The Portuguese Rally Championship is poised for a dramatic conclusion this weekend, with three top drivers separated by just five points heading into the final race, complicated by a unique scoring rule.
Veteran driver Armindo Araújo leads the standings with 137 points in his Skoda. Close behind are Dani Sordo, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, with 133 points, and Kris Meeke, in a Toyota Yaris Rally2, at 132 points.
The championship’s unique scoring system mandates that only a driver’s best seven results from eight rallies are counted. This means competitors must discard their worst performance, adding an unpredictable element to the final calculations.
Araújo, a driver from Portugal vying for his eighth national absolute title, expressed his long-standing familiarity with high-stakes finales. “For eight years, in addition to the titles achieved, we have reached the last event discussing first place,” Araújo said, adding that his team will “fight until the last kilometer.” He acknowledged, however, that securing the title does not depend solely on his team’s performance.
Spanish driver Dani Sordo, completing his inaugural season in the Portuguese Championship, is aiming for a strong finish. “Reaching the last event of the championship discussing the title was something I aimed for,” Sordo stated, noting his initial unfamiliarity with the courses compared to his rivals. He added, “In a rally where the championship is at stake, anything can happen.”
Kris Meeke, a Northern Irish driver and a champion with Hyundai in 2024, now seeks to replicate that success with Toyota. Meeke emphasized the unforgiving nature of the championship’s scoring. “Everything is decided in the last rally… which does not allow for inconsistencies,” Meeke said. He expressed confidence in his team’s pace throughout the year and the suitability of the GR Yaris Rally2 for the upcoming asphalt stages.
The final event, Rali Vidreiro, takes place over Friday and Saturday. The first day will feature three special stages covering 31.55 timed kilometers, while Saturday will include six stages totaling 71.29 timed kilometers across various routes in central Portugal.