The French Sebastien Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R), world champion for the last three years, is the first leader of the Rally de Portugal, fifth round of the World Championship, after setting the best time in the opening superspecial on Thursday.
Ogier, a four-time winner of this race, invested 2: 41.1 minutes to cover the 3.36 kilometers of the super special held at the Lousada rallycross circuit.
The Frenchman led by 9 tenths to the second, the Belgian Thierry Neuville, and by 1.2 seconds to the third, the Spanish Dani Sordo, both with the Hyundai i20.
This was followed by two other Volkswagen drivers, the Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, fourth at 1.7, and the Finn Jari Matti Latvala, fifth at 1.9; Britain’s Kris Meeke (Citroen), sixth at 2.1, and New Zealander Hayden Paddon (Hyundai), seventh at 2.6.
Ogier tries to return to the path of triumph in Portugal after having won the first two races of the World Cup (Monte Carlo and Sweden), and being deprived of the victory in the next two (Mexico and Argentina).
Dani Sordo, sixth in the World Cup with two sixths (Monte Carlo and Sweden) and two quarters (Mexico and Argentina), is looking for his first podium of 2016 in Portugal.
This Friday the caravan travels north to face two identical series of sections near the Spanish border, near Viana do Castelo. An intermediate service in Matosinhos will separate the loops, with the two passes through the urban section of Porto to complete 132.04 timed kilometers. EFE
Ogier, first leader of the Rally de Portugal; Deaf, third
