Wrc.com stage summary
Stage data: SS14, Silves 1 (21.39 kilometres)
Stage description:
By Team Abu Dhabi co-driver Michael Orr: “We did this stage on the first day last year. It’s a very difficult stage with a lot of steep downhill and loose gravel. The guys running first, second or third will be really picking out their breaking points. It’s a real challenge, you get some flow in places but the rhythm is always interrupted by narrow technical places. Ken Block rolled on this stage last year about 13 kilometres in. It’s a classic Portugal place - a little flow with a blind crest and then immediately a hairpin right where he just went straight on.”
How the action unfolded:
Mikko Hirvonen has claimed his first gravel stage victory on Vodafone Rally de Portugal as leader Sebastien Ogier admitted to backing off to preserve his overnight advantage.
Hirvonen was 18 seconds faster than Ogier through the Silves test to move ahead of Matthew Wilson into fourth overall.
“That was not too bad, the car is working well,” said Hirvonen. “I’m concentrating on fourth place now.”
Hirvonen’s Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala was second fastest through the stage in his Fiesta. “The Citroen boys are taking it very steady,” said Latvala. “There was a lot of grip and I enjoyed the drive. I wasn’t taking any risks, just keeping a good rhythm.”
Out front, Sebastien Loeb has all but conceded victory to team-mate Ogier after admitting at the stage finish he didn’t want to put his compatriot under any pressure. “We decided not to push, I didn’t want to put him under any pressure,” said Loeb.
Ogier, who is preserving an overnight lead of 37.6s, said at the end of the stage: “There was no problem, just starting very carefully because there is no reason to take risks. It’s similar for everybody, no difference being first on the road.”
Matthew Wilson reported hitting a rock with his Fiesta’s front-left wheel but had no trouble completing the stage in fifth overall. Fellow M-Sport Stobart driver Henning Solberg said he was experiencing a recurrence of the powersteering problem that plagued him on day two of the rally.
Key moment:
Hirvonen moves into fourth overall with stage win.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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