SS3 Caminha: Meeke maintains momentum

The second stage of the morning was another tour de force by Irishman Kris Meeke. The Citroen driver, contesting only selected events this season, took his second consecutive win of the day. Second was Sebastien Ogier in the first VW Polo R WRC with Ott Tanak in the Fiesta RS WRC third fastest.

Running 13th on the road, Meeke found the stage conditions slippery, as many other drivers also discovered but used the grip that was available to great effect, going through the stage faster than any other driver at every split point.

Ogier, running first on the road, was second-fastest despite finding the conditions slippier than he expected. However, he admitted that the grip was good at times.

Tanak was third fastest, the new DMACK tyre working better on the shorter stage and he also said that the conditions were mixed – some slippery sections with some bare bedrock.

The result means Meeke extends his overall lead after three stages of the rally, now 5.9s ahead of Ogier with Sordo a further 8.3s back.