Armindo Araújo and Mikko Heikkila will be the TRF drivers in the opening race of the ERC and CPR 2023, integrating a luxury cast, with 55 registered teams and big names such as Efran Llarena, Hayden Paddon, Erik Cais, Craig Breen and Mads Ostberg.

The Serras de Fafe, Felgueiras, Boticas, Vieira do Minho and Cabeceiras de Basto Rally is the highlight of the upcoming weekend and marks the start of the 2023 season for the ERC, as well as the CPR – Portuguese National Championship. All the conditions are met for a memorable edition of this mythical race, with almost six dozen teams registered to score for the ERC and around 30 that will score for the CPR. The squad for the race organized by Demoporto included 13 title champions and official WRC drivers, transforming Serras de Fafe into a “worldwide” heavyweight clash.

The Racing Factory expects a good result from Armindo Araújo and Mikko Heikkila, the two riders who will represent the colors of the Portuguese team, winner of the Absolute and 2RM national titles in 2022.
For Aloísio Monteiro, CEO of The Racing Factory, the quality of the entry list is only positive: “We are confident in this return to competition, in our ‘backyard’, with a fantastic entry list. In my opinion, this quality only motivates us to do more and better, to raise our own bar and give our all to fight for the podium. We have two high-level teams, a technical structure of great value, bringing together all the conditions to be in this rally with great ambition!”.

Armindo Araújo does not hide his “satisfaction to continue our connection with The Racing Factory. Our Skoda will thus remain in good hands. We are together to fight for victories in 2023!”.

The seven-time national champion, who continues to be navigated by Luís Ramalho, leaves for this rally after having shining at the start of the CPTT, winning the T3 category and conquering an absolute podium, at the controls of a Can-Am, now wanting to go back to making a big entry in the championship, being in the fight for the triumph of the CPR and not putting aside a top result in the struggles of the European.

In the second Skoda Fabia EVO from TRF will be one of the new “acquisitions” for 2023. The current Finnish champions, Mikko Heikkila and Samu Vaaleri, showed good signs in the pre-season test and arrive in Fafe with the ambition to fight for the top places, in what is his third clash with the ERC opponents, being this his absolute debut at Serras de Fafe.

“I want to thank The Racing Factory for their commitment to me and my project. We got off to a good start and I look forward to achieving a lot in the future for myself and TRF!” said Heikkila.

The Rally Serras de Fafe, Felgueiras, Boticas, Vieira do Minho and Cabeceiras de Basto starts this Friday, the 10th, with the Shakedown and the nightly Fafe Street Stage, which should earn the favor of thousands of spectators along the route in the streets of this city.

On Saturday, the riders will pass through Boticas, Vieira do Minho and Cabeceiras de Basto, for what will be the toughest stage of the event. The rally ends on Sunday, the 12th, with a double pass through the Luílhas, Seixoso, Santa Quitéria and Lameirinha sections, with the latter having Power Stage honors in the final approach. There are 17 stages, totaling 180.29 km and the race will be followed live on the WRC+ portal.

To follow the latest news from The Racing Factory at the start of the season in Fafe, just visit the team’s social networks on Facebook or Instagram, where the latest information will always be available.