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For immediate release
Thursday, May 9th, 2024

NEUVILLE AND WYDAEGHE LEAD AFTER OPENING STAGE IN PORTUGAL

MATOSINHOS (PORTUGAL): Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe moved into a slender lead of just six-tenths of a second after the opening 2.94km super special stage of the 57th Vodafone Rally of Portugal that was held in front of huge crowds in warm sunshine at Figueira da Foz on Thursday evening.

The narrow stage adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean ran over a mixture of asphalt and cobble stones, used a jump, several doughnuts and followed the traditional ceremonial start in nearby Coimbra.

Neuville eventually clocked a time of 2min 24.2sec on a stage where crews tried their best to entertain the crowds, while keeping an eye on conserving tyres for the first loop of gravel stages on Friday morning.

Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais came home in second place in the first of the Toyotas and Neuville’s Hyundai team-mates Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja were third.

Several of the leading WRC2 runners were first on the road followed by the Rally1 cars running in reverse order. Young Lauri Joona was given road-opening duties to entertain the crowds and the Finn clocked a target time of 2min 37.6sec. Sami Pajari was quicker than his fellow countryman but clouted a concrete block with the front of his Toyota.

Tarmac specialist Yohan Rossel was the quickest of the first group of WRC2 drivers and he also managed to fend off a hard-charging Kris Meeke to maintain ninth overall. A returning Pierre-Louis Loubet knocked Meeke out of the top 10 and slotted in behind Rossel.

Competitors will stay in Coimbra overnight before commencing a hectic day of action with eight special stages in the itinerary for Friday.

Two passes through the Mortágua (18.15km) stage bookend the day’s proceedings and crews will also be tested by a pair of runs through the Lousã (12.28km), Góis (14.30km) and Arganil (18.72km) specials before returning to Matosinhos and the Exponor service park in the evening.

2024 Vodafone Rally of Portugal – positions after SS1 (top 10 @ 20.32hrs):

  1. Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid 2min 24.2sec
  2. Sébastien Ogier (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid 2min 24.8sec
  3. Ott Tänak (EST)/Martin Järveoja (EST) Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid 2min 26.2sec
  4. Takamoto Katsuta (JPN)/Aaron Johnston (IRL) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid 2min 26.2sec
  5. Kalle Rovanperä (FIN)/Jonne Halttunen (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid 2min 26.6sec
  6. Adrien Fourmaux (FRA)/Alexandre Coria (FRA) Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid 2min 27.3sec
  7. Dani Sordo (ESP)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid 2min 28.3sec
  8. Elfyn Evans (GBR)/Scott Martin (GBR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid 2min 28.5sec
  9. Yohan Rossel (FRA)/Arnaud Dunand (FRA) Citroën C3 (WRC2) 2min 28.9sec
  10. Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA)/Loris Pascaud (FRA) Škoda Fabia RS (WRC2) 2min 29.4sec

Ends

Published On: 9 May 2024