Wrc.com stage summary
Stage data: SS16, Silves 2 (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:
Petter Solberg has won the penultimate stage of Vodafone Rally de Portugal as heavy rain made driving conditions treacherous.
The top 20 drivers tackled the 21.39-kilometre test in reverse running order to establish the starting positions for the event-closing Power Stage.
Solberg was 11.4s faster through the stage than fellow Norwegian Mads Ostberg. Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen was third quickest to move back ahead of Matthew Wilson into fourth overall.
Afterwards Hirvonen said: “I am okay, I am here but some places it is like driving on ice.”
Sebastien Ogier’s overall lead to Sebastien Loeb has been trimmed to 35.9s heading into Power Stage. “I had the worst of the rain,” said Ogier. “I took it steady to keep my position.”
Henning Solberg has slipped to ninth overall after his Ford Fiesta RS WRC developed a suspected turbo problem during the stage.
Key moment:
Hirvonen back into fourth as heavy rain falls in Portugal.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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