Fire to the powders. The Rally Portugal, the fifth round of the 2024 WRC, began in the Italian evening with Special Stage 1, the super special Figueira Da Foz of just 2.94 kilometres, held on asphalt.
The riders, however, used dirt tyres, to be precise the ones they will use on tomorrow’s morning lap. For this reason no one pushed to the maximum, so as to best preserve them in view of the 4 special tests scheduled for tomorrow.
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe opened the race weekend by winning the race. The world championship leaders stopped the clock in 2’24″2, ahead of the first Toyota GR Yaris in the standings, that of Sébastien Ogier, by 6 tenths.
The 8-time world champion really seemed to be the only one who tried to give something more to win the race, although he in turn was very cautious so as not to ruin his tyres. Neuville, however, did better and thus closed the first test as leader of the event.
The Belgian from Hyundai Motorsport will not be able to maintain the leadership tomorrow, because he will be forced to open all 8 scheduled tests and, therefore, to clean the surface, ensuring that whoever enters later has a considerable advantage thanks to greater grip. Only rain could reverse the situation, but the weather forecast seems to have other intentions.
Third time for one of the drivers who starts as favorites to win the Rally Portugal, namely Ott Tanak. The Hyundai Motorsport driver is 2 seconds behind Neuville and is credited with the same time set by Takamoto Katsuta, joint third with the second Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
The reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera closes the Top 5. The Finn was just 4 tenths slower than Tanak and Katsuta, but also 7 tenths faster than the first Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid in the standings, that of Adrien Fourmaux.
Seventh time for the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1, that of Dani Sordo, which makes its seasonal debut this weekend. Elfyn Evans did not go beyond the eighth time, 4″3 behind Neuville. He too should struggle tomorrow, but he will still have a surface in better conditions than the one Neuville will find.
Not a good performance for Gregoire Munster, who with the second Ford Puma Rally1 was unable to obtain the Top 10, even beaten by some Rally2s.
As for WRC2, excellent start for Yohan Rossel with the first Citroen C3 Rally2. The Frenchman preceded the three Skoda Fabia RS Rally2s of Oliver Solberg, home idol Armindo Araujo and Gus Greensmith.
The first stage of the 2024 Rally Portugal will resume tomorrow morning with Special Stage 2, the 18.15 kilometer Mortagua 1. The first car, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 of Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, will enter testing at 9.05 am Italian time.
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