Junior WRC shifts to gravel for Rally de Portugal

Following the season's opening rounds on snow and asphalt, the Junior WRC heads to Portugal for the first gravel test of the year. The entry list features seven crews campaigning identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo cars, facing a challenging route that includes iconic stages such as Amarante and Fafe.

Championship leader Calle Carlberg enters the weekend with a 25-point advantage, aiming to rebound after a puncture in Croatia hindered his performance. He faces stiff competition from Ali Türkkan, who carries momentum from a victory in Croatia, and the duo of Leevi Lassila and Gil Membrado, who are currently tied for third in the standings. Membrado specifically arrives with high confidence following a recent WRC3 win at Rally Islas Canarias.

For Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Craig Rahill, the event marks his first outing on loose surfaces in the four-wheel-drive Rally3 category, emphasizing the event as a significant learning curve. The rally commences on Wednesday with shakedown at Baltar, leading into an extensive itinerary across the Portuguese countryside that concludes on Sunday with the decisive Fafe Power Stage.