On Wednesday, the Regional Secretary for the Presidency assured the public that the Regional Government believes in the importance of this years SATA Rally Azores to the projection of the Azores abroad, given that it will be a part of the national rally championship. 

After meeting in Ponta Delgada with the President of Grupo Desportivo Comercial, the association that organises the rally, André Bradford assured that the Regional Government will support the rally.   He added that the "rally of the Azores is included in one of the most important rally championships in the world, an honour to the Azores" and " a factor that increases our responsibilities, but also those of all Azoreans as well as of those involved in the organisation of the event." 

The Regional Secretary for the Presidency said that " the Regional Government is available to, within its capacities and in so far as it is requested, to work and collaborate intensely towards the success of the rally"  given the "importance of the inclusion of the Azores rally in the IRC championship." 

The Secretary said that he is aware that " there is a possibility that the Azores Rally will remain included in the IRC championship in the forthcoming years", considering that this sporting event "must be evaluated in in general terms and not merely for its sporting merits." 

Concerning the attribution of the "pubic utility" status to the Azores Rally by the Government of the Republic, André Bradford said that this "is an official  and nation-wide recognition of the importance that we have always attributed to the rally." 

In his view, this statute "brings greater responsibilities, not only for us as for the Government of the Republic and to national organisations that,  having decided to confer this statute upon the rally, commit themselves to participating in it, supporting its realisation and providing the means for its realisation, in accordance with the requisites of this kind of competition." 

He added, "I am convinced that this was a very important step, albeit formal, in order to ensure that there is greater involvement of (national) governmental institutions supporting the Azores Rally."