Yohan Rossel will prepare Portugal for the Aboboreira

After a championship debut marked by only one event per month (Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Safari), the pace is set to accelerate. Following the Canary Islands this week, three races on rough gravel will follow in Portugal (May 3-13), Sardinia (June 18-4) and the Acropolis (June 8-26). For Yohan Rossel and the PH-Sport team, which prepares and maintains the C29s on the ground, this is a very important phase in their bid for the WRC3 title. In order to perfectly transition from tarmac to gravel, it was decided that the driver from Gard would line up at the start of Aboboreira (May 2-2) in Portugal.

This event has the advantage of taking place in the area around Amarante, which is located 60 km east of Porto. The 10 special stages to be contested represent 114,39 km timed on paths that will then be used by the WRC Saturday, May 17 for 2^e stage 5^e round of the calendar. The Aboboreira will be the 3^e meeting of the Portuguese championship which will allow Rossel and Arnaud Dunand his co-driver to be confronted with Kris Meeke (Yaris Rally2) or Dani Sordo (i20 Rally2) as well as the locals who know this terrain by heart. The Frenchman has experience on this event after his participation last year (3^e). Since this trip, he has shown excellent performances on gravel and he will seek to experience the same sensations, however, with a major unknown: the Hankook tires. With this parameter playing a major role, it would not be surprising if Aboboreira welcomes other WRC2 candidates.

Unlike Adrien fourmaux who will not be able to take all the special stages, because they are shared with the world championship, the Rally2 crews will be able to do so, which will be perfect training for the WRC.

ALSO READ > The 2025 Canary Islands Rally program