Unleashing Thrills: Rally Portugal Day Two

As the morning sun broke through the clouds, engines roared to life, and teams made final adjustments at the service point, gearing up for the ultimate test of skill and luck. With tire choices crucial, teams like Hyundai, Toyota Gazoo Racing, and Ford Puma were ready to tackle the challenge head-on.

A Legendary Rally: Over the years, Rally Portugal has garnered accolades, including five-time winner of ‘The Best Rally in the World’ and ‘The Most Improved Rally of the Year’ in 2000. Racing legends like Finland’s Markku Alén and France’s Sébastien Ogier top the honor roll with five wins apiece.

Track Talk: The circuit winded through Montague, Lousa, Gois, and Arganil, with stages repeating in the afternoon. Takamoto’s dominance was palpable as he attacked each stage, temporarily sharing the spotlight with Thierry, Dani Sordo, and Kalle. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans filled the stages, with local schools even closing to witness the rally spectacle.

Driver Insights: In SS6, Elfyn Evans remarked, “Pretty difficult, hard to get a good feeling, but we’ll keep trying.” Meanwhile, after SS7, Kalle Rovanperä expressed frustration, “We are definitely nowhere near where the car should be, and I’m fighting with it all the time. It’s impossible to drive cleanly, and we have a lot of understeer which then kills the tires.”

Overnight Leaders: Kalle Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen emerged as the overnight leaders after a phenomenal Friday. As the sun set, Friday was full of drama, setting the stage for an anticipated Saturday – Day 3, where dreams of points propel the teams forward.