Bernardo Sousa could compete on as many as three rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.

The 21-year-old, who made his debut in the WRC in 2007, is again going to contest the Production Car World Rally Championship this season, having inked a deal to use an Abarth Grande Punto-run by the Portuguese Sports & You team.

However, he is also keen to take in some additional events – including a few in the IRC.

"I am looking at the Azores, plus one tarmac event and maybe one more gravel event," he confirmed ahead of his first P-WRC event of 2009 in Norway this weekend.

"Madeira is a possibility but that is my home rally so there is always a big pressure on you to try to win your home event and that is not easy.

“The Rally Principe de Asturias in Spain could also be quite interesting but we will have to see."

Sousa said one of the attractions of the IRC was the regulation concerning the number of passes a driver can make of a stage during the reconnaissance. On P-WRC events, drivers are restricted to two passes only, whereas on selected IRC events they are allowed to drive through a stage up to four times.

"That could also be an advantage for me,” he added, “because my experience is not so high on some events."

Sousa also noted that he was especially keen to try an asphalt-based rally with his new Abarth Grande Punto because the P-WRC schedule doesn't include any rounds on tarmac.