Organisers of the flagship “Rali de Portugal” race event learnt today that they will be losing a million-euros worth of state funding next year as “Turismo de Portugal” pulls its long-running support.
The decision stems from “lack of return in terms of touristic projection”, said a communiqué from the Ministry of the Economy.
Instead, money will be ploughing funding into other areas of “commercialisation” – like the installation of the recently announced EasyJet based in Porto, said the release.
Earlier this year, Rali de Portugal announced it would be moving the event from the Algarve – where it has been for the last few years – to north of the Douro River. It was an announcement that upset Algarve mayors, who felt the region needed the event.
Turismo de Portugal has funded the last seven years of the rally to the tune of 7 million euros.
Next year’s race is expected to cost between 3.6-3.8 million – 500.000 euros more than it cost this year.
Approached by Portuguese press earlier today, President of the ACP automobile club of Portugal Carlos Barbosa said he would not be commenting before he had received “official notification” from the economy ministry.
