SATA Group is hosting the 51th edition of the ‘Azores Airlines Rallye’ taking place June 2-4 on São Miguel island.

The international car racing event – formerly named ‘SATA Rallye Azores’ – is organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) as part of the European Rally Championship.

With the participation of 36 contenders from 15 countries, including 21 top Portuguese drivers, the international contest opened in Latvia (February 5–7), ending in Cyprus (September 24-25).

In the Azores the competition features 16 stages covering 214.42 kilometers. The contest begins at the Portas da Cidade (Gates of the City) in Ponta Delgada, passing through some of the most emblematic scenic spots of São Miguel island.

Launched in 1965, the Azores Airlines Rallye is the fourth round of the FIA European Rally Championship with a total of 10 contests run internationally. The Azorean round also counts for the Portuguese Rally Championship and the Azorean Rally Championship.

Sponsored  by the Government of the Azores, the Azores Airlines Rallye is one of the most relevant sporting events promoting the Azores globally.

First contested in 1953, the European Rally Championship is one of the world’s most prestigious rallying series, organized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

FIA European Rally Championship calendar 2016:

1. 5-7 February: Rally Liepāja (Latvia)

2. 11-13 March: 40 Rally Islas Canarias

3. 7-9 April: Circuit of Ireland Rally (Northern Ireland)

4. 6-8 May: SEAJETS Acropolis Rally (Greece)

5. 2-4 June: Azores Airlines Rallye (Portugal)

6. 23-25 June: Kenotek by Cid Lines Ypres Rally (Belgium)

7. 15-17 July: auto24 Rally (Estonia)

8. 5-7 August: 25 Rajd Rzeszowski (Poland)

9. 26-28 August: Barum Czech Rally (Czech Republic)

10. 24-25 September: Cyprus Rally (Cyprus)

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Follow the event live here

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The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.