=Roadburner

Well, this has been a busy week! And the rally only starts later today!

Yesterday I spent all day at the FIAT local dealer, FunchalAuto, seeing and photographing the Abarth Works Team and Renato Travaglia's team (Trico Motorsport) doing their business and preparing the cars for the Shakedown and the rally itself.

It was tiring and sometimes boring, but some pictures I took and the people and things that I could see first hand were worth it. Thanks to my buddy Carlos for letting me roam around the garage and get to talk to the Abarth Team manager, among other things.

I loved to see them unmake and rebuild a titanium gearbox, and then using only a laptop to turn on the Punto S2000 (number 9) and test the engine and gearbox while the car was suspended from the ground. They can get a gearbox changed in some 20 minutes... It was incredible to see all of this...

Tomorrow, or later this day (Thursday), I'll be photographing the Super Special Stage (SSS) that gets the event started. I hope I can get good stuff to submit here.

I've also been invited to lend some of my pictures to the site RalisMadeira.com and I'm very pleased. They seem to be dedicated fans like me, and I'm glad to help them out. The pictures on the site are small, but if you see any that you'd like to see in high res I'll submit in my gallery!

Take care, and keep visiting. And for those who can, enjoy the Vinho Madeira.

PS: Please visit and support for his help on my new journal layout. He really knows the stuff!