The Portugal Rally began Thursday evening with a sort of false rhythm during the super special (on asphalt) of Figueira da Foz. The fault lies with an astonishing choice on the part of the organizers to force the competitors to complete the 70 km of the loop on Friday morning with the tires already used this Thursday evening. And therefore to limit sliding on the tarmac as much as possible. “It’s nonsense, especially on a special like this where there are only donuts, said Thierry Neuville, author of the best time in 2’24”2. I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere with all this audience but I don’t know what show they could have had…”
130 kilometers on the program for Friday
Before a day on Friday which promises to be difficult for him since he will open and sweep the road, the Belgian has at least won a scratch and taken the lead of the rally ahead of Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), by six tenths. The Frenchman was as sorry as his opponent for having had to limit himself as much as possible to the level of spectacle. Behind, Ott Tänak (Hyundai) and Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) share third place, two seconds behind. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), double title holder here, is fifth at 2”4 just ahead of Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport Ford, +3”1), who made the daring choice of only taking one spare wheel for Thursday evening and Friday morning. In WRC2, Yohan Rossel (Citroën) got the best start in 2’28”9 ahead of Oliver Solberg (Skoda), at 1”6.
Friday nearly 130 km are on the program under the sun and in the heat for a first stage which risks asking a lot of the organizations and the mechanics.
