Wrc.com stage summary
Stage data: SS3, Ourique 1 (20.27 kilometres)
Stage description:
By Team Abu Dhabi co-driver Michael Orr: “It’s a much faster stage with more flow but still we’ve got tricky narrow sections. We have a couple of short sections of Tarmac then the rest is quite rough gravel with a lot of bedrock showing through which will probably be the first real challenge of the tyres. A general point about the stages is that on the first pass in the morning there will be a lot of loose gravel. It will clean and when the temperatures rise in the afternoon there will be a lot of bedrock so it could be a matter of preserving tyres especially on the uphill places when you’re on bedrock.”
How the action unfolded:
Factory Citroen team-mates Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have set the equal fastest time on the second gravel stage of Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
But there was despair for fellow DS3 WRC driver Petter Solberg who picked up a front-right puncture and lost more than one minute to his rivals. “In a right-hand bend there was a rock on the inside and I hit it and had the puncture,” said the Norwegian.
Solberg’s woe means that Loeb moves into second with Ogier up to fourth behind Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala, who was 1.4s slower than the Citroens through stage three.
“My driving was much better in this one, I have more confidence in the car,” said Loeb. “I changed the set-up of the suspension before the start of the stage.”
Mikko Hirvonen, who was fourth quickest through the stage, continues to lead overall in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The Finn’s advantage out front has increased to 2.4s. “This stage was the most slippery so far,” he said afterwards.
Key moment:
Puncture dents Solberg’s hopes of victory.
Wrc.com rally results links:
NEW... LIVE... TEXT... SERVICE... WRC.com users can keep up to date with all the action from the World Rally Championship with our new live text service. The service will be constantly updated when stages are live to provide a detailed record as the battle for WRC glory unfolds. This link will take you straight to the Vodafone Rally de Portugal live text page
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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