Ricardo Moura and António Costa (Ford Fiesta R5) won the 51st edition of the Azores Rallye, now called Azores Airlines Rallye. Embedded from the first time on struggle for the overall victory, soon they made known that they would be some steps further than other competitors for the National Championship and the focus would be centred at the remaining places of the podium.

At the end of the rally, Pedro Meireles and Mário Castro (Skoda Fabia R5) claimed the second best score between the National competitors, with the driver from Guimarães finishing second amongst National, sixth overall.
 
José Pedro Fontes and Inês Ponte (Citroen DS3 R5) came to the Azores with the purpose of maintaining this year’s National Championship scoreboard leadership. Some mistakes and some problems during the event made the reigning Portuguese rally champion loose some time, finishing third amongst Nationals, eight overall 33,8 seconds slower than Meireles/Castro.
 
On the National two wheel drive competition, Diogo Gago and Hugo Magalhães (Peugeot 208 R2) took some revenge over last year’s result and won the rally on 2WD overall, but most important amongst ERC Junior drivers.
 
Paulo Neto and Vitor Hugo (Citroen DS3 R3T) finished this year’s edition of Azores Airlines Rallye at the mid-podium place.
 
Miguel Carvalho and Paulo Lopes (Citroen C2 R2 Max) completed the top 3 scoreboard amongst 2WD competitors for the National rally championship.
 
Azores Airlines Rallye 2016 – National Championship Top 11
Pos    Nr.    Driver    Codriver    Car    Time
1    18    Ricardo Moura    António Costa    Ford Fiesta R5    42:23,5
2    15    Pedro Meireles    Mário Castro    Skoda Fabia R5    05:44,1
3    14    José Pedro Fontes    Inês Ponte    Citroen DS3 R5    06:17,9
4    27    Ricardo Teodósio    José Teixeira    Ford Fiesta R5    07:01,2
5    17    Miguel Barbosa    Miguel Ramalho    Skoda Fabia R5    07:31,3
6    23    Carlos Vieira    Jorge Carvalho    Citroen DS3 R5    08:20,5
7    26    Manuel Castro    Luis Costa    Skoda Fabia S2000    11:23,2
8    41    Diogo Gago    Hugo Magalhães    Peugeot 208 R2    11:48,3
9    25    Elias Barros    Ricardo Faria    Ford Fiesta R5    21:17,3
10    43    Paulo Neto    Vitor Hugo    Citroen DS3 R3T    22:15,8
11    56    Miguel Carvalho    Paulo Lopes    Citroen C2 R2 Max    24:13,7