Cyclon supports World Champion Matteo Fontana at WRC Portugal

Cyclon, a member of the Motor Oil Group, returns dynamically to the World Rally Championship (WRC) for 2026 as an official supporter of WRC3 World Champion Matteo Fontana. The partnership includes three of the most demanding gravel events of the season: Rally Portugal (7–10 May), Acropolis Rally (25–28 June), and Rally Italy–Sardinia (1–4 October).

Concepts such as intensity, dynamism, resilience, and reliability represent a shared DNA between Cyclon and the world of rally racing—an alignment that is fully reflected in this new collaboration.

The 23-year-old Italian Matteo Fontana is one of the most promising rising talents on the international rally scene. With motorsport in his blood—his grandfather Luigi and father Corrado are both accomplished drivers and Italian titleholders—Matteo made his WRC debut in 2023 and has shown steady progression since then. In 2024, he claimed victory in the Rally3 category at the Acropolis Rally, while in 2025, together with co-driver Alessandro Arnaboldi, he was crowned WRC3 World Champion with five wins throughout the season. His 2026 campaign began in impressive fashion: at the Monte Carlo Rally, the Fontana–Arnaboldi duo set the fastest overall stage times twice with their Ford Fiesta Rally3, a first in WRC history.

The 6th round of the World Rally Championship takes place on 7–10 May 2026 in Matosinhos, near Porto. It is one of the most iconic events of the championship, having been part of the WRC calendar since its inception in 1973. Crews will face 23 special stages covering a total competitive distance of 345.14 kilometers.

A defining feature of Rally Portugal’s stages is the constantly changing road surface: initially soft and sandy gravel gradually turns into a harder surface filled with ruts and rocks, requiring excellent tire management, endurance, and speed. Among the standout stages are Amarante, measuring 30 km, and the legendary Fafe stage, famous for its spectacular jump that attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year. Fontana will compete with the Ford Fiesta Rally3 of the HMI Motorsport team, which guided him to last year’s title.

Remaining faithful to its vision of producing products that embody reliability, durability, and performance under demanding conditions, Cyclon chooses the world of rallying as the ideal platform to demonstrate its values in practice.

Its presence alongside a World Champion, in events that are true tests of endurance for both humans and machines, is the natural continuation of an identity forged on gravel.