Held by the end of next March, between 25 and 27, the 55th edition of the Azores Rallye will be the first of a double Atlantic round to be carried out by the drivers and teams competing for the 2021 edition of the FIA European Rally Championship. Due to its peculiarity and spectacularity, the Azorean event maintains the status of anchor event of this disputed championship that, in 2020, knew a smaller version, but that returns big by the beginning of March 2021 with eight events, equally distributed among on gravel and on asphalt surfaces based rallies but which giving particular attention to the costs involved for the teams.
Jean-Baptiste Ley, the FIA ERC coordinator, said: “In order for the ERC success story to continue, it is essential that every effort be made to reduce costs when it is practical and advantageous to do so. The calendar was structured with accessibility in mind. Therefore, we are expectant about the concept of setting up paired events, helping to reduce the cost of competition”.
With Portugal receiving the first two rallies of the FIA ERC calendar next year, Rally Islas Canarias follows Azores Rallye, after which the championship returns to continental soil for the remaining rounds.
Rui Moniz, Head of Grupo Desportivo Comercial, organizer of Azores Rallye, says he’s “very pleased with the renewal of our event status and importance by Eurosport Events, as we organized the biggest Azorean sporting event, which, as we said, was never in question for the next season of the FIA ERC. Our event is a true showcase of the Azores to the world”. The also Head of the Azores Rallye Organizing Committee continues, affirming himself “greatly confident in the performance of the entire organization and the Race Direction in the mission entrusted. This rally was ready twice, so the work is ahead for the 2021 edition, the 55th of the Azores Rallye, whether the pandemic situation allows the event to be held”, concludes Rui Moniz.
The Azores Rallye will once again focus the attention of thousands of spectators and motorsport enthusiasts from all over the world, asserting itself as one of the most important event for foreign tourism projection of the Portuguese archipelago, as well as an important factor of the regional economics dynamization.
This is the approved calendar for the 2021 edition of the FIA European Rally Championship, the FIA ERC, subject to ratification by the FIA World Council
March 12 to 14 – Serras de Fafe and Felgueiras Rally (Portugal, gravel)
March 25th to 27th – Azores Rallye (Portugal – Azores, gravel)
6 to 8 May – Rally Islas Canarias (Spain – Canary Islands, asphalt)
18 to 20 June – 77th Rally Poland (Poland, gravel)
1 to 3 July – Liepaja Rally * (Latvia, gravel)
23 to 25 July – Rally Di Roma Capitalle (Italy, asphalt)
27 to 29 August – 50th Barum Czech Rally Zlin (Czech Republic, asphalt)
22 to 24 October – Rally Hungary (Hungary, asphalt)
* subject to signature according to the event promoter
Substitute events:
San Remo Rally (Italy, asphalt), Cyprus Rally (Cyprus, gravel), SPA Rally (Belgium, asphalt)