SS15 – Latvala dominant to take it to the wire

Jari-Matti Latvala powered through the penultimate stage of this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, the 32.35Km Vieira do Minho test, to keep a charging Sebastien Ogier behind him and set up a thrilling finale to the event. 

Despite dropping a small amount of time on the first of the day, Latvala managed his tyres perfectly on the longest of the three, to go through the stage 2.6 seconds faster than his team-mate. He extended his lead back to 10 seconds with just the repeat of the Fafe stage, the 11.15Km Power Stage between him and his first win of the year. 

Third-fastest was Andreas Mikkelsen for a Volkswagen 1-2-3 on the stage and extending his advantage over Kris Meeke for third overall. The Irishman reported a broken anti-roll bar and appeared to have settled for fourth with the single stage left to run. 

Mads Ostberg was fourth fastest in an attempt to catch and pass Dani Sordo and heads for the last stage just 5 seconds behind overall.