It’s not since today that Fota SA is associated by the clients with organization of trips to the world’s big gest sport events of all in motorization.
This time the finalists of WRC Challenge promotion had a chance to go on the Portugal Race, which counts as the qualification to the world championship World Rally Championship.
The promotion participants in the first stage took part in the internal rally: they raced to purchase as much as possibile of the promotion partners products: ATE, Castrol, Gates, GKN/Lobro, febi as well as Kager Heating. The best contestants received valuable prizes but the crême de la crême of the promotion was the trip to WRC race for the leaders of shoppers who bought the most promoted products.
On Thursday 2 April the winners of WRC Challenge met all the sponsors and Fota representatives as well the trip organizers on the Warwaw airport Okęcie. Our 35 people team was unlike any other passengers for they were wearing earlier prepared shirts and caps with WRC logo and they wore it with great willingness. After quite a longish but pleasant flight during which the travelers made first firndships we then reached Lizbona. There was a bus already awaiting us which was representing all the sponsors signs and characteristic iconography of WRC Challenge it didn’t leave any doubt as to what attractions are waiting for the rally participants.!
Hotel Olissippo Oriente **** is located in one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods of Portugal’s capital: Expo. It is a part of the city right beside the Tagu pool which was erected for the ocasion of Expo exhibition organized in Lizbona in 1998. Glass office buildings modern hotels, gigantic entertainment hall, the largest oceanarium in Europe, famous Vasco da Gama gallery and a boulevard with a spectacular view on an impressive bridge. V.d Gamy create a modern and unique climate.
After checking into our hotel and a short break for some rest we all went for dinner to the nearby restaurants Bufalo Grill Rodizio. The traditional brazylian cuisine, joined with caipirinhii tasting made a great background for integration the promotion members with the sponsors and organizors of the event. The discussion and a lot of joy lasted until late at night and those who were prezent at F1 race at Monza shared their experience with those who won for the first time.
The morning woke us up with quite a burning sun and a delicate breeze from Taga pool. A very tasty breakfast made us stronger after last night’s happenings. The bus started out to Cabo da Roca – the farthest prominent point in Europe. Few hundred years ago this place was still thouhgt to be the end of the world. The emotions accompanying the presence in this magical place are hard to describe with words. Huge few hundred meters cliff just by the watter a wonderfull view on the ocean as well as strong sea wind made the visitors dream about the history of portugese discoverers voyages about whom they heard quide’s stores. From Cabo da Roca we then went to Sintra, it is a place where the Postugese rulers build their summer residence. The closeness of the ocean as well as the Town situation that is high in the mountains determine its specific and health friendly microclimate. At Sindra lunch time came during which we Got to know what portugese hospitality really means, that is 6 courses served. It stayed like that until the last day… so that even the big gest pluttons had to from time to time say NO to heating some of the delicious dishes!
The next part of the trip’s Schedule after coming back to the hotel was a visit at Oceanario de Lisboa. While touring around it we could admire several kinds of Fish and Rother sea creatures living in all the three oceans. We were under great impression of large sharks and rays. Other creatures related with the water world were also there ex: seals, penquins, and very cute beavers.
Next day meant a travel to Lizbona taht is Algarve, region where the WRC race took place. After few hor driver we reaches the hotel Porto Bay **** located directly by the ocean. A short rest after which we switched to a new mean of transport – small, reversible buses and we were on our way to first OES. The sensations were fantastic: we got great seats so we could see the worls fastest drivers racing from a very short distance. Loeb, Hirvonen, Sardo, Solberg and… Kościuszko (the only Pole starting at JWRC) raced on our eyes. In the evening when we drove to a restaurants Akvavit which specializes in sea food serving the organizors prepared a soecial quiz about WRC knowkedge, the results showed that indeed the members know much above average.
Sunday passe by with WRC as well. This time the racers achievements we observed at stadio de Algarve. Several thousand audience was lively reacting to the drivers show off. In the general classification the leader which was not a surprise became, S. Loeb from Citroen team. After the whole event we had the chance to have a short conversation and a picture to remem ber with the driver. After a bid dose of emotions and adrenalin we started our trip back to Lizbona we stayed in the same hotel as before that is Olissippo Oriente ****. One last akcent of the celebration was a goodbye supper at Club de Fado, one of the oldest, the most expensive and the most prestigous restaurants in old town with fodo music live, Lisboa by night tour and back to the hotel getting ready to trip back home.
On Monday strenhtened by a nutricious breakfast we got moving to the air port. The members were in great moods, although the perspective of coming back to reality was disturbing their blissful humour. On their way back many clients promised themselves that they are going to meet in the same company next year. Needless to say with FOTA.
