Live TV for Rally de Portugal
Once again, fans unable to attend the stages will be able to see some of the action of the 2016 Vodafone Rally de Portugal unfold live via a number of planned broadcasts.
With stunning footage coming from both the ground and the air, the live broadcasts promise to be just as thrilling as being there in person.
The planned broadcasts are:
Thursday 19th May 19:00 RTP 2 – SSS1 Lousada
Friday 20th May 19:00 RTP 1 – SS 8/9 Porto Street
Saturday 21st May 12:00 RTP 1 – SS12 Amarante 1
18:00 RTP 2 – SS15 Amarante 2
Sunday 22nd May 09:05 RTP 1 – SS17 Fafe 1
12:05 RTP 1 – SS19 Fafe 2
There will also be a daily program with highlights of the rally on RTP 3
One of the most important elements of success on the Vodafone Rally de Portugal is tyre choice; in recent years, tyre choice and management has been one of the biggest talking points and major influences on the outcome of the event.
The tyres manufacturers – Pirelli, Michelin, Hankook and DMACK – accordingly take their trade seriously. Pirelli, for example, has some 600 tyres prepared for the nine to ten cars running on its products this weekend.
A spokesman for Korean manufacturer Hankook, said; “This year, the stages seem to be slightly softer than last year. This might be because there was rain in the area of the rally the week before.
“If the ambient temperature remains slightly lower than last year, then the softer tyre might work better. It may be a case of soft tyres in the morning and harder examples in the afternoon.
“However, if the temperature rises past around 25 degrees C, then drivers using the soft tyres will probably begin to have problems.”
The current weather forecast suggests Friday could be the warmest day, with temperatures expected to reach low to mid-20s while cooler days on Saturday and Sunday – 19 and 18 deg respectively – are predicted. There is currently a 50% chance of rain on Saturday night, which could affect the stages for the final leg of the rally.