Rally Portugal – End of day 3 update

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Daniel Darrall

A quick end of day 3 update from 2012 Rally Portugal.

Alister Fisher wins WRC Academy

After Fords Problems on Day 2 target was 4th or 5th. After 3 Stage wins Petter moved up to 4th but power steering issues on final stage dropped him back down to 5th overall. An Exhausted petter at stage end said “No powersteering, it happened just before the stage. So I lost my 4th place. Maybe, oh today…. Tomorrow”

Photo:D.Darrall

Problems continued for Latvala. Stopped on SS15 with fuel pressure problems.

Sordo wins last stage.

Mikko Hirvonen leads Comfortable by over a minute on 2nd place Mads Ostberg. “We managed to take some time out of them, but there is still anther day to go. Luckily conditions were a lot more consistent.”

Ostberg had a worry on final stage, loud noise from the rear od the car. But it was only due to small guard that protects the driveshaft which had came off.

“I thought the whole car was falling apart, really loud noise at rear of the car. Tried to push but didn’t wanna destroy anything. Like a rock concert when we were driving. I thought both wheels were off. Hopefully we didn’t lose too much towards end”

Photo: D.Darrall

End of Day 3 results:
Hirvo leads
Ostb+1m11s9
Novik+1m41s2
Al-Attiy+6m10s1
PSolb+6m29s2
Prokp+6m47s5
Kuipers+7m29s8
Ogier+8m00s2.

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WRC Rally Portugal at a stand still

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Daniel Darrall

Rally Portugal is at a stand still. After horrific weather conditions on the morning loop of Fridays stages.

Rain, fog & Mud caused many crews to retire. After service Craig Breen was stranded in a ford on the road section to the Stages. All crews had to return back to service. Now there is a meeting between Teams and Organisers in service to decide what to do. SS10 has already been cancelled. SS8 & 9 currently delayed. The conditions of the stages will also determine on if the Afternoon loop will be cancelled or not. More updates as we get them.

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WRC Portugal – Update SS6

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Daniel Darrall

SS6 Petter stopped on stage.

SS6 – Mads reaches the end – “yesterday was childs play” today “the worst conditions I have ever done” “we try to survive”

DaniSordo Quickest again “Really difficult conditions, very slippery. We have a good start position.”

after SS6 25,15kms
Hirvo leads
Ostberg+31s4
Novik+48s4
Sandell+2.32s6
Al-Attiyah+3.01s3
Van Merksteijn+3.06s6 Prokop+3.06s9
Kuipers+3.29s3..

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WRC Portugal – Live Update SS5

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Daniel Darrall

Ss5 drama conditions..Rain, mud, fog Dani Sordo fastest on stage overall afterSS5 PSolberg Hirvo+25s1 Ostberg+58s8 Novikov+1.04s9 Ketomaa+2.01s2..

JML hit a rock and broke the suspension and went off.

Hayden Paddon end of rally electrical probs & Breen & Ogier Stopped. Horrible conditions on stage!: PS finished third fastest, says muddy and slippy. Hugh advantage for Sordo as front runner. JML now stopped on SS5.

Ostberg “It’s incredible to drive. It was heavy rain there, I could not see anything sometimes.”

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