Ponta Delgada officials seek return of São Miguel rally to national championship

Pedro Furtado, Vice-President of the Ponta Delgada City Council, has called for a joint mobilization of public and private entities to return the Volta à Ilha de São Miguel rally to the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR) by 2027.

During the official presentation of the 59th Volta à Ilha de São Miguel – By Azores Rallye, scheduled for September 4 and 5, Furtado emphasized that the region's premier motorsport event deserves a place in the national championship. He noted that achieving this goal requires the collective involvement of organizers, pilots, local authorities, and businesses.

The Ponta Delgada City Council is providing unprecedented support of 65,000 euros for this year's event. Furtado highlighted the strategic importance of the rally, stating that such large-scale events act as catalysts for economic and social dynamism, benefiting tourism, hospitality, commerce, and local employment in Ponta Delgada and São Miguel.