The last stage of the morning’s loop was Felgueiras before the return to Exponor for a midday regroup and service.
Takamoto Katsuta emerged unscathed from a low-speed spin and Thierry Neuville benefitted from stiffer suspension to get the better of Ott Tänak and close to within 0.9 seconds of Esapekka Lappi in the fight to regain third place.
Dani Sordo ceded a similar amount of time to the Belgian and retained second place but a clinical and relaxed Kalle Rovanperä was again quickest and extended his runaway lead to 52.4 seconds after one of the most impressive mornings of his short and successful career.
Gus Greensmith trimmed Oliver Solberg’s WRC2 lead to 37 seconds and Andreas Mikkelsen closed to within 6.4 of Yohan Rossel in the battle for third place.
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“It was a push, for sure. In general, it feels okay and in in places it’s worse. We did a big change on the set-up but I am still waiting on the rear. We went a bit stiffer. That compromises the traction but I get a better feel for the car.”
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“This is a really good fun. I really enjoyed this stage. The whole loop was good and we try to continue like this.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
How was the horse in there? “It gets wilder. Like never driven a rally car before. It’s okay. Now we can have a good lunch and go again.”
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“I dont like this stage. I tried to push to the limit but I was over the limit sometimes. On the long stage before I took good care of the tyres.”
Car 4. LAPPI/FERM
“All okay. A bit the same story as yesterday. I didn’t do this stage last year.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
Clipped the inside of the track and spun 4.3km into the stage. “Very slippy. You were just like driving on ice. It’s okay. We’re here.”
Car 20. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
Trimmed Solberg’s WRC2 lead to 37 seconds. “Just need to keep the pressure on Oliver. He made a mistake this morning. The end of the long one this afternoon will be interesting.”
Car 21. SOLBERG/EDMONDSON
“It’s difficult when you have a lead you are always going to lose some seconds. If it was not for the spin this morning, it has been quite okay.”
Car 23. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
“It’s been okay. We had to manage tyres and the pace but generally no issues.”
Car 24. MIKKELSEN/ERIKSEN
“It’s shrinking (gap to Rossel) so it’s going in the right direction. We are driving well, so we have to keep it up in the afternoon.”
Car 26. ROSSEL/DUNAND
“It’s the same feeling to this morning. We will see what happens this afternoon. I hope we have the solution in the service. I think it’s the damper or the geometry.”
Car 35. BULACIA/VALLEJO
“It has been quite calm. In this one the grip was low and it was difficult and easy to make a mistake so we took it easy.”