ogieraims to secure an unparalleled seventh win in the Portugal Rally
French Pilot Leads the Pack: The Thrilling Final Leg of the Portuguese Rally
Prepare for an adrenaline-fueled finale as the French pilot, whose last triumph was in 2024, takes a dominating 27.6-second lead into the final day of the 58th Portuguese rally. hot on his heels is the Finnish Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris), trailed by Estonian Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20) in third place, 36.1 seconds behind.
Tänak, champion in 2019 and triumphant in the Portuguese rally that year, had been driving like a boss since Friday. However, a snag in the assisted steering towards the end of yesterday's stage, right before Amarante, dropped him from first to third.
Fourth place, precisely 44.6 seconds behind, belongs to Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20), the current world champion, who's eyeing a comeback after making it onto the podium in past editions of the rally[3]. Japanese Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota Yaris) rounds out the top five, trailing by 46.8 seconds.
Did you know? Sébastien Ogier, who's chasing his seventh Portuguese rally victory, became the record holder for wins in 2024, tying with Finnish Markku Alen[1]! Today, he aims for an astounding eighth triumph in this prestigious event, adding to his wins in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2024.
Portugal's own Armindo Araújo (Skoda Fabia) holds down the fort as the highest-ranking local driver still in the race. He's followed closely by Diogo Salvi (Ford Puma), Pedro Meireles (Skoda Fabia), Diogo Marujo (Skoda Fabia), and Francisco Teixeira (Skoda Fabia)[5].
The final day is going to be a scorcher, with 72.16 kilometers of timed sections across six special stages. Double passes through Paredes, Felgueiras, and Fafe await, with the latter's second pass serving as the power stage, granting points to the top five[2].
The top five drivers on the final day will also earn extra points: four for first place, three for second, and so on.
Stay tuned for more updates as this nail-biting competition reaches its exciting conclusion!
[1] Sébastien Ogier ties Markku Alen’s record for Portugal rally wins, TMRW Motorsport (2024), https://www.tmrwsport.com/news/sebastien-ogier-ties-markku-alens-record-for-portugal-rally-wins/
[2] Rally of Portugal: Final stages overview, WRC.com, (2024), https://wrc.com/en/events/776/final-stages-overview/
[3] Neuville continues Rally Portugal charge with seven fastest times, WRC.com, (2024), https://wrc.com/en/news/neville-continues-rally-portugal-charge-with-seven-fastest-times/
[4] Thierry Neuville determined to turn around Vodafone Rally de Portugal rally fortunes, FIA World Rally Championship (2024), https://www.wrc.com/en/news/thierry-neuville-determined-to-turn-around-vodafone-rally-de-portugal-rally-fortunes/
[5] Portuguese drivers keep pace after Friday action, WRC.com, (2024), https://wrc.com/en/news/portuguese-drivers-keep-pace-after-friday-action/
What about the sports scene tomorrow? With the French pilot leading the way, expect a thrilling final day in the Portuguese Rally. Could there be an unexpected win in the sports world as we cheer for a new champion?
