Kris Meeke, alongside co-driver Stuart Loudon, driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal, claimed victory this Saturday at the Rali Serras de Fafe. They finished with a commanding lead of 32.3 seconds over Dani Sordo in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2. As the curtain-raiser for the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR), the reigning champion showcased a clear superiority over his prime contender for the 2025 title. Armindo Araújo, piloting a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, consistently led the national drivers to secure a spot on the CPR podium.
Latvian Martins Sesks, in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, initially emerged as Meeke’s strongest challenger and even briefly claimed the lead. However, steering issues during the second pass through Luílhas forced him to withdraw from the race. Meanwhile, Sordo, who started the second day 21.7 seconds behind, encountered further setbacks with a puncture in the first stage of the day, adding 47.4 seconds to his deficit. Meeke’s morning was not without its challenges; a minor collision in the last stage through Cabeceiras de Basto cost him 49.2 seconds, narrowing the gap to Sordo to 35.2 seconds. Despite these hurdles, the positions remained unchanged until the finish, with Sordo earning an additional three points from winning the power stage.
In the meantime, Armindo Araújo solidified his third place as competitors Ricardo Filipe and Paulo Neto, both driving Skoda Fabia models, retired from the race. Ricardo Teodósio, adjusting well to his new Toyota Yaris Rally2, overtook José Pedro Fontes in the Citroen C3 Rally2 for fourth place after a promising battle. Unfortunately for Fontes, a broken half-shaft relegated him further back, leaving him to fend off Pedro Meireles in the closing stages.
Hugo Lopes and Magda Oliveira from the Hyundai Junior Team FPAK suffered a setback in their Hyundai i20 N Rally2 when a hidden rock damaged their suspension, leading to their withdrawal with five stages remaining. Rúben Rodrigues also retired due to a broken central differential in his Toyota Yaris Rally2.
In the two-wheel-drive category, the team of Guilherme Meireles and Pedro Alves dominated in their Peugeot 208 Rally4, finishing a solid 15.6 seconds ahead of Hélder Miranda and Rui Teixeira, with Sérgio Dias rounding out the podium.
The rally circuit moves next to the Casinos do Algarve Rally on the 28th and 29th of March, promising more thrilling dirt stage action.
Overall Rali Serras de Fafe Results
01: K. Meeke/S. Loudon (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) – 1h 18m 19.7s
02: D. Sordo/C. Carrera (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 32.2s
03: A. Araujo/L. Ramalho (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 38.8s
04: R. Teodosio/J. Teixeira (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 2m 57.2s
05: P. Meireles/M. Castro (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 4m 53.8s
06: J. P. Fontes/I. Ponte (Citroen C3 Rally2) + 6m 20.8s
07: E. Cunha/V. Cardoso (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 evo) + 6m 43.7s
08: G. Membrado/A. Lopez (Ford Fiesta Rally2) + 7m 12.1s
09: M. Carvalho/A. Reis (Hyundai i20 N5) + 10m 47.2s
10: G. Meireles/P. Alves (Peugeot 208 Rally4) + 14m 12.7s