the Rally de Asturias just over three weeks ago. Latvala is the clear favorite to win this first edition of the Historic Rally Fafe.
Although he has already secured the title in Category 3 (cars from 1976–1981), Spanish driver Jesús Ferreiro Pérez did not want to miss the championship finale with his Ford Escort RS 1800. The same applies to Italian driver Antonio Parisi (Porsche 911S), who has already clinched the Category 1 (Pre-1970) title.
Polish driver Maciej Lubiak, the overall leader of the EHRC, is also in contention for the Category 2 (1970–1975) title, with British driver Ernie Graham (Ford Escort RS 1800) as his main rival. Frenchman Bertrand Metivier (Ford Escort RS 1600), who will also compete in Fafe, currently holds third place.
Category 4 (1982–1992) heads into the final round with young British driver Will Graham leading the standings, 38 points ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala. Frenchman Richard Genesca, driving his Subaru Legacy 4WD Turbo, is aiming to finish the season on the podium in this category.
The duo Rui Madeira and Nuno Rodrigues da Silva, who won the Production World Championship in 1995, will return to historic rallying in Fafe with their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III. They will compete as the sole entry in the new P2000/P2 Class category (1993–2000).
The Historic Rally Fafe will also count toward the Portuguese Classic Cup and the Northern Rally Championship, although competitors from the latter will only contest Saturday’s six special stages.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY (6 novembro)
Shakedown – Gontim (3,03 km) 14h00/18h00
FRIDAY (7 novembro)
Partida (Câmara Municipal de Fafe) 09h30
Assistência (Praça da Feira Velha) 09h37/09h52
PEC 1 – Montim/Vila Pouca 1 (13,12 km) 10h17
PEC 2 – Cabeceiras 1 (10,70 km) 11h55
PEC 3 – Anjos/Gontim (14,04 km) 12h48
Reagrupamento (Praça da Feira Velha) 13h33/13h43
Assistência (Parque da Cidade) 13H49/14h19
PEC 4 – Montim/Vila Pouca 2 14h44
PEC 5 – Cabeceiras 2 16h22
PEC 6 – Anjos/Gontim 2 17h15
Assistência (Praça das Comunidades) 18h01/18h46
Parque Fechado (Praça da Feira Velha) 18h54
SATURDAY (8 novembro)
Partida (Praça da Feira Velha) 09h30
Assistência (Praça da Comunidades) 09h37/09h52
PEC 7 – Várzea Cova 1 (10,74 km) 10h22
PEC 8 – Queimadela/Travassós 1 (8,98 km) 11h06
PEC 9 – Vilacova 1 (7,66 km) 11h50
Reagrupamento (Praça da Feira Velha) 12h32/12h42
Assistência (Praça das Comunidades) 12h49/13h19
PEC 10 – Várzea Cova 1 13h49
PEC 11 – Queimadela/Travassós 2 14h33
PEC 12 – Vila Cova 2 15h17
Parque Fechado (Praça da Feira Velha) 15h17
Fafe/03/novembro/2025
PARA MAIS INFORMAÇÕES:
