Maderian driver Felipe Freitas took another class win on the recent Rali do Faial, the final round of the Madeira Rally Championship, at the wheel of his MML Sports-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer EvolutionX Group N rally car. The local enjoyed another close battle with team-mate Joao Magalhaes to reach the finish ramp in third place overall behind a pair of S2000 cars and nine seconds clear of Magalhaes.
Freitas had a slow start to the event, just sixth fastest on the opening superspecial stage of the event. However, he soon turned this around and by the third stage, was setting second-fastest stage times. He remained well within the top four on each of the remaining stages, with the exception of the event’s final timed test, where he was again second fastest, ahead of team-mate Miguel Nunes in a Peugeot 207 S2000.
The result means that MML Sports cars have now won the final event in each of the championships they have competed in: Latvia, Slovakia and now, Madeira.
Commenting on the news, MML Sports Managing Director John Easton said: “Of course I’m delighted that Felipe took the class win on the final round of this year’s championship in Madeira. It’s also particularly encouraging as he was able to beat S2000 cars on equal footing, on asphalt. That’s a great achievement and one we’re proud to have been involved with.
“I’m also pleased that three drivers in our cars have ended their season with a win; Ivars [Vasaraudzis] in Latvia and becoming the 2010 champion in the process, Jaroslav [Melicharek] in Slovakia and now Felipe in Madeira. It’s a great feeling to know that, as we head into the motorsport off-season, drivers in our cars will be celebrating throughout the winter and it gives us a real boost as we start to prepare for the 2011 season.”