Dani Sordo took the win on the fourth stage of this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal and closed to within 2.5s of event leader Sebastien Ogier, who took over the lead when Mads Ostberg rolled-out of the rally on the previous stage.
Sordo was clearly developing more and more confidence with the Citroen DS3 WRC but it was Thierry Neuville, in the Fiesta WRC who was second-fastest, enjoying the event and settling into a good rhythm.
Third fastest was a much happier Jari-Matti Latvala in the first of the VW Polo Rs, who was enjoying a much better feeling with his car. Fourth was leader Ogier, who reported that he was happy with his decision to use soft tyres, as he felt he would be able to manage them over the opening day of five stages.
Fifth fastest was Mikko Hirvonen, despite saying that the set-up on his DS3 was too stiff.
Car 2, Hirvonen/Lehtinen
“We left this morning with too stiff springs. I pushed hard on the last two stages and I cannot go any faster. I made a few mistakes but can’t go faster. I know what's wrong but the whole day with no service, I can't do anything about it. A frustrating day.”
Car 3, Sordo/del Barrio
“The stage was really nice; Ogier was faster to start with but we pushed a bit more. I am very confident with the car – this is very important. The team has done a very good job with the car. Tomorrow is another day – a difficult day – but I will try to continue this way.”
Car 5, Novikov/Minor
“I think tomorrow will also be a tough day. We will try to do our best as usual. We are trying to drive as fast as possible but the time is not there. I don't know. I feel Ok with the car, no problem. I just don't know.”
Car 6, Al-Attyah/Bernacchini
“It is getting rough. It is not easy – a lot of big rocks – but OK we are enjoying it, I am happy with the performance. The Michelin tyres are working well. Today is a hard day and we try to finish today with no problems.”
Car 7, Latvala/Anttila
“The feeling has been getting better. I am generally enjoying it but I know I can improve the car, with some work on the suspension. I know there is more to come.”
Car 8, Ogier/Ingrassia
“Maybe the tyre choice was not perfectly right but I know I am quite good at saving tyres, so I tried it. Tomorrow we will continue like that, if we can.”
Car 9, Mikkelsen/Markkula
“We have no power steering. It happened after 1Km. I didn't hit anything – suddenly I had no power steering. It's not easy….”
Car 10, Al Qassimi/Martin
“We have a few problems. On the last stage, the clutch and we have to live with it for the rest of the day. Hopefully it will be OK [for Lisbon].”
Car 11, Neuville/Guilsoul
“We didn't make any changes to the car. I am pushing quite hard. The times are OK – still a bit of road cleaning. I am happy with this afternoon’s stages.”
Car 12, Kosciuszko/Szczepaniak
“We are sliding. It is really slippery on the tyres. It was OK for the first loop and now we are forced to drive on the soft tyres and I am sliding too much. In Lisbon, I will be the drift king”
Car 15, Kuipers/Buysmans
“It was much cleaner but it is getting rough. The previous one was really rough but the car is feeling really good, so better and better.”
Car 21, Prokop/Ernst
“It feels like we are back in Sweden. The tyres are overheating on these very hard, rocky conditions. I am trying to catch Michal and not spin the tyres too much but it is hard.”
Car 31, Lappi/Ferm
“Now my pace notes are better and everything is work well – the car is perfect and the co-driver is perfect.”
Car 32, Wiegand/Christian
“I am happy with the pace. I was a bit surprised to lose time on the previous stage so we pushed harder in this one. I have a good feeling and am looking forward to the second day.”
Car 40, Smailov/Rusov
“The roads are very hard and sometimes rough. All the time the car is moving and the steering is difficult.”
Car 41, Fuchs/Mussano
“It’s a good day. It’s hard on the car without service. It is amazing. I like these stages a lot.”
Car 45, Villanueva/Sanchez
“The first loop, we had a strange problem with the car but the second loop is better. The feeling is good but the guys in front have been very fast. We are enjoying this event.”
Car 48, Al-Kuwari/Duffy
“Every stage we are driving better. On the last stage, we have a problem with the gearbox and I must use the clutch for every change. I learn a lot and want to be much faster but there you are. I am enjoying the competition much more than Mexico. I am really happy now.”
Car 75, Evans/Barrit
“I think tomorrow will be much the same. It's a learning experience and keep doing the same. The feeling is good on the car and we’re generally happy with today. Just need to keep it going.”
Car 79, Barrable/Loudon
“Going very well. We’re trying not to make any mistakes. We’re on the soft tyres and they are moving a little bit but it’s OK – we’re here.”