It had to be celebrated in a big way. ANDhe World Rally Championship celebrates half a century of history and has celebrated it with a grand gala in Portugal, where tomorrow starts the fourth appointment of the season. An event in which Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya have been protagonists, the Madrilenian sharing honors with many other champion drivers, and the Galician acting as master of ceremonies and presenter of the event.
The Rally of Portugal, one of those that were present in the first season held in 1973, has been the chosen stage to bring together many of the champions and many of the leading cars of those 50 years of history. 28 titles have been brought together in Porto by Sainz himself, Sebastien Loeb, Sebastien Ogier, Walter Röhrl, Ari Vatanen, Miki Biasion, Marcus Gronholm, Petter Solberg and Ott Tanak. And Moya has been in charge of directing the party with a microphone at the ready, entertaining the evening for all attendees.
For the mechanical part, 28 jewels of all time have been gathered, from Alpine, Opel Ascona or Lancia Stratos, to the Hyundai i20 or Volkswagen Polo WRC, passing through the long-awaited group B, such as the Lancia Delta S4 or the Audi Quatro S1. Among them, two of those that Sainz drove stood out, the 1993 Lancia Delta Integrale or the 1998 and 1999 Toyota Corolla WRC.
The act has had the presence of the president of the International Automobile Federation, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, that he has recalled that “since its inaugural season in 1973, the World Rally Championship has provided spectacular action. He has featured the most iconic cars, historic locations and legendary drivers and co-drivers who have secured a special place in the annals of motorsports. The FIA has continually pushed for evolution in a sporting and technical sense. This year is no exception, as the WRC ushers in hybrid technology, sustainable fuel and advanced safety measures. As the championship enters its 50th season, it’s time to reflect on those remarkable achievements, celebrate with champions past and present, and look to a bright future.”