WRC | Rally Portugal, SS5: Neuville works magic and gets back to second

The morning lap of Friday’s stage at the Rally Portugal ended in the least predictable way possible, with Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe able to set the best time on SS5, the 18.72 kilometer Arganil 1.

This result was hardly predictable for a very simple reason: whoever opens the tests on dirt is always the most disadvantaged rider, because he cleans the surface (increasing grip) for those who enter the special stage later. Only the rain turns the situation around, but there is absolutely no precipitation above the sky of Coimbra.

That’s why the Belgian worked magic. As first, he set the best time in 11’40″5, which allowed him to get the second scratch of his race after the one obtained last night on SS1.

A very important result for the World Championship leader, because in one fell swoop he managed to recover 2 positions in the general classification and return to second overall, 2″9 behind the leader Takamoto Katsuta. For Neuville, however, the afternoon lap was it promises to be very tough because the surface conditions will be less sandy and more treacherous than what we saw in the morning.

Meanwhile, Katsuta enjoys an unexpected but deserved record. The Japanese driver from Toyota Gazoo Racing was able to take advantage of his starting position and remain consistent throughout the morning. This is why today’s partial result is not the result of luck, but of the skill of having exploited what he could have in his favor.

Third position for another Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, this is that of the reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera, author of a good morning – not brilliant, but decent – which led him to finish in the Top 3 ahead of an Ott Tanak who had to give up 2 positions on the podium in the last test.

It seems that his i20 N Rally1 had a brake problem in the last kilometers of the morning. Meanwhile, Sébastien Ogier showed for the umpteenth time the reasons that led him to win 8 world titles. Even without the intercom (the radio that allows the navigator and driver to speak and dictate notes) the Gap champion achieved the fourth fastest time on SS5, completing the morning in the Top 5 after overtaking Dani Sordo.

The Spaniard from Hyundai seemed to be heading towards a relentless comeback, but today’s final test saw him slip back to sixth position, capable of doing better than only Adrien Fourmaux, Elfyn Evans and Gregoire Munster. Speaking of Evans, he is the big disappointment of this half day. Although he started behind Neuville, the Welshman was never able to do better than his most trusted rival for the title.

What also slowed Evans down was a less than perfect set-up. He often spoke of difficulties in making the car turn, of a “lazy” car like what Ogier said.

In the WRC2, meanwhile, the fight between teammates continues. Oliver Solberg regained the leadership of the category ranking right at the end of SS5 with a great performance, relegating Gus Greensmith to second place, now 8″7 behind him. Behind the two Skoda standard bearers is Yohan Rossel, who with the first Citroen C3 Rally2 continues to be sly and dangerously close to the two Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Today’s morning ride at the Rally Portugal ends here. During the break between one lap and another, drivers will not be able to use the mid-day Service, but only the Tire Fitting Zone. So only new tires for the afternoon lap, but no help from the respective teams to fix the set-up and main problems of the cars. The race will resume with SS6, the 12.28 kilometer Lousa 2. Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe will enter the special at 3.05 pm Italian time.

WRC 2024 – Rally Portugal – General classification after SS5