The final stage of the first day of the 2013 Vodafone Rally de Portugal saw action and drama around the streets of Lisbon. Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver Mikko Hirvonen took the win while Volkswagen Motorsport driver Sebastien Ogier maintains his lead as the crews head back to the Algarve and the overnight halt near Faro.
The field ran through the now-familiar stage around the Praco do Imperio in reverse order and before the leading WRC drivers tackled the tarmac stage, there was plenty of drama for the thousands of fans. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari slid wide and hit a concrete barrier in his Ford Fiesta RRC, breaking the suspension and retiring on the spot.
WRC2 driver Sepp Weigand hit the same barrier with the rear of his Skoda Fabia S2000 and broke the wheel rim, necessitating a wheel change in the stage while Michal Kosciuszko’s bonnet flew up part-way through the test and he completed with very limited vision.
At the head of the field, Hirvonen went through fastest, just 0.9s ahead of Ogier to round out the day. Behind them came the second VW Polo R of Jari-Matti Latvala with Dani Sordo, who has been pushing Ogier hard all day, in fourth, 2.9s off the winning pace. Thierry Neuville was fifth-fastest.
Crucially, the gap between Ogier and Sordo grew slightly, with the Frenchman leading the Spaniard by a mere 4.4s as the crews begin a 290Km road section back to the service park and the overnight halt, following the day’s only service.
Car 2, Hirvonen/Lehtinen
“We had the wrong springs, we really had to fight today to push, but we’ll see what we can do. It was good.”
Car 3. Sordo/del Barrio
“Very happy, we were fighting with five or six people. We’re in second place now which is something I couldn’t even hope for today.”
Car 8, Ogier/Ingrassia
“I’m pleased to be at the end of this day. The tyre choice was a problem on the car so we had to drive slow, but it’s okay. We can get back to service and fix it for tomorrow.”
Car 11, Neuville/Guilsoul
“We lost too much time in the morning but after that it was a good day for us.”
Car 12, Kosciuszko/Szczepaniak
“When the bonnet opened we couldn’t see anything, even when we were braking to try and close it! At least it kept the engine cool.”
Car 81, Moura/Costa
“This is a different rally than usual. The Azores could not be out from this rally. In the morning we had a big fight with Magalhães but unfortunately he stopped. We are the best Portuguese team and the best in Group N. We’ll try and keep the pace for tomorrow.”
Car 84, Meireles/Castro
“I was a little bit cautious during the day. I want to keep progressing. This stage is just for the show and the fans. The gravel stages were in great condition. For tomorrow I’ll take the same approach today.”
Car 2, Hirvonen/Lehtinen
“We had the wrong springs, we really had to fight today to push, but we’ll see what we can do. It was good.”
Car 3. Sordo/del Barrio
“Very happy, we were fighting with five or six people. We’re in second place now which is something I couldn’t even hope for today.”
Car 8, Ogier/Ingrassia
“I’m pleased to be at the end of this day. The tyre choice was a problem on the car so we had to drive slow, but it’s okay. We can get back to service and fix it for tomorrow.”
Car 11, Neuville/Guilsoul
“We lost too much time in the morning but after that it was a good day for us.”
Car 12, Kosciuszko/Szczepaniak
“When the bonnet opened we couldn’t see anything, even when we were braking to try and close it! At least it kept the engine cool.”
Car 81, Moura/Costa
“This is a different rally than usual. The Azores could not be out from this rally. In the morning we had a big fight with Magalhães but unfortunately he stopped. We are the best Portuguese team and the best in Group N. We’ll try and keep the pace for tomorrow.”
Car 84, Meireles/Castro
“I was a little bit cautious during the day. I want to keep progressing. This stage is just for the show and the fans. The gravel stages were in great condition. For tomorrow I’ll take the same approach today.”