Torrential rain on the first day of the recce for the 2014 Vodafone Rally de Portugal caused flash flooding on several of the roads that make up part of the route for this year’s event. As a result, the organisers have changed the schedule for the recce to allow the waters to clear before it resumes tomorrow – Wednesday.
Some 90mm of rain were forecast for the first day of the recce and while this was later dropped to closer to 60mm, it meant that many of the roads that make up the route of the event, suffered from flash flooding, making progress for the recce cars and indeed, locals’ road cars, difficult.
As a result, the organisers of the event decided to call an early end to the day’s recce and develop a revised schedule to allow drivers to complete the areas they missed on Wednesday, the second day.
While the weather forecast again predicts rain on Wednesday, it is not expected to be as heavy as today and looking further ahead, it looks as if the three main days of the rally itself – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – may in fact be the best of the week, with increasing temperatures and sunlight.
Commenting, Volkswagen Motorsport driver Jari-Matti Latvala said; “The rain will definitely harm the roads, which is a shame as they appear to be in very good condition - the organisers have done a lot of work on them. But we know that once the rain stops, the roads dry out very quickly so I hope that we will have a dry weekend for the rally.”
Reigning champion and 2014 leader Sebastien Ogier said; “We have had heavy rain before but if it stops, then it will be much better. Having this rain on the recce doesn't affect the pace notes as such, as the distances and angles of the bends will be the same. But we will mark in our notes where we might have standing water or could be slippery still if the rain does stop and the roads dry out.”
Torrential rain on the first day of the recce for the 2014 Vodafone Rally de Portugal caused flash flooding on several of the roads that make up part of the route for this year’s event. As a result, the organisers have changed the schedule for the recce to allow the waters to clear before it resumes tomorrow – Wednesday.
Some 90mm of rain were forecast for the first day of the recce and while this was later dropped to closer to 60mm, it meant that many of the roads that make up the route of the event, suffered from flash flooding, making progress for the recce cars and indeed, locals’ road cars, difficult.
As a result, the organisers of the event decided to call an early end to the day’s recce and develop a revised schedule to allow drivers to complete the areas they missed on Wednesday, the second day.
While the weather forecast again predicts rain on Wednesday, it is not expected to be as heavy as today and looking further ahead, it looks as if the three main days of the rally itself – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – may in fact be the best of the week, with increasing temperatures and sunlight.
Commenting, Volkswagen Motorsport driver Jari-Matti Latvala said; “The rain will definitely harm the roads, which is a shame as they appear to be in very good condition - the organisers have done a lot of work on them. But we know that once the rain stops, the roads dry out very quickly so I hope that we will have a dry weekend for the rally.”
Reigning champion and 2014 leader Sebastien Ogier said; “We have had heavy rain before but if it stops, then it will be much better. Having this rain on the recce doesn't affect the pace notes as such, as the distances and angles of the bends will be the same. But we will mark in our notes where we might have standing water or could be slippery still if the rain does stop and the roads dry out.”