Ott Tänak showcased his rally mastery at the Rally de Portugal, delivering a commanding performance that left Sébastien Ogier trailing. After a tense morning where Ogier closed the gap to just 2.0 seconds, Tänak responded with a blistering run on the Amarante stage, the rally's longest at 22.01km, to extend his lead to 11.8 seconds.
The Battle Intensifies
Tänak, driving for Hyundai, had led since Friday but faced fierce competition from Ogier, who won the first two stages of the morning. However, Tänak's adaptability and improved car handling allowed him to secure a significant advantage by the service break.
"Faster than anyone else, of course – so yeah, it was a good stage!" Tänak remarked with a grin. "After the first one we managed to adapt a bit, and things seemed to click for the next two. I definitely have a better feeling in the car now."
Other Notable Performances
- Kalle Rovanperä overtook teammate Takamoto Katsuta to claim third place, showcasing his skill with faster times on key stages.
- Thierry Neuville held fifth, struggling with his Hyundai's handling but remaining within striking distance of the leaders.
- Sami Pajari and Elfyn Evans continued their duel for sixth, with Pajari extending his lead.
- Josh McErlean moved up to seventh, outperforming his M-Sport Ford teammate Grégoire Munster.
- Oliver Solberg dominated the WRC2 category, finishing 10th overall but leading his class by a significant margin.
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