After an absence from the Rallye Casinos of Algarve, the Rally Terras D’Aboboreira marks THE RACING FACTORY’s comeback. The team approaches the northern gravel event with a strong trio, led by Armindo Araújo and which also includes Iago Gabeiras and Max McRae.

The portuguese national champions are back!

Armindo Araújo and Luís Ramalho carried out an intense physical recovery program, only possible thanks to all their commitment and immense will to return to the cockpit of The Racing Factory’s Skoda Fabia Rally2 EVO and discuss the top places in the 2023 edition of the Rally Terras D’Aboboreira , the third race of the year in the Portuguese Rally Championship and which also counts towards the European Rally Trophy.

Strongly motivated and satisfied with the intense test carried out before the race, Armindo Araújo and Luís Ramalho see this rally as a true test of their current physical form, without rejecting being in the fight for the top standings. The rally is extensive and, only through the stages will the national champion duo be able to assess their condition and better manage their pace and their ambitions.

Among Rally4, The Racing Factory will have a double presence, through a strong commitment with two “young wolves”.

Back is the Spaniard Iago Gabeiras, who will have the codriver Adrian Varela by his side. Capable of putting great speed at his races, Gabeiras begins his attack on the 2023 edition of the Peugeot Rallye Cup Ibérica in this event and has everything to be among the protagonists of the expected relentless battle for dominance of this competition reserved for the Peugeot 208 Rally4.

Max McRae will be in the race organized by the Clube Automóvel de Amarante with a very specific mission: to gain experience and confidence. This time, with Macartan Kierans by his side, he will drive a Peugeot 208 Rally4, with the Opel Corsa Rally4 reserved for his attack on the Junior ERC 2023, whose schedule starts in May, in Poland, and will be followed by two more rallies in gravel (Latvia and Sweden) then moving on to 3 events on asphalt (Italy, Czechia and Hungary).

The young Scottish driver, 3rd generation of the McRae clan, is one of TRF’s strongest bets on the international scene and, even if the main goal at Terras D’Aboboreira does not involve any focus on the result, it is still a matter of interest to watch his debut at the controls of the French car and with the team.

Aloísio Monteiro, CEO of the portuguese structure, does not hide the “immense happiness I feel to have Armindo and Luís back. They are champions in all aspects and that was seen in the way they dealt with the accident and, mainly, with the hard physical recovery process. I have no doubt that they will do an excellent rally and the team is very motivated to give them a competitive car, supporting them in everything throughout the race”.

As for Gabeiras and McRae, the leader of TRF highlights “the commitment we are making in our internationalization, especially with young drivers with high potential. I am convinced that Iago and Max will put on a good rally, fulfilling the strategy that was outlined for them to reach the different objectives that are set for each one”.

The race will start on Friday afternoon in Marco de Canaveses, but before that, in the morning, both Free Practice Qualifying and the Shakedown, will take place on a timed stage, Marco Rios de Emoção, with 3.56 km. The Baião Vida Natural stage (7.78 km) will be covered twice in the afternoon of the first day. Friday’s program also included the SSS Baião Destino Sustentável (1.52 km), in the center of the city of Baião. On Saturday, the stages of Aboboreira (16.65 km), Marão (7.44 km) and, lastly, Amarante Natureza Encantada (16.96 km), whose second passage will be the Power Stage, will be held twice.