Oliver Solberg at Rally Portugal / WRC
The Rally Islas Canarias was thrilling, and the Rally Portugal is expected to be just as intense. While Toyota has shown clear superiority over Hyundai this year, this event might prove different.
Oliver Solberg, driving for the Japanese manufacturer, leads after setting the fastest time in Stage 2. However, his advantage is slim—just 3.4 seconds over Adrien Fourmaux in second place. Sébastien Ogier completes the top three, while Dani Sordo sits in seventh after starting the day in fourth.
The day began with Fourmaux winning the Águeda/Sever stage, a 15.08-kilometer run. Elfyn Evans finished second, only a tenth of a second behind, and Solberg was third, two seconds off the pace. Although it was just the first stage, the tight competition was already evident. Dani Sordo started strong in fourth, just 1.2 seconds off the lead.
Fourmaux’s lead lasted only one stage. Solberg claimed the fastest time in the second stage, the longest of the day (Sever/Albergaria, 20.24 km). The Swede gained 3.6 seconds on the Frenchman, who finished third. Thierry Neuville was second, while Sordo dropped to eighth after some issues.
Thursday ended with a 1.93-km super special stage in Figueira da Foz, which Ogier won. What a Rally Portugal awaits us.
For now, Solberg leads with a “clean start,” holding a 3.4-second advantage over Adrien Fourmaux in second. Ogier is third, Neuville fourth, and championship leader Elfyn Evans fifth, just three-tenths of a second behind the winner of the Canary Islands event. Dani Sordo ended the day seventh, feeling “good with the car” and aiming to “push a bit more and be in the fight” on Friday.
Friday will feature seven stages, with two runs through Mortágua, Arganil, and Lousa, plus one through Góis. Rain may appear, as Thursday was dry, but forecasts suggest it could cause chaos in the rally.
Rally Portugal classification after Stage 3 / WRC
**Spanish Drivers Shine in WRC2 and WRC3**
In his second outing with the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, Jan Solans leads the WRC2 category after setting the fastest time in Stage 2. The Spaniard holds a 4.1-second advantage over Alejandro Cachón, who benefited from Suninen’s troubles. Yohan Rossel finished third in Rally2, just two-tenths of a second behind the Repsol Toyota driver. In WRC3, Turkish driver Ali Türkkan leads the standings, 3 seconds ahead of Gil Membrado in second.
