First notes from Vodafone Portugal Rally stage 2 18.05.2018: WRC RALLYES 2018 VODAFONE PORTUGAL RALLY Friday, May 18th 2018 first intermediate results (provisional) 1. GBR K. MEEKE 2. ESP D. SORDO +1.9 3. FRA S. OGIER +8.0 4. BEL T. NEUVILLE +9.7

WRC RALLYES 2018
VODAFONE PORTUGAL RALLY
Friday, May 18th 2018




first intermediate results (provisional)

1.     GBR K. MEEKE    
2.     ESP D. SORDO     +1.9
3.     FRA S. OGIER     +8.0
4.     BEL T. NEUVILLE     +9.7
5.     NOR A. MIKKELSEN     +10.3
6.     FIN E. LAPPI     +11.8
7.     FIN J. LATVALA     +12.9



Fri 09:45 - SS2: Lappi

Esapekka is 11.4sec down on Meeke as he rolls into stage end. Not the fastest of times for him in this stage: "I tried but not brave enough. Everything is working fine, car is alright but I need to be braver."



Fri 09:43 - SS2: Meeke

The C3 driver immediately betters Sordo's time by 1.7sec! It is a good run for Meeke: "Important thing is the feeling, first time I've really felt at home in the C3 - I can really do what I want. Sure there will be some cleaning but I feel really happy with that time."



Fri 09:41 - SS2: Sordo

The third Hyundai is in now, 7.3sec quicker than Ogier! "The road is getting better and better, I am a little bit surprised because I had a good feeling with the car. I'm happy to do a time like this!" Bit of an understatement from Dani




Fri 09:38 - SS2: Mikkelsen

Mikkelsen comes into the stop control and he's 1.3sec slower than Ogier. Let's see what he has to say: "The feeling was very good, the car is working very nice - it is very easy to drive now. There's a bit more speed to come, but it was a clean run."




Fri 09:36 - SS2: Sordo

He's on a charge! The Spaniard is fastest at the fifth split, 7.2sec up on Ogier.



Fri 09:35 - SS2: Neuville

The Hyundai driver finishes now, 0.6sec down on Ogier's benchmark. Thierry says: "With the dust hanging in some sections I didn't take enough risks, but it is the first stage. I slowed down a few times because I didn't want to risk anything. In some sections you couldn't see the braking zones because of the dust."



Fri 09:33 - SS2: Ogier


Five-time Portugal winner Ogier comes through to stage end now. It's looser than it was for the Frenchman last year: "It is not the same story as last year, I'm flat out - I can't do any more."



Fri 09:30 - SS2: Meeke

The Citroën driver is well into the stage now, at the second split he's 3.4sec faster than Ogier as the road starts to clean.


Fri 09:27 - SS2: Sordo

Dani Sordo is onto the stage and through the first split he's the fastest so far.



Fri 09:25 - SS2: Tänak

A high oil temperature warning for the Estonian



Fri 09:24 - SS2: Tänak

YPF Rally Argentina winner is at the side of the stage! He's looking under the bonnet of his Yaris 6.7km in



Fri 09:22 - SS2: Neuville

Neuville and Ogier have both broken the timing beam at the second split - 7.64km into the stage - and the Belgian is 2.3sec up on the championship leader



Fri 09:19 - SS2: Neuville

Nicolas Gilsoul begins his flurry of pace notes as Thierry Neuville blasts onto the stage.



Fri 09:15 - SS2: Ogier

The M-Sport Ford driver blasts off from the start and gets Friday's action underway



Fri 09:14 - Tyre update

All our WRC crews have chosen five soft tyres for this morning



Fri 09:12 - SS2 guide

Viana do Castelo 1, 26.73km This is the fastest test of the day and one with plenty of loose surface gravel to hinder early starters. It begins on a sandy surface before a short section of cobblestones at 4.6km. There are several other surface changes and plenty of climbing before the road narrows in the second half, with twisty sections among trees.



Fri 09:10 - Weather:

Another beautiful day in Portugal today, the sun is shining and the temperatures are in the 20s - possibly not the conditions Sébastien Ogier would have wanted as the road opener!



Fri 09:09 - Start list:

Championship order for the crews today: 1. Ogier 2. Neuville 3. Tänak 4. Mikkelsen 5. Sordo 6. Meeke 7. Lappi 8. Latvala 9. Evans 10. Breen 11. Paddon 12. Østberg 13. Suninen




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