Rally de Portugal Day Three

Rally de Portugal Day Three

2012 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
RALLY DE PORTUGAL
(29 MARCH - 01 APRIL 2012)

31.03.2012

Citroën Total World Rally Team driver Mikko Hirvonen has extended his advantage at the head of the Rally de Portugal leaderboard and the Finn has his first victory since Rally Australia last year within his sights. Mads Østberg has climbed into second position today and has a comfortable cushion over third-placed Evgeny Novikov, the Russian on track for his first WRC podium finish.
 
Today’s route took in two loops of three stages totalling 148.16 competitive kilometres and provided much less tricky conditions after the atrocious weather yesterday which resulted in the cancellation of three stages.
 
While Hirvonen has not won any of the day’s stages, the Finn has driven steadily, avoiding problems and benefitting while others around him have suffered some problems. An engine misfire has slowed Østberg but the Norwegian has nevertheless climbed into second ahead of Novikov. Behind the leading trio, Nasser Al-Attiyah has moved from sixth last night to fourth, but has been battling with a charging Petter Solberg. After retiring yesterday, Solberg has fought hard to climb back up the leaderboard from 13th and ran as high as fourth until power steering problems dropped him back to fifth this afternoon. He has won four of the day’s six stages. Behind him, Martin Prokop lost time with an electrical problem and Jari Ketomaa – now 10th – suffered with no rear brakes. Sébastien Ogier has climbed into eighth and Dani Sordo has moved from 15th to 12th, having set two fastest stage times today. Jari-Matti Latvala’s run of bad luck continued again today, the Finn losing yet more time with a fuel pressure problem.
 
Sunday’s final day of competition takes in another two loops of three stages covering 115.08 competitive kilometres.
 
Rally de Portugal – Results after Day 3