Rali Vinho da Madeira (Rali da Madeira): Madeira’s summer rally and where to watch it
Madeira’s rally, held every summer since 1959: when it takes place, what changed with the new name, the Funchal super special, the classic mountain stages, road closures and tips for watching safely.
This page first appeared on Madeira Blog on 30 July 2007. We have rewritten it with up-to-date information.
In July 2007 this blog warned readers that they would soon hear “volcanic eruptions” on the island. It was only the rally. Nearly twenty years later the sound is the same: every summer Madeira’s mountain roads are closed for three days and turned into one of the most spectacular asphalt rallies in Europe.
What it is
The rally was first held in 1959 and is organised by Club Sports da Madeira. For decades it was called the Rali Vinho da Madeira, after Madeira wine. In 2024 it became the Rali da Madeira, because of the growing limits on alcohol advertising in motorsport, but most people on the island still use the old name.
It was a round of the European Rally Championship from 1979 to 2012 and of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Today it counts for the FIA European Rally Trophy and the Portuguese and Madeiran championships. Ari Vatanen, Henri Toivonen and Miki Biasion all won here before becoming world-class names. Andrea Aghini, Giandomenico Basso and Bruno Magalhães have each won it four times.
When
The rally takes place over three days at the end of July or the beginning of August. The dates for the next edition are usually announced in spring.
The 2026 edition, the 67th, ran from 30 July to 1 August. It had 86 entries and 15 special stages, about 200 km against the clock. Miguel Nunes and João Paulo won in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, their second win after 2020. Kris Meeke, a former World Rally Championship winner, took part and was fastest on the last day.
How the three days usually run
- Day 1, Funchal. A shakedown in the morning, then the start ceremony on the seafront and the city super special in the late afternoon. This is the easiest stage to watch: free, in the city centre, with no hiking.
- Day 2, east and north. In 2026 this meant two runs each through Santo da Serra, Palheiro Ferreiro and Santana, plus Ribeiro Frio.
- Day 3, west and the mountains. In 2026: Chão da Lagoa, then two passes through Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Pargo and Lameiros, with the awards in Funchal in the evening.
Stage names change a little every year, but the classic areas come back again and again.
Watching a stage
- Arrive early. Roads close several hours before the first car, and they often stay closed between the two passes. Once you are in, plan to stay until the end.
- Stand only where marshals allow it, well above the road or behind barriers, ideally on the inside of a bend. Never stand on the outside of a corner, in a run-off area or below the road, where a car that slides off would go. Follow the instructions of the GNR and the marshals.
- Bring water, food, a hat and sun cream for the coast, and a jacket for the mountain stages. There are no shops on most stages.
- Respect the land. Many stages run through farmland and laurel forest. Take your rubbish home.
If you are on holiday that week
The rally closes dozens of roads, mostly in the hills. Check the closures before you drive anywhere. They are published by the organisers and the local press in the days before the event. Allow extra time for the airport. See driving in Madeira and car hire.
The rally falls in high season. Book accommodation early, especially in Funchal. Our events calendar lists the dates once they are announced, and Madeira in August covers everything else on that month.
Sources: Rali da Madeira, official site (2026 edition), DNoticias, road closures for the 2026 rally, DNoticias, 2026 result, Wikipedia, Rally Madeira