WRC Rally de Portugal - Faro Portugal

[flying finn]

WRC Rally de Portugal - Faro Portugal

Total Kms: 1164.99 km
Liaison: 803.63 km
SS Kms: 361.36 km
Special Stages: 18

Thursday 02.04 / Friday 03.04 > 7 stages (136.21 km)
Saturday 04.04 > 6 stages (145.18 km)
Sunday 05.04 > 5 stages (79.97 km)

Home Page > http://www.rallydeportugal.pt/index.php?idioma=en
Itinerary > www.rallydeportugal.pt/prog/documento.php?documento_id=120&fazer=abrir
Entry List > www.rallydeportugal.pt/prog/documento.php?documento_id=158&fazer=abrir
Rally Guide > http://www.rallydeportugal.pt/suport...uide_UK_UV.pdf

Citroen preview > http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...=322232&FS=WRC
Ford preview > http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...=322226&FS=WRC
Stobart preview > http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...=322231&FS=WRC
Citroen Junior preview > http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...=322233&FS=WRC
Munchi's preview > http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...=322229&FS=WRC

Championship Standings

1. Sebastien LOEB (F) > 30
2. Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN) > 22
3. Dani SORDO (E) > 17
4. Henning SOLBERG (N) > 10
5. Petter SOLBERG (N) > 9
6. Matthew WILSON (GB) > 8
7. Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN) > 6
8. Chris ATKINSON (AUS) > 4
9. Sebastien OGIER (F) > 3
10. Khalid AL QASSIMI (UAE) > 2
11. Federico VILLAGRA (ARG) > 2
12. Urmo AAVA (EE) > 1

[bodgit]

Another win for loeb?

[BertMk2]

Looks likely doesn't it? Although there should be plenty of interest behind him - Solberg continues to impress in the aged Xsara whilst Gronholm returns in the Subaru. I guess we'll find out just how good/bad that Impreza really is.

[gomick]

Well, Gronholm hasnt driven for a year so can we really expext him to get much out of the Impreza?

[BertMk2]

I don't think the time out of the car will be too much of a problem for Gronholm - I think the car itself will be more the issue to be honest. We've seen Solberg putting in some great performances this season showing that he still has it as a driver so that puts a real question mark over the performance potential of the Impreza given how far off the pace Solberg was last year.

[MarkkuAlen86]

I hear Ford have an engine upgrade for Portugal that gives them more power. I don't think that will help either Hirvonen or Latvala beat Loeb though.

I expect Gronholm to finish in the top 5.

When is Solberg expected to get a C4?

[BertMk2]

I'd expect Gronholm to be around the top 5 (after all - there aren't that many of them left!) but I can't see him troubling the podium. The only candidates really for the top 5 are Gronholm, Loeb, Sordo, Hirvonen, Latvala and Solberg (and Latvala seems to be throwing it into the scenery quite a lot so could take himself out of the equation anyway ).

[bodgit]

for Gronholm to finish in the top 5 the car he is driving will have to be spot on, and looking at the pace of solberg now, even in a car a few years old, shows that that subaru was no where near on the pace.

[BertMk2]

So far so good for Gronholm

Six stages down and the top 5 is:

Hirvonen
Gronholm
Sordo
Loeb
Solberg

Latvala has binned it again (in a big way) and is out. Loeb has been off and lost time but appears not to be suffering too badly for it.

[bodgit]

Another on of my predictions have been proved completely wrong, good luck to gronholm for a good finish

Is it time for Wilson to consider finding a replacement for latvala, he's only Finished one rally out of the last 4, and in a works ford he should be in the top 5 of the championship

[BertMk2]

Latvala can be blindingly fast but he's certainly a liability in terms of the manufacturers title. I guess Ford must be looking at options.

[Knowlesy]

Latvala needs time, but you simply don't get time in the modern sport.

Looks like another Loeb-athon. And Gronholm is out.

*stifles yawn*

[gomick]

But Mads Ostberg is 8th in an Impreza - albeit 5 mins behind Sebby....

[Knowlesy]

*breaks down in tears of bitter frustration*

[bodgit]

Rember latvala has had 2 seasons running in a focus now, he should be getting good consitant points finishes by now.

Another good win for loeb, shame about wilson retiring from fifth on the penultimet stage.

