There will be 66 teams taking part in the 49th edition of the Madeira Wine Rally so far, according to the organising committee of the region's most important race. Under the leadership of Paulo Fontes, the committee managed to gather a vast array of contenders.

"We have one of the best entry lists of the IRC, even without breaking the record of S2000 entries," Fontes said during the presentation of the 2008 entry list.

"The best will be in Madeira," he continued. "The best drivers, those who really have a word to say in the IRC, the National Championship, the Regional Championship and ERC."

According to the organiser of the IRC event, there are "good reasons to expect a very competitive rally, with a lot of emotion and many fights" for podium places and more.

The organising committee also mentioned that its budget was modified following the hiring of a helicopter to cover the event, which will take place August 1-2.