Giandomenico Basso returns to Madeira Rally aiming for fifth win

Italian rally driver Giandomenico Basso, 52, is back at the Madeira Rally in Portugal after a 13‑year break. He previously secured victories on the island in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2013 and is now targeting a fifth win.

Basso, who finished second in the 2025 European Rally Championship and leads the ERC Master category, said he is grateful for the chance to compete again. He expects fierce competition from local drivers familiar with the island’s demanding stages but is confident in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. "We will give our best to be competitive and win," he added.

The rally forms part of the European Rally Championship calendar, and Basso’s return is seen as a high‑profile comeback for the former European champion and multiple‑time Italian title holder.