Cabeceiras de Basto was the penultimate stage of the event on this occasion. Ott Tänak beat Pierre-Louis Loubet by 30.5 seconds, although all the Rally1 crews were conserving their tyres for the final Power Stage with the exception of the struggling Thierry Neuville.
With no power, Thierry dropped another 2min 50sec and headed to the final stage 2min 43sec in front of sixth-placed Gus Greensmith.
Tänak claimed his second stage win of the weekend. Oliver Solberg was fourth quickest in his quest to catch Gus Greensmith and headed to the Power Stage trailing the Briton by just 8.7 seconds. The WRC2 battle was far from over…
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“I have nothing to add...”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“Probably nobody else is driving. It’s just a faster way to the end...”
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“Now we need to take care and bring the two cars to the end. I am just driving in the stage and enjoying
the stages. I am really sad for Thierry because this is really bad for our plans. This is like it is.”
Car 4. LAPPI/FERM
“I will push in the Power Stage. That’s the aim. We save the tyres for the last one. We have a chance
Let’s try to do it.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“This one is a lot of stones and loose stuff on the top. I am looking forward to the next one. I will try to
push.”
Car 7. LOUBET/LANDAIS
“We don’t drive. We drive slowly to try and keep tyre for the Power Stage. I struggle with the grip so I
drive very slowly.”
Car 21. SOLBERG/EDMONDSON
Fourth quickest on the stage.