From the World Rally Championship
Rally Portugal is set for a thrilling climax after Sebastien Ogier reached the end of day two 21.1 seconds in front of Citroen team leader Sebastien Loeb.
And with just four gravel stages remaining on Sunday, World Champion Loeb fears he might not be able to prevent Ogier from landing his maiden victory in the World Rally Championship.
Ogier, who drives for the Citroen Junior Team, has held his lead throughout the day despite having to carve his way through the loose surface gravel by running first on the road.
Petter Solberg returned to end of day service in Faro in third place in his privately-run Citroen C4. He started the afternoon loop 10.5 seconds down on Dani Sordo but moved in front when the tyres on the Spaniard’s C4 became badly worn and he had to slow down.
Solberg also reported excessive tyre wear - caused the by the hot temperatures and abrasive stage surface - and starts the final day 52.2 seconds adrift of Ogier.
Mikko Hirvonen is fifth and the leading non-Citroen driver in his works Ford Focus with Henning Solberg sixth, in a semi-works machine, after recovering from earlier fuel pump problems.
Ex-Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen remains on course for a points finish in the second Citroen Junior Team C4 after surviving an off-track approximately one and a half kilometres from the end of the final stage.
Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) had to retire after an accident in ESS9.
Rally Portugal Day 2 classification:
1. Sébastien Ogier (Citroen C4) - 2h50’48’’1
2. Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4) + 21’’1
3. Petter Solberg (Citroen C4) + 52’’2
4. Dani Sordo (Citroen C4) + 1’05’’7
5. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) + 1’13’’9
6. Henning Solberg (Ford Focus) + 3’02’’8
7. Matthew Wilson (Ford Focus) + 4’41’’8
8. Mads Ostberg (Subaru Impreza) + 5’36’’7
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen C4) + 7’29’’7
10. Federico Villagra (Ford Focus) + 7’55’’1
= Khalid Al Qassimi (Ford Focus) + 7’55’’1
etc.
Rally Portugal is set for a thrilling climax after Sebastien Ogier reached the end of day two 21.1 seconds in front of Citroen team leader Sebastien Loeb.
And with just four gravel stages remaining on Sunday, World Champion Loeb fears he might not be able to prevent Ogier from landing his maiden victory in the World Rally Championship.
Ogier, who drives for the Citroen Junior Team, has held his lead throughout the day despite having to carve his way through the loose surface gravel by running first on the road.
Petter Solberg returned to end of day service in Faro in third place in his privately-run Citroen C4. He started the afternoon loop 10.5 seconds down on Dani Sordo but moved in front when the tyres on the Spaniard’s C4 became badly worn and he had to slow down.
Solberg also reported excessive tyre wear - caused the by the hot temperatures and abrasive stage surface - and starts the final day 52.2 seconds adrift of Ogier.
Mikko Hirvonen is fifth and the leading non-Citroen driver in his works Ford Focus with Henning Solberg sixth, in a semi-works machine, after recovering from earlier fuel pump problems.
Ex-Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen remains on course for a points finish in the second Citroen Junior Team C4 after surviving an off-track approximately one and a half kilometres from the end of the final stage.
Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) had to retire after an accident in ESS9.
Rally Portugal Day 2 classification:
1. Sébastien Ogier (Citroen C4) - 2h50’48’’1
2. Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4) + 21’’1
3. Petter Solberg (Citroen C4) + 52’’2
4. Dani Sordo (Citroen C4) + 1’05’’7
5. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) + 1’13’’9
6. Henning Solberg (Ford Focus) + 3’02’’8
7. Matthew Wilson (Ford Focus) + 4’41’’8
8. Mads Ostberg (Subaru Impreza) + 5’36’’7
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen C4) + 7’29’’7
10. Federico Villagra (Ford Focus) + 7’55’’1
= Khalid Al Qassimi (Ford Focus) + 7’55’’1
etc.