After the end of day 3 of Vodafone Rally Portugal 2012 Mikko Hirvonen continue to lead. Petter Solberg moved to fifth position.
Results after SS 16:
1. M. Hirvonen 2:59:33.6
2. M. Ostberg +1:11.9
3. E. Novikov +1:41.2
4. N. Al Attiyah +6:10.1
5. P. Solberg +6:26.5
6. M. Prokop +6:47.5
P. Solberg lost one position after his Ford Fiesta RS WRC suffered powersteering failure on Saturday’s final stage. He may battle in the last day for 4th position again.
In SS 14 Latvala lost a lot of time due too fuel pressure while Sordo stopped and remove a part of the rear bumper and his co-driver’s side window.
Sordo currently is in 12th position while Latvala is far back at 18th position.
In the last day 6 stages remain to go.
 

The second pass in the stages for day 2 was cancelled due too weather conditions.
The overall standing after the end of day 2 is unchanged.
1. M. Hirvonen 1:20:01.7
2. E. Novikov +36.3
3. M. Ostberg +41.8
4. P. Sandell +3:07.2
5. M. Prokop +3:25.8
6. N. Al Attiyah +3:46.9
The rally leader comments (Hirvonen): “We’re in a good position now so for sure it’s important we find a good rhythm. We have a chance to win it so I will try to make the best out of it, take it steady and make sure we don’t do any stupid mistakes. I just drove slowly enough but it has been unbelievably difficult. There was so much fog you couldn’t see for 10 metres. With all the mud and rain I just made sure I did no mistakes. But it was tricky.”
The cancelled stages will allow to the Ford drivers to back in a Superrally with low delay as Petter is in 13th position at +7:35.9 while Latvala is 16th at +11:24.6.
There are 6 stages tomorrow as the rally start at 9:49 AM local time.

 

Petter Solberg out of the rally as he went off the road ahead the finished line and with no spectators around Solberg remain in the ditch.
Dani Sordo is first on the road and set the best time in stage 7 S.Bras de Alportel 1 (16.18km). His time is impressive compared with the second Evgeny Novikov at +21.8 and third Mikko Hirvonen at +33.9.
Results after SS 7:
1. M. Hirvonen 1:20:01.7
2. E. Novikov +36.3
3. M. Ostberg +41.8
4. P. Sandell +3:07.2
5. M. Prokop +3:25.8
6. N. Al Attiyah +3:46.9
Driver’s comments:
D. Sordo: “They’re really tough conditions, with the fog. I have problems with the screen - it is too hot inside the car and the temperature outside is too different. I get to the middle of the stage and I only have a small part of the screen where I can see. I am happy with the car. It is difficult to know where the grip is but it’s okay. I have nothing to lose so I just drive and enjoy.”
M. Hirvonen: “I’m sure these are the most difficult conditions I’ve been driving. In some places I can’t see 10 metres but you’re supposed to be going flat out. I don’t like these conditions.”
 

Latvala is out of the rally as we went off the road in SS 5 Tavira 1 (25.01km).
A Ford spokesperson said: “Jari-Matti hit a rock, which threw him off the road into a ditch where his car is stuck at an angle of 45 degrees. From the angle the car is at it’s not possible to assess if there’s damage to the suspension. The police are not letting spectators try to help get the car on the road for safety reasons so they are stuck.”
Drama for the second Ford manufacture driver in Portugal. Petter Solberg is also out of the rally in stage 6 Alcarias 1 (25.15km).
In Portugal the weather conditions are too bad with rain and fog and slippery roads.
Results after SS 6:
1. M. Hirvonen 1:06:16.1
2. M. Ostberg +31.4
3. E. Novikov +48.4
4. P. Sandell 2:32.6
5. N. Al Attiyah +3:01.2
6. P. Van Merksteijn (JR) +3:06.6
Sebastien Loeb comments his crash in SS 2 during the night stage:
“I just didn’t hear well the note. I thought left it was right. It was like that; I went on the wrong side so I was off the line. It was just over the crest so I couldn’t see the corner. Finally when I was off the line it was too late but luckily it happens not so often. It was a completely blind corner in the dark so for sure it was more difficult. It was a misunderstanding.”
 

O. Tanak make a day surprise as set the best stage in the last day stage 11.1 km SS4 Ourique. Latvala and Solberg play at safe as finished fourth and fifth. In the overall standing Latvala keep the leader position followed by Petter Solberg while Mikko Hirvonen cut the distance.
Loeb is out of the rally as the cage is damage.
Results after SS 4:
1. J. Latvala 25:04.6
2. P. Solberg +2.6
3. M. Hirvonen +5.0
4. O. Tanak +15.4
5. T. Neuville +34.0
6. M. Ostberg +53.3
The day 2 tomorrow starts at 12:01 (Local time) with all 6 stages in the day.
 

The world champion is out off the road about 7 km by the start of SS 3. The both he and co-driver Daniel Elena were uninjured. There is not super rally to restart tomorrow.
Dani Sordo is also out of the rally, as his lights problem does not allow continuing in the night stages.
Meanwhile Latvala set the best time in SS3 Santa Clara (14.29km) as move into the lead ahead of his teammate Petter Solberg with 0.5 seconds.
Ostberg is with front-right puncture in stage 3 as lost about 25 seconds.
Results after SS 3:
1. J. Latvala 18:11.8
2. P. Solberg +0.5
3. M. Hirvonen +10.9
4. O. Tanak +23.0
5. T. Neuville +34.3
6. E. Novikov +38.1
 

Petter Solberg set new best time in stage 2 Gomes Aires (10.19km). The Ford manufacture driver set 6.0 seconds faster time than Sebastien Loeb in stage 2.
Dani Sordo is the big losers in rally Portugal 2012 as he lost his lights 100 meters after the start of stage 2.
Sebastien Loeb out of the road but back and continue faster.
Results after SS 2:
1. P. Solberg 9:35.2
2. J. Latvala +2.2
3. S. Loeb +6.1
4. M. Hirvonen +9.6
5. O. Tanak +12.2
6. M. Ostberg +16.6

 

Petter Solberg with Ford Fiesta RS WRC was quickest in 3.27-kilometre all-asphalt stage in Lisbon. Second is the world champion Sebastien Loeb with 0.1 second delay.
During the stage 1 Evgeny Novikov reported a small problem with the engine.
Results after SS 1:
1. P. Solberg 2:57.1
2. S. Loeb +0.1
3. J. Latvala +0.7
4. M. Hirvonen +0.7
5. O. Tanak +2.8
6. D. Sordo +3.8
Three stages to the end of day 1 remain, as the longest is 14.29.