Duarte Rodrigues, from Viana do Castelo, and Inês Veiga, from Águeda, achieved significant results at the Rally Constálica – Castro Daire – Oliveira de Frades – Vouzela, which took place last weekend. Behind the wheel of a Citroën Saxo Cup, the duo secured victory in the 1600cc class of the Promolafões Rali Cup and in the X1-9 class, also achieving second place among two-wheel drive competitors in the Centro Ralis Championship and the Promo Ralis Championship.
Facing strong competition and stages where several rivals were very familiar with the route, the team opted for a balanced strategy, prioritizing consistency in the early phase of the event and progressively increasing the pace. Duarte Rodrigues explained that on the first day they adopted a more cautious pace in the Castro Daire specials, knowing it would be essential to attack from the first kilometers on Sunday to achieve a competitive result.
Inês Veiga highlighted the driver's evolution throughout the season, considering that the performance demonstrated at the rally shows the duo's growth. According to the co-driver, Duarte's talent and dedication are beginning to be visible to everyone, and it is an honor to be part of a project where the progress from event to event is increasingly evident.
The duo's next participation is scheduled for the Rali de Viana do Castelo, which takes place on September 18th and 19th. Duarte Rodrigues expressed excitement for the event, as it is his "home" rally, promising to treat the people of Viana do Castelo to strong pace and plenty of spectacle, also thanking the Municipality of Viana do Castelo for its support of the project.
