Veiby and Cais at the start of the Azores rally

2023 in the rally of the Azores is no longer on the calendar of theERC while he was one of the pillars since 2009 and the IRC period. The criticism of this event is that it takes place in the middle of the Atlantic and therefore requires significant logistics for the delivery of equipment. In order to persist in the "rally" landscape, the always dynamic organizers of this autonomous region of Portugal have been mobilizing for several weeks, with this round of the TER championship fast approaching (March 31-April 2).

Ole Christian Veiby will meet his compatriot Andreas Mikkelsen during the next Azores rally (Photo Grégory Lenormand / DPPI)

After announcing the arrival of Andreas Mikkelsen then that of Sébastien Loeb, two other drivers will join these two world champions. Ole Christian Veiby will travel to Ponta Delgada and discover the island's particularly selective stages. The 26-year-old Norwegian is currently focusing on his national competition, but he should then line up in the WRX with Johan Kristofferson's team. He will drive a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 from the Spanish team Race Seven, the team which supported Efren Llarena during his victory last year.   

The very promising Czech Erik Cais will also be present at the start of the 57^e edition of the event on the island of São Miguel. Unlike Loeb or Veiby, the 23-year-old driver will not be a novice. He has already participated in this race twice, in 2019 in a Ford Fiesta R2T and in 2021 in a Fiesta Rally2. This year, he will operate the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 from the Orsak Rally Sport team which he has been using since the start of the year.

Organized between Friday and Saturday, the rally includes 12 special stages and 109,32 km timed.