The organization and GNR encourage the public to behave well at Rally Portugal.

The Automobile Club de Portugal (ACP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR) issued an appeal on Tuesday for good fan behavior throughout the four days of the 57th Rally Portugal, which starts on Thursday.

The organization of this fifth World Championship race (WRC) expects more than a million people to watch the competitors take on the world’s most popular event to date.

“Our rally is a global benchmark in terms of safety and we want it to continue in the same spirit. We ask fans who will be in the areas to adhere to all instructions from the GNR and Race Stewards and only watch the rally in designated areas. for the public, which have been created to guarantee all conditions of accessibility and safety. Only in this way can we guarantee the normal course of the event,” said Horacio Rodriguez, rally director.

GNR also emphasizes the need for public cooperation with the organization and authorities.

“This will be one of the cornerstones of the success of this operation. We have a complex operation that required careful planning on our part, and we want to guarantee the safety of all spectators and participants of the event,” emphasized Lieutenant Colonel Mafalda Almeida.

The same GNR spokesman cited “unfavorable atmospheric conditions with high temperatures and dry weather.”

“Since we are in forested areas, we reiterate the call for everyone to cooperate, including to prevent fires,” he concluded.

The race begins on Thursday at the Figueira da Foz super special stage, the first of 22 special stages that will be contested until Sunday.

Among the favorites are Finnish world champion Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) or Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris), five-time winner of the Portuguese race.