The FIA World Rally Championship 2024 continued with the Rally de Portugal from May 9 to 12, 2024. The first full day of the rally provided exciting action, with five different drivers emerging as stage winners, creating a fierce battle for the lead.
Kalle Rovanperä faced a challenging Friday, but managed to take the lead in a highly competitive fight. Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston set the fastest time in the first gravel stage, while Thierry Neuville, despite running first on the road, finished second, holding onto the overall lead by just 0.8 seconds.
Hyundai’s substitute driver, Dani Sordo, who hadn’t competed since Japan last year, won the next two stages. However, Neuville recovered and won the final stage before the tire change.
Rovanperä initially struggled and found himself in fifth place overall after a lackluster start. However, he posted top-three times in the remaining seven tests, steadily climbing up the rankings, despite reporting understeer issues in his GR Yaris.
He took the lead after overtaking the initial leader, Takamoto Katsuta, in the second test in Lousã in the afternoon. Rovanperä then set the fastest time in the penultimate stage in Arganil. However, Sebastien Ogier’s impressive performance in the final stage in Mortágua narrowed the gap and increased the pressure.
“It was an exciting battle all day long,” admitted Rovanperä. “In the last stage, I couldn’t do much more because my rear tires were in such bad condition, and it was all about surviving. It’s only fun if you’re winning, so let’s see!”
The management of the tires played a crucial role in the day’s events. The soft compound from Pirelli was preferred for the sandy surfaces in the morning, while hard tires were used in the afternoon, when the repeated stages were more rugged and temperatures higher.
Ogier’s late rise took him from fourth to second place overall. He could have led overnight if it wasn’t for a miscommunication failure during SS5 and the loss of hybrid power in SS8.
Katsuta fulfilled his promise to push from the start, winning the Mortágua 1 stage and recording top three times in both passes through Arganil. He was pleased to be part of a Toyota 1-2-3 overnight, despite being 3.7 seconds behind Ogier. Ott Tänak finished the day in fourth place, just 0.7 seconds behind Katsuta, admitting to feeling uncomfortable behind the wheel of his Hyundai i20 N.
While Toyota had a successful day, title contender in the GR Yaris, Elfyn Evans, faced setbacks. His co-driver, Scott Martin, had to use his mobile phone to access a digital copy of their pace notes after losing the physical book before SS7. Additionally, a tire being pushed off the rim in the same stage cost nearly a minute.
This turn of events was favorable to championship leader Thierry Neuville, who had a six-point advantage over Evans before this stage. Despite the challenge of opening the road and creating a cleaner and faster line for those behind, Neuville managed to stay close to the leaders and finished just 0.2 seconds behind his Hyundai teammate, Dani Sordo, in sixth place. Sordo had a hybrid power loss during SS5, but still won three of the eight stages of the day.
Adrien Fourmaux from M-Sport Ford Puma finished ahead of Evans upon returning to the Matosinhos service park. Grégoire Munster and WRC2 leader Oliver Solberg completed the top ten.
Saturday will feature the longest stage of the rally, with 145 km of action spread across two loops of four stages before concluding with the Lousada special stage.
Leadership positions after Friday:
1. K Rovanerä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris 1h 25m 0.4s
2. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris +1.0s
3. T Katsuta / A Johnston Toyota GR Yaris JPN +4.7s
4. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +5.4s
5. D Sordo C Carrera ESP Hyundai i20 N +17.9
6. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +18.1
© 2024
A new record was set yesterday in the world of sports when race driver John Smith crossed the finish line in first place at the Formula 1 Grand Prix. With a flawless performance, Smith surpassed all competitors and secured the victory for his team.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of motorsport. With high-speed cars and talented drivers, the race attracts millions of passionate fans every year. The challenging circuit and tight corners test the skill and courage of the drivers, making the competition even more thrilling.
Throughout the season, Smith has shown exceptional performance. With consecutive victories in several races, he has established himself as one of the best drivers of today. His determination and skill on the tracks are admired by fans and teammates.
The victory of Smith in the Formula 1 Grand Prix is an important milestone in his career. With this achievement, he solidifies himself as one of the great names in world motorsport. His dedication and talent are examples for young drivers who dream of following in his footsteps.
Congratulations to John Smith for this incredible victory and may more successes come in his brilliant career!