[flying finn]

WRC Rally de Portugal - Results

1. Sebastien LOEB (F) > Citroen C4 > 3:53:13.1 (+0:00.0)
2. Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN) > Ford Focus > 3:53:37.4 (+0:24.3)
3. Dani SORDO (E) > Citroen C4 > 3:54:58.5 (+1:45.4)
4. Petter SOLBERG (N) > Citroen Xsara > 3:55:57.7 (+2:44.6)
5. Henning SOLBERG (N) > Ford Focus > 3:58:59.4 (+5:46.3)
6. Mads OSTBERG (N) > Subaru Impreza > 3:59:33.9 (+6:20.8)
7. Federico VILLAGRA (ARG) > Ford Focus > 4:06:12.6 (+12:59.5)
8. Khalid AL QASSIMI (UAE) > Ford Focus > 4:11:34.8 (+18:21.7)
9. Armindo ARAUJO (P) > Mitsubishi Lancer > 4:15:31.6 (+22:18.5)
10. Martin PROKOP (CZ) > Mitsubishi Lancer > 4:16:38.7 (+23:25.6)
17. Sebastien OGIER (F) > Citroen C4 > 4:26:59.3 (+33:46.2)
DNF. Conrad RAUTENBACH (ZW) > Citroen C4 > SS17 off road
DNF. Matthew WILSON (GB) > Ford Focus > SS17 off road
DNF. Evgeny NOVIKOV (RUS) > Citroen C4 > SS15 off road
DNF. Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN) > Ford Focus > SS4 off road

press conference > http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre...conf_por3.aspx
> hohum, another win for Loeb, another second for Hirvonen
> rally was won on Saturday when Hirvonen swept the roads and Loeb had a perfect day

Championship Standings

1. Sebastien LOEB (F) > 40
2. Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN) > 30
3. Dani SORDO (E) > 23
4. Petter SOLBERG (N) > 14
5. Henning SOLBERG (N) > 14
6. Matthew WILSON (GB) > 8
7. Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN) > 6
8. Chris ATKINSON (AUS) > 4
9. Federico VILLAGRA (ARG) > 4
10. Sebastien OGIER (F) > 3
11. Conrad RAUTENBACH (ZW) > 3
12. Mads OSTBERG (N) > 3
13. Khalid AL QASSIMI (UAE) > 3
14. Urmo AAVA (EE) > 1

[gomick]

4 manufacturers in the top 9 sounds pretty good for the WRC - but, another predictable Loeb win...

[Burnsie]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Latvala has binned it again (in a big way) and is out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV3TIYZaJvE

If ever there was a testament to the strength of modern-day WRC cars, this is it.

[gomick]

Good vid - was waiting for the car to blow up ala hollywood movies... Does show the strength of modern wrc cars & fuel tanks etc...

[bodgit]

That cars going to be rebuild and used on another rally aswell

[cg7aa]

I was gobsmacked by the footage of Latvala'sc rash when I saw it on Friday. I held my breath all the way through just wishing the thing would stop rolling.

So, just who paid for Marcus and Timo to make an appearance then? Was it the tourist body paying Prodrive to run the car ( I think Mr. Richards prefers others to pay the racing bills) or was it the other way round i.e. Prodrive proposed the idea and got some sponsorship for the event in the shape of the the tourist board?

Also, what is the deal with Citroen Junior, I was under the impression (probably wrong) that they would be rotating a few drivers. Is it a case of the likes of Atkinson having to bring the money first?

[Burnsie]

Originally Posted by bodgit

That cars going to be rebuild and used on another rally aswell

Surely not? It was an absolute wreck when it finally stopped rolling, even the roll-cage looked mangled!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Burnsie

Surely not? It was an absolute wreck when it finally stopped rolling, even the roll-cage looked mangled!

It takes a lot to write off a world rally car The vast majority are rebuilt to go again - cut away the bent bits and put new on - it still works out cheaper and takes less time than preparing a new shell from scratch.

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by gomick

Good vid - was waiting for the car to blow up ala hollywood movies...

I'm sure if Duval had been driving he'd have done his best.

"Don't start the ca--BOOM."

[gomick]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

Also, what is the deal with Citroen Junior, I was under the impression (probably wrong) that they would be rotating a few drivers. Is it a case of the likes of Atkinson having to bring the money first?

Heard that Chris was at the Melbourne F1 GP & he was talking about sponsorship $$$ & something was going to happen very soon...