The ACP said the ‘Gaia Street Stage’ had been withdrawn from the seventh stage of the world rally championship (WRC), scheduled for 1 June, meaning the Rali de Portugal will be reduced to 18 special timed stages.

“As it is less than a month to the rally date, it is not realistic to find an alternative.

As this unforeseen decision is completely outside the control of the ACP, we deeply regret the situation, it said in a communiqué.

The 53rd edition of the Rali de Portugal will be held between 30 May and 2 June.

Porto hosted the special street stage in 2016 and 2018, while it was Braga’s turn in 2017.