Miguel Caires and Kris Meeke eye victory at Madeira Rally

Portuguese driver Miguel Caires, 44, heads to the Madeira Rally determined to improve on his season’s strong form. He aims for a podium finish despite the event’s long, unfamiliar stages and strong regional, national and international competition. Caires, who progressed from a Peugeot 208 R2 debut in 2019 to a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, currently sits fifth in the overall standings after winning several recent heats.

British rally veteran Kris Meeke returns to Madeira in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, openly targeting the top step after a puncture cost him last year’s win. He acknowledges the rally’s technical difficulty and the advantage of local drivers, noting that Diego Ruiloba won the previous two editions. Meeke, a 2009 IRC champion and former WRC contender (2015–2019), also secured Portuguese national titles in 2024 and 2025.