The current World Rally Champion, Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota Yaris), once again celebrated from the top of the podium in what was the 56th edition of the Rally de Portugal. It was the first victory of the year for the Finn, who became the lone leader of the World Championship.
Rovanpera, who finished on Saturday with more than 50 seconds ahead of the Spanish Daniel Sordo (Hyundai), was regulating his pace in the final stage and only brought out his full repertoire in the second pass through Fafe, an iconic stage for its final jump of several meters, to win the segment, add the five extra points and close their participation in the Lusitanian classic with 10 sections won out of the 19 run in the test.
The Spanish Sordo was second at 54s7/10 and Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) completed the podium at 1m20s3/10. The Finn took advantage of the mechanical problems suffered by Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), just when the team was looking to position him in the best possible way so as not to lose points in the fight for the scepter. The Belgian finally placed fifth. His delay was also taken advantage of by the Estonian Ott Tanak (Ford Puma), who finished fourth overall and is Rovanpera’s escort in the tournament, as well as being second in the Power Stage and scoring extra.
Back at their best 🙌 @KalleRovanpera @JonneHalttunen @TGR_WRC #WRC #WRCLive #RallydePortugal pic.twitter.com/HVJSNnWV7C
— World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) May 14, 2023
Separate paragraph for the RC2 division, where Oliver Solberg (Skoda) was overtaken at the end by Gus Greensmith (Skoda), who won the group 3h44m55s1/10 to beat Solberg and Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda). Good job from Bolivian Marco Bulacia (Skoda), who finished 11th overall and sixth in the division, as well as the best Latin American.
The World Cup will have a short break to play the Rally of Italy-Sardinia from June 1, in the continuity of the tournament.
General classification of the Rally of Portugal
- Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota Yaris) 3h35m11s7/10
- Daniel Sordo (Hyundai) a 54s7/10
- Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) a 1m20s3/10
- Ott Tanak (Ford Puma) in 2m04s1/10
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) a 8m22s5/10
- Gus Greensmith (Skoda Fabia) a 9m43s8/10
- Oliver Solberg (Skioda Fabia) a 9m44s6/10
- Andres Mikkelson (Skoda Fabia) a 10m26s4/10
- Yohan Rossel (Citroën C3) a 11m33s2/10
- Teemu Suninen (Hyundai) a 12m16s3/10
World Rally Drivers
- Kalle Rovanpera, 98 puntos
- Ott Tanak, 81
- Sebastien Ogier of Elfyn Evans, 69
- Thierry Neuville, 68
- Esapekka Lappi, 49
- Daniel Deaf, 36
- Takamoto Katsuta, 20