--- title: "These Amazingly Intricate Rally Models Came From Lockdown and Passion" date: "2022-12-08" modified: "2022-12-08" authors: - name: "Aaron Cole" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/aaron-cole" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/these-amazingly-intricate-rally-models-came-from-lockdown-and-passion" categories: - "Culture" - "News" --- # These Amazingly Intricate Rally Models Came From Lockdown and Passion ![]() Like most of us in 2020, Pedro Gonçalves found himself with some extra time on his hands. Locked down at his home in Trofa, Portugal, near Porto, he had quite a bit of spare time, a passion, and needed a hobby. “In Portugal, you can only be a soccer fan and a [rally fan!]()” he told me. “I like and follow rally as often as I can. I am no expert, but I enjoy going and watching rally.” ![]() ![]() Passion? Check. Time on his hands? Check. Hobby … that’s pretty evident by these photos. After helping his daughter in 2016 with a school project—making a diorama of a Roman aqueduct—and the positive response he got, the proverbial light flicked on. Gonçalves could apply his model-making skills to soccer or rally dioramas. Luckily for us, it’s rally. Gonçalves has created more than a few dioramas of famous rally stages and scenes, many near his home in [Portugal](). His last, a water feature at Charco do Seixoso was his toughest yet, he said. “The water splash and the pool was very difficult to get it to work. I had to make many attempts; \[I had to\] make and remake until I could say it's perfect,” he said. The multimedia creation uses dozens of materials and takes hours to complete. He even sources dirt to look as close to real as possible. ![]() ![]() It’s a hobby for Gonçalves for now, although he’s been commissioned by rally drivers such as Škoda’s Jose Lameiro to make models of their stage drives. Although he’s made many models of [Portugal stages](), he’s also created scenes from Monte Carlo, Wales, and others. His favorite remains the first he’s made, a model of the Salto de Fefe stage near Serras de Fefe, the long jump at the end of the Portugal rally with a helicopter behind the car. ![]() ![]() ![]() Gonçalves says he can have up to three models going at a time, and each one takes him about four weeks to complete. He said he’s always up to create more, although his schedule is understandably filling up quickly. You might be wondering: How many sourdough starters have I sold since lockdown? Well … mind your business. Pedro’s better than me. Is that what you wanted to hear? *Got a tip? Send it in to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Aaron began his career in journalism when the news was printed on dead trees and thrown on driveways. A graduate of the University of Utah, he began his career as a sportswriter and has covered news for over a decade. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Instagram]()