Abiteboul hints at Hyundai WRC team order deployment in Portugal
The South Korean marque will head into the final four stages with its part-time driver Dani Sordo sitting second, 57.5s adrift of Toyota’s runaway leader Kalle Rovanpera, but only 11.1s ahead of Thierry Neuville, the team’s highest-placed driver in the championship. Its second full-time driver Esapekka Lappi is fourth, 2.3s behind Neuville after losing grip of third […]
Latvala could sense “different level” Rovanpera WRC display in Portugal
The reigning world champion has so far produced a faultless display to head into Sunday’s final four stages with a 57.5s lead over Hyundai’s Dani Sordo. Rovanpera has endured a quiet start to his title defence by his own high standards, with the 22-year-old yet to score a victory this year. His last visit to […]
Relentless Rovanpera in control after Saturday domination
The reigning world rally champion won five of the day’s seven tests to transform an overnight 10.8s advantage into a 57.5s lead, as the Finn moved closer to a first WRC win since New Zealand last October. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville leapfrogged team-mate Esapekka Lappi to claim third, with 2.3s splitting the duo. M-Sport’s Ott Tanak […]
Rovanpera pulls away from Sordo on Saturday morning loop
The Toyota driver started the day with a 10.8s advantage but a stunning drive resulted in the Finn to clean sweep the trio of stages to open up a 52.4s-lead over Hyundai’s Dani Sordo. Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi has moved to third, 57.0s adrift, but ahead of Thierry Neuville (+57.9s) and M-Sport’s Ott Tanak (+1m34.1s) after […]
Loubet’s WRC Rally Portugal podium hopes saved by “precision kicking”
The Frenchman led the rally after winning Friday’s opening stage although drama struck at the of stage three when his Ford Puma developed a fire. At the time Loubet and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul detected a burning smell but were initially unable to locate the issue. A frustrated Loubet thought his rally was over at this […]
Toyota retires Evans from WRC Rally Portugal
Evans ran off the road on stage seven (Mortagua, 18.15km) while occupying sixth position following a challenging day opening the road. A drought breaking victory in Croatia last month meant the Welshman headed to Portugal tied at the top of the championship standings with part-time Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who isn’t competing in Portugal this […]
Faultless Rovanpera heads Sordo after leaderboard shake up
The Toyota driver produced an head turning display despite being disadvantaged by road position to end the day leading Hyundai’s Dani Sordo by 10.8s. Rovanpera won three of the day’s eight stages to become the fourth different leader of the event to date. A late push from Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville pushed the Belgian to third, […]
WRC points leader Elfyn Evans crashes out of Rally Portugal
The Toyota driver went off the road 13.8 kilometres into stage seven (Mortagua, 18.5km) while occupying sixth position after difficult day opening the gravel roads. It is unclear exactly what happened to the Welshman that has triggered a premature end to his day. The Toyota team has confirmed Evans and co-driver Scott Martin climbed out […]
Tanak leads from chasing Rovanpera on Friday morning
Tanak produced an impressive showing in his M-Sport Ford Puma, winning one of the three morning stages to lead Toyota’s Rovanpera by 3.0s. Dani Sordo led Hyundai’s effort completing the loop in third, 3.6s adrift, but ahead of team-mate Thierry Neuville, 14.6s back, and road sweeper Elfyn Evans, who is 18.0s off. Pierre-Louis Loubet and […]