Today’s specials on Rally Portugal live on Red Bull TV 20.05.2017: -- one live stage, and Carlos and Luis making their rallying "comeback" on Portugal’s most famous road

-- one live stage, and Carlos and Luis making their rallying "comeback" on Portugal’s most famous road

 


They’ve not competed together on a regular basis for 15 years, and not even sat in a rally car with each other for more than three years. But before then, between 1988 and 2002, they were inseparable WRC partners for another 15 years: covering millions of kilometres and seeing more of each other than they did of their wives, being away together for more than 300 days each year.
 


Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya were reunited on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Carlos’s WRC debut on Rally Portugal in 1987. On that occasion 30 years ago, Carlos was co-driven by his former navigator Antonio Boto, but Luis then joined him exactly one year later in 1988 – also on Rally Portugal.
 


So, this is the place that started their incredible story, which resulted in two world titles and 24 rally wins together. Sainz and Moya proved that they were capable of winning everywhere; including the events that were previously considered to be off-limits to everyone other than local drivers, such as Finland.
 


How better to celebrate their momentous achievements than one final run together over Rally Portugal’s most iconic stage: Fafe, where thousands of spectators gather to see the cars fly over the famous jumps? On Sunday, Fafe will be run twice – including the rally-ending Power Stage.
 



The astonishing countryside, spread out as far as you can see and punctuated by Portugal’s characteristic wind turbines, forms a fantastic backdrop to a unique revival run featuring these two legends of the sport. Their car was a Peugeot 208 T16, built to R5 specification by the same manufacturer with which Carlos currently competes on the Dakar Rally in South America.
 


Even, without a competitive element, there were plenty of emotions. And the two of them still took it incredibly seriously, commanding the car in a mesmerising masterclass of their abilities.



“I know what will happen; the minute Carlos sits in the car, he’ll want to start adjusting it: a little thing here, and another thing there,” points out Luis before they set off. “And he’s laughing now because he knows that it’s true! There’s only one way he approaches things, even if it’s meant to be just for fun…”
 


“Rallying has been my life and it’s given me everything,” adds Carlos. “But it’s changed so much since I started, and it’s been amazing watching the technology getting more and more. It’s not just the cars that have changed but also the sport and the places: when myself and Luis first did Rally Portugal, there weren’t many highways, so just getting to the stage was a navigational challenge!”
 


So fasten your seatbelts as Carlos and Luis take you for a memorably stunning ride through Portugal’s hilly and sandy hinterland. It’s the next best thing to actually sitting in the Peugeot with them. And that’s not all: follow all the action from stage 13, Vieira do Minho, live. There’s been plenty of drama on the rally so far, and it’s only set to increase for the rest of the weekend.







RED BULL TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE



Friday 19 May: Highlight Show - 22:00 (local time WEST) / 23:00 CEST

Saturday 20 May: Live Coverage - 14:50 (local time WEST) / 15:50 CEST

Saturday 20 May: Highlight Show - 22:00 (local time WEST) / 23:00 CEST

Sunday 21 May: Highlight Show - 22:00 (local time WEST) / 23:00 CEST




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Vera Dussausaye, photo Red Bull