ERC
Countdown to ERC Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal is go!
The countdown to the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship season finale is go with the preparation for Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal well and truly under way.
Marking the return of the ERC to Fafe and the surrounding municipalities for the first time since 2023, Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal takes place from 23 - 25 October and features a mainly gravel route consisting of 17 stages over a timed distance of 181.10.
Among the highlights are the famous Pedra Sentada jump, located nearing the finish of the legendary Lameirinha stage (known as the Fafe stage in the FIA World Rally Championship), and the all-new, all-asphalt Monte Penha test in Guimarães, which takes over from Fafe as the start and finish location.
ERC drivers wil be flying high during the season finale
© ERC
In a media communication issued by the Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal organisers, it was explained that: “The main novelty in the rally’s structure, aiming to enhance its future strategic and sporting potential – grounded in the promotion of Northern Portugal – is the inclusion of more municipalities, including Guimarães. The birthplace of Portuguese nationality will host the start ceremony and the awards ceremony, in addition to hosting the opening stage.
“Fafe remains the nerve center (Service Park and Parc Fermé) of the rally organised by Demoporto – Clube de Desportos Motorizados do Porto, with the municipal partnership for this 2026 edition also including Felgueiras, Boticas, Cabeceiras de Basto, and Ribeira de Pena”.
The communication continued: “With the inclusion of Guimarães and Ribeira de Pena among the host municipalities for this FIA ERC event, both regions are now integrated into its structure. Both the start and the finish podium will be staged at Campo de S. Mamede, next to Guimarães Castle, which will host a drivers’ autograph session on Friday afternoon following a brief parade of rally cars through the historic centre. Moreover, the opening stage (Monte Penha/Guimarães) will take place on the outskirts of the city on asphalt, utilising almost the entirety of the well-known Rampa da Penha.
Rallying is hugely popular in Northern Portugal
© ERC
“The first leg, on Saturday 24 October, does not differ much from the previous 2023 ERC edition, with the novelties being the Ribeira de Pena stage, the remote service in Boticas, and also the regrouping in Cabeceiras de Basto, similar to what happened in the last two years of the Portuguese championship.
“On Sunday, the final leg is split between Fafe and Felgueiras, featuring the classic Montim, Seixoso, Santa Quitéria, and Lameirinha stages.
Parcídio Summavielle, vice-president of Fafe City Council and a driving force behind the event, said: “Taking advantage of the pandemic period to host the ERC in 2020, we made a good impression, through an effort by Demoporto and our partner municipalities, and that left at least one door open. This allowed us to return now to the European championship, with 2026, 2027 and 2028 contracted and, eventually, even something more.”
Summavielle continued: “Guimarães brings the weight of tradition, history, and heritage, and will be an extremely important strategic partner in an event that will be the last one of 2026 organised under the new promoter, which, as is known, is common to both the WRC and the ERC. It will be an honour, a privilege, and a huge responsibility for this group of municipalities to host the ERC season-closing rally.
“The rally is called 6 Cities North of Portugal and we are not promoting Fafe, Guimarães, Cabeceiras de Basto, Boticas, Felgueiras, and Ribeira de Pena, but rather the entire Northern Portugal, which has been a privileged stage, appreciated and applauded at the highest level as far as rallies are concerned.
Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal was launched last month
© Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal
“We will not abandon this stage or Northern Portugal, nor will we give up the obligation to promote this unique territory. This work is done in collaboration with Turismo Porto e Norte de Portugal, and we hope, in the future, to create conditions for Turismo de Portugal, through Turismo Porto e Norte de Portugal, to get more and more intensely involved in the event. And I am in a position to announce that for 2027 we will already have more partner municipalities.
“We will not give up bringing in new territories with other potentials, because all the municipalities of Northern Portugal interest us and we can never have too many. Together we will surely be able to build an ever-better rally with greater projection, and everyone will win from this, Northern Portugal above all.”
Click HERE to find out more about Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal.
