After the tarmac in Ireland, the snow in Norway and the mixed surface of Cyprus, the World Rally Championship heads to Portugal this weekend for the first all-gravel event of the 2009 season.

The event returns to the calendar after a year out in 2008, with over half of the rally set to be run over new stages compared to the last Portuguese event back in 2007.

All in all, 18 stages will be used to decide the winner, running to a total of 361.36km of competitive action.

Special notes:

Portugal in back on the calendar for the first time since 2007 and marks the start of a run of more traditional gravel events, with Cyprus last time out having featured two days of gravel action following a day on tarmac.

FIA World Rally Championship news:

The Portuguese round of the WRC will see the first outing for the latest evolution of both the works Citroen C4 WRC and the Ford Focus RS WRC – with minor changes having been made to both cars in an effort to increase performance.

Following Rally Cyprus, the FIA World Motor Sport Council confirmed more details on the future of the WRC by revealing that the series will go to S2000 rules from 2011. S2000 cars will be permitted in 2010 alongside the current WRC machines. While a bodykit will be available for cars, no turbos will be permitted. From 2013, the FIA intends to use 1600cc turbo engines.

Sebastien Loeb is now the first driver in WRC history to have secured 50 wins following his success in Cyprus last time out.


News from the Manufacturers' teams:

Citroen Total WRT:

[Sebastien Loeb, car #1 and Daniel Sordo, car #2]

Sebastien Loeb:

"The Citroen C4 WRC is competitive on all the different types of surface, as our recent successes in the rain in Ireland, on snow in Norway and on the mixed-surface Cyprus Rally. Portugal marks the return of a more conventional format. If we are competitive here, it would suggest that we are also likely to be strong on the year's other gravel rounds.

"I start every event with the intention of winning. We will push hard from the start and see how things unfold…"

Dani Sordo:

"There are plenty of new stages, but I enjoy this rally which is very varied. The stages are narrow in places, and fast and wider in others. It's a concentrate of what we will find in Argentina, Greece and Sardinia later in the year.

"If only for [the travelling Spanish fans], I will give it my very best shot. It's always nice to feel their support behind me. As in 2007, my aim will be to finish on the podium."


BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT:

[Mikko Hirvonen, car #3 and Jari-Matti Latvala, car #4]

Mikko Hirvonen:

"I'm confident of matching the pace I showed [on the gravel in Cyprus] because my speed, especially on the drier sections, gave me plenty of belief for the gravel events to come. The engine upgrades are another step forward. Although the nature of the regulations means huge steps forward are impossible to achieve, there is more power and a bit more response and that will all help.