Winner of the 2012 Vodafone Rally de Portugal, Mads Ostberg, set the pace in free practice ahead of the Qualifying Stage for this year’s event, held close to the event base in Loule, Algarve. The Norwegian went through the stage in a time of 3m04.0s in his Ford Fiesta WRC, two seconds faster than VW driver, Jari-Matti Latvala.
Third fastest in practice was championship leader Sebastien Ogier, one second slower than team-mate Latvala, with Fafe Rally Sprint winner Dani Sordo fourth fastest, just 0.1secs behind in his Citroen.
Conditions were dry for the first taste of action, despite low cloud smothering the area around the stage and the base at the Algarve Stadium.
Next for the crews will be the qualifying stage, to determine the choice of road position for the first day of the event, starting at 10.40hrs local time.