Ott Tänak Dominates Rally Portugal with Spectacular Performance
Estonian driver Ott Tänak showcased his exceptional skills by claiming his 400th career stage win during Rally Portugal’s intense competition on Friday. Tänak’s stellar performance earned him a seven-second lead over his closest competitors, Sebastian Ogier and Vincent Landais, with Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston securing the provisional podium spots.
Tänak took the lead early in the rally and engaged in a fierce battle with his Hyundai teammates, Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria. The competition heated up as the French duo closed in on Tänak, narrowing the gap to a mere 0.2 seconds after stage five. However, Fourmaux faced misfortune in stage eight, damaging his car’s suspension and dropping out of contention.
Reflecting on his milestone 400th stage win, Tänak humorously remarked, “If there were as many championship titles as stage wins, it would be even better.” Despite facing some challenges during the second loop of stages, Tänak managed to finish strong, maintaining his lead.
Meanwhile, rally legend Sebastian Ogier, a six-time Rally Portugal winner, put on a masterful display by winning four stages and securing the second position. Katsuta, who briefly held second place, finished the day in third after a tight competition with Ogier.
Behind the leaders, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen held onto fourth place, closely followed by Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe in fifth. The competition was intense throughout the day, with shifting positions among the top drivers.
As the rally continues into the next day, fans can expect more thrilling action with seven challenging stages ahead. The battle for the top spot is far from over, and the drivers will push themselves to the limit to secure victory in Rally Portugal.