The final morning, and three stages, of this year’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal saw a clean sweep for Volkswagen Motorsport’s Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman won the Power Stage and the rally overall, claiming a maximum points haul of 28 for the 2014 championship.
The first stage of the morning was won by Jari-Matti Latvala, admitting to treating it as a high-speed recce for the Power Stage, a repeat run and the third and final stage of the day. Mads Ostberg took the win on the second stage and approaching the final test, a re-run of the Loule stage as the Power Stage, all eyes were on the two VWs and Ostberg’s Citroen.
Second-placed overall Mikko Hirvonen had already admitted he had no soft tyres left and therefore, was not expecting to do well on the power stage. As it was, he went fourth-fastest but crucially, maintained his second place overall in the results.
Third fastest and one additional point went to Mads Ostberg, and with it third place overall while Jari-Matti Latvala salvaged two additional points by going second-fastest, giving some conciliation for the loss of points after retiring on the first day of the event.
To no-one’s surprise, it was Ogier, the master of conserving tyres, who went through the final 13.83Km stage fastest, claiming not only the overall rally win but also, the additional three points for the Power Stage win, giving him yet another clean sweep and his fourth rally win in Portugal in the last five years.
Sébastien Ogier – Vencedor
Mikko Hirvonen – 2º Lugar
Mads Ostberg – 3º Lugar