FUCHS reinforces support for driver Hugo Lopes in 2025
FUCHS reinforces support for driver Hugo Lopes in 2025
Honoured as FPAK Driver Revelation 2024, Hugo Lopes, 27, had his best season ever last year: He won the Portuguese Junior Rally Championship and the European Rally Trophy Junior and came second in the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR) 2RM. In 2025, he will make his debut in the CPR 4RM as an official driver for Team Hyundai Portugal. Always by his side, since 2022: FUCHS. In 2025, the workshop brand reinforces its support for AMSPORT's mechanical engineer. The renowned workshop in Viseu uses FUCHS lubricants exclusively, both in competition and in the maintenance of its corporate and private clients' vehicles. "For FUCHS, it's great to have a partnership with a young driver like Hugo, who has been racing since he was 13. He's got drive, talent, focus and he's really committed to giving it his all, in other words, he's going to show that our high-performance oils work perfectly in extreme conditions and that they protect the engine, brakes, gearbox and differentials during competition," explains André Castro Pinheiro, Managing Director of FUCHS Portugal, at the signing of the new contract with Hugo Lopes and his navigator Magda Oliveira on 11 March 2025 in Maia.
What does the partnership with FUCHS mean for Hugo Lopes and Magda Oliveira? How did their debut in the CPR 4RM go? Here are the answers from the pair from Viseu.
What happened at the Serras de Fafe Rally, Hugo?
Hugo: We got to the end earlier than expected, but until then I think we'd met our objectives. It was my first experience in a car of this generation, in a four-wheel drive car and on dirt. In the 50 or 60 kilometres we ran, we had even set some interesting times and shown our pace and speed. In some sections, in the shakedown for example, we were ahead of many national drivers and I think that was a good indicator. Then, unfortunately, on the Luílhas section, which was really bad, with lots of stones and mud and a stone on the inside of a bend, it was the end. The steering broke.
How long have you been training with the new car, a Hyundai i20 N Rally 2?
Hugo: Well, we did two dry tests in very different conditions. And we had the opportunity to test in the second test with Dani Sordo, who made us evolve a lot and we got good indicators, but it was dry, and we got to the rally and it was very complicated.
So what's the difference between driving a two-wheel drive car and a four-wheel drive car?
Hugo: On dirt there's a lot of difference. You have to change a lot of things and that, I admit, was a big shock for me. With four-wheel drive, you have to anticipate corners much more, then the car has a different weight and the traction power is completely different. We're able to corner much more quickly and the braking power is also what fascinates most. Of course, the difference in power is noticeable. The whole set-up is phenomenal.
What are your objectives for this first championship?
Hugo: This first championship is a partial programme. The aim is to get noticed and prepare as much as possible for the 2026 championship, which already has a full programme.
The support of FUCHS has already been secured.
Hugo: Yes, it's an asset for me and our AMSPORT workshop to have FUCHS with us. As a FUCHS driver, I can easily pass on the quality of the oils to the day-to-day customers in the workshop. All the lubricants I use, as an engineer on the racing side, are FUCHS: brake fluid, gearbox fluid and differential fluid. Customers trust FUCHS lubricants because they are good for motorsport, which is very demanding. During a race, at least in terms of lubricants, everything is always fine.
What are the next races?
Hugo: Right now we have the Castelo Branco Rally and the Água Rally lined up. The Madeira Wine Rally is almost finalised.
Apart from getting noticed, what is your competitive goal?
Hugo: To achieve a podium finish this year.
And how important is your partner Magda in this goal?
Hugo: Magda is the ideal person to be with me on this project, also because she's young and a woman in a sport mostly dominated by men. She's an asset because she's very focussed and shows very well that women are just as, if not more, capable than men.
Magda, who has raced ralicross before, became navigator at the start of 2024 when Hugo's previous co-driver was injured. Was it a good opportunity, Magda?
Magda: I wasn't expecting to be chosen, but there was very little time before the first race. We worked as hard as we could to give everything and we won the first rally straight away. Then we continued working on the other races. Unfortunately, I had to leave due to an injury, but I always continued to support Hugo at every rally. This year we returned and I never thought it would be so good.
