Solberg leads WRC2 after five stages

Oliver Solberg won two stages and led the highly-competitive WRC2 category after the opening loop of stages on Friday morning.

The Škoda Fabia RS driver reached the tyre fitting zone with a 10.9-second cushion over title rival Yohan Rossel.

Pierre-Lous Loubet was running down the order outside the first batch of WRC2 drivers but the Frenchman was quickest on stage three and moved into third position, a mere 6.2 seconds behind Rossel.

After losing time following the roll that sidelined Pepe López on the first stage of the morning, Gus Greensmith was handed most of the time back and began to push hard as the loop progressed. He held fourth place after winning stage four, although Portuguese National Championship leader and former WRC front-runner Kris Meeke was breathing down his neck in fifth after starting down the field.

Repeat runs through the Lousã, Góis, Arganil and Mortágua stages round off Friday afternoon’s action.