The second season of the Clio Trophy Portugal begins tomorrow (Friday), with the 2025 Rally Castelo Branco and Vila Velha de Ródão.
The emblematic event of the Brazilian Rally Championship promises two intense days of competition, with a timed route of 108.88 kilometres, divided into 12 Special Classification Tests (PEC) – four held on Friday and eight on Saturday. This will be the first of five events in a calendar contested entirely on asphalt. After Danny Carreira’s victory in the trophy’s debut year, who will be the champion?
The Clio Trophy Portugal is once again livening up national rallies, with arguments that consolidate it as a differentiating proposition: it is the most accessible organized trophy in the country, the unbeatable competitiveness/price ratio of the Clio Rally 5 – which, in 2024, did not register a single withdrawal due to technical problems – and the value of €40,000 in prizes.
Michelin is the new tire supplier, joining Mobilise Financial Services and MOTRIO as partners in the initiative promoted by Renault Portugal.
New names, same dreams
After Danny Carreira’s victory in 2024, expectations are renewed: who will be the new champion? The Clio Trophy Portugal 2025 presents a group of drivers, where youth meets experience, and among those registered for the first event of the season, it is worth noting that three are under 30 years old and many others are from the Algarve.
At just 19 years old (he turned 19 in April) and coming from a family with a tradition in the competition, Carlos Marreiros Jr. is the “youngest” of the Clio Trophy Portugal – and one of the youngest on the national scene. Born in Portimão, he took part in his first rally in 2022, when he was just 16 years old! With more than two dozen rallies under his belt, many of them in the Algarve, the young driver from the Algarve is in his second season in the Clio Trophy Portugal and is a name to watch closely throughout the season. The driver from the Algarve starts the season with Ricardo Barreto as his navigator.
At 28 years old, Filipa Tintim is taking on the legacy of her father, Vasco Tintim, who was one of the animators of the first edition of the Clio Trophy Portugal. A rally enthusiast, the driver from the Algarve made her debut behind the wheel in 2019, followed by occasional participations in events held in the south of the country and almost always with her sister Mariana dictating the scores. Already with some experience driving the Clio Rally5, Filipa is the first woman to accept the challenge of the trophy promoted by Renault Portugal and with her sister as navigator.
At 44 years old and after two decades of occasional participation in regional rallies, João Rodrigues finally realises his dream of competing in a full season of rallies. The victory among the 2RM in the 2023 edition of the Lisbon Rally and some brilliant performances in the Rali das Camélias create some expectation regarding what the driver from Mafra can do in the debut season of the Clio Trophy Portugal, with Bruno Carvalho as navigator.
At 23 years old, Luís Caetano is one of the young promises of national rallies, where he returned to his career after starting in karting and then becoming national off-road champion in 2023, in the T2 category. In 2024, the driver from Leiria gained experience at the wheel of the Clio Rally5, having finished his debut season in the Clio Trophy Portugal with a place on the podium in the last event on the calendar. This year, he will repeat the bet and with even greater ambitions. David Monteiro will dictate the scores.
Celebrating his 52nd birthday on June 6, Miguel Abrantes has participated in more than fifty rallies since 1999, and, in 2021, he was even the winner of the KIA Rally Cup. This wealth of experience will be useful in his debut season in the Clio Trophy Portugal, especially given the fact that he has already completed some races at the wheel of the Clio Rally5. A great enthusiast of the sport, the driver from Águeda is determined to counter the favouritism of the younger drivers, with Inês Veiga as his navigator.
At 48 years of age, Paulo Santos made his rally debut in 1998 and has competed regularly ever since, especially in rallies held in the Algarve, but also in the Azores. With several titles and victories in different categories over the years, the driver from Faro is now fulfilling his dream of participating in a national competition, with his experience being able to be an important triumph in his debut in the Clio Trophy Portugal. Gonçalo Palmeira will sit in the seat reserved for the co-driver.
At 28 years old, Tiago Pereira made his rally debut in 2020, and since then, his performances have not gone unnoticed by those who follow the sport. After a few victories and even titles in his category, the driver from the Central region is now looking to take another important step in his career, with his debut in the Clio Trophy Portugal and with Fernando Pereira as his navigator.
Equipped with an engine that claims 180 horsepower, a Sadev sequential gearbox, a self-locking differential, specific suspensions and brakes, and, of course, all the safety equipment required by international regulations, the Clio Rally5 benefits from FIA homologation. A proposal that combines performance, reliability and an extraordinary price-competitiveness ratio. The perfect base for young people who dream of a career in rallies, not forgetting the more experienced drivers who want to compete on a moderate budget.
The second season of the Clio Trophy Portugal starts this weekend in the city of Castelo Branco. Don’t miss it!
About the Clio Trophy Portugal
The Clio Trophy Portugal is a single-make trophy promoted by Renault Portugal, based on the Renault Clio Rally5, a model homologated by the FIA. With a competitive and accessible calendar, the trophy is ideal for beginner drivers who want to stand out in motorsport.
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