Elfyn Evans has taken a narrow lead in Rally Portugal, just 0.2s ahead of Toyota teammate Sébastien Ogier and Hyundai’s Ott Tänak after the opening superspecial stage. However, Evans faces the challenge of opening the road on Friday’s grueling gravel stages, a task he admits is daunting.
This year’s Figueira da Foz seafront stage introduced a tire fitting zone, allowing drivers to push harder without worrying about tire conservation. This change led to more aggressive driving, though competitors are already looking ahead to Friday’s marathon three-loop day with remote services.
“It’s gonna be a tough day, that’s for sure,” Evans remarked after his stage win. “We have to try and forget the situation and just enjoy the event.”
While Ogier has previously won from a similar position, Evans remains cautious about his chances. Tänak highlighted the reduced risk this year with dedicated tires for the superspecial, making the stage more enjoyable but still requiring focus for the days ahead.
Hyundai secured the next spots with Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville close behind, while Kalle Rovanperä expressed his displeasure at an early wake-up call for Friday’s stages.
Moments before disaster: Pajari clipped a concrete block and lost several minutes on the Figueira da Foz 12 months ago. Avoiding a repeat this year was his priority.
Sami Pajari, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, was cautious after last year’s mishap on the same stage, finishing significantly slower. Meanwhile, Mārtinš Sesks led the Ford Puma drivers, with M-Sport’s trio struggling, particularly with the redesigned donuts on the course.
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