The second day of competition of the Rally of Portugal, the fourth round of the WRC 2022 and the first on a dirt road, began with Special Stage 2, Lousa 1 of 12.03 kilometers. A very technical test, one of the slowest of the entire weekend program, in which the dust raised by the cars played an important role for those who entered the test after Kalle Rovanpera. A test that has exalted Elfyn Evans.
The Welsh Toyota driver made perfect use of his perfect starting position – the result of a difficult start to the season – to take advantage of an already very clean road, with more grip, and this made the difference. Evans won the test with a 6 “1 advantage over the first of his opponents and became the new leader of the event.
Behind Evans is Gus Greensmith. The British of the M-Sport team had already shown yesterday during the Shakedown that he was at ease with his Ford Puma Rally1 and today he confirmed this impression by signing a very important second place that took him to second position in the general classification.
Third place special for Pierre-Louis Loubet. The M-Sport driver, like Evans, made good use of the starting position to obtain an important result that must give him confidence for the future. Behind him Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tanak, both credited with the fourth time of the special.
For the Estonian driver of Hyundai Motorsport this is an important result, because he keeps him in the Top 3 in the general classification. Thierry Neuville also did very well, although he was forced to enter the test second, he signed the seventh fastest time (out of the 12 Rally1s in the race) and is now in fourth position in the general classification.
Eighth time of special for Sébastien Loeb, who is now in ninth in the general. For the 9-time world champion it will not be an easy event, because he will have to start in a position that is not too advantageous. The same goes for the leader of the World Championship Kalle Rovanpera, now tenth and already 9 “5 from the top. The young Finn will be called to open all the special stages of this day due to his position in the World Drivers’ classification.
Rally of Portugal – Ranking after PS2
Pos. | Pilot / navigator | Car | Time / posting |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Evans / Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 11’40 “3 |
2 | Greensmith / Andersson | Ford Puma Rally1 | +4 “4 |
3 | Tanak / Jarveoja | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +4 “9 |
4 | Neuville / Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +5 “5 |
5 | Ogier / Veillas | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +6 “4 |
6 | Breen / Nagle | Ford Puma Rally1 | +8 “3 |
7 | Loubet / Landais | Ford Puma Rally1 | +8 “6 |
8 | Loeb / Galmiche | Ford Puma Rally1 | +9 “4 |
9 | Katsuta / Johnston | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +9 “4 |
10 | Rovanpera / Halttunen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +9 “5 |
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