The third day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal 2024 has come to an end. Sebastien Ogier took the event lead after a chaotic day.
SS10, Felgueiras 1
Kalle Rovanperä kicked off the penultimate day with a stage win. As the two-time Rally Portugal winner set a time 4.2 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville tied for third fastest on the stage, with both drivers finishing 5.7 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 1.5 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Ogier and Neuville.
SS11, Montim 1
Sebastien Ogier took home the stage win on the second stage of the day. With a time 0.5 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, 6.5 seconds slower than Ogier and six seconds slower than Tänak. Dani Sordo set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.2 seconds slower than Sordo.
SS12, Amarante 1
Ott Tänak claimed the stage win on the twelfth stage of Vodafone Rally De Portugal 2024. Setting a time 3.6 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top his first stage of the day. Dani Sordo was third fastest on the stage, 15.4 seconds slower than Tänak and 11.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville finished fourth fastest on the stage, finishing 0.4 seconds slower than Sordo. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 8.3 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS13, Paredes 1
Sebastien Ogier capped off the morning loop with his second stage win of the day. As the Frenchman posted a time 8.5 seconds faster than fellow countryman Adrien Fourmaux to win the stage. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 12 seconds slower than Ogier and 8.5 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Evans.
SS14, Felgueiras 2
Ott Tänak kicked off the afternoon loop of stages with his second stage win of the day. As the Estonian set a time 2.4 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Dani Sordo finished third fastest on the stage, three seconds slower than Tänak and 0.6 seconds slower than Neuville. Sebastien Ogier posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Sordo. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.7 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS15, Montim 2
Ott Tänak also took the stage win on the fifteenth stage of Vodafone Rally De Portugal 2024. With a time 2.1 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmuax. Thierry Neuville set the third fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than Tänak and 0.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS16, Amarante 2
Sebastien Ogier set the fastest time on the sixteenth stage of the event. Setting a time 4.1 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, 11 seconds slower than Ogier and 6.9 seconds slower than Tänak. Dani Sordo was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.8 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 4.3 seconds slower than Sordo.
SS17, Paredes 2
Sebastien Ogier also topped the penultimate stage of the day. With a time 0.4 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take his second consecutive stage win. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, one second slower than Ogier and 0.6 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 7.7 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS18, Lousada
Adrien Fourmaux capped off the penultimate day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal 2024 with his first stage win of the weekend. Setting a time 0.3 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Thierry Neuville was third fastest on the stage 0.6 seconds slower than Fourmaux and 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Dani Sordo posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Sordo.
Chaotic Day
Compared to the WRC2 class, Rally1 was actually pretty calm. As few major incidents happened on the day. First Kalle Rovanperä rolled out of the event lead on SS11. Takamoto Katsuta broke his right rear suspension on SS12. Grégoire Munster had engine issues throughout the day, although the exact issue is unknown. Finally, Ott Tänak had a slow puncture in the afternoon which cost him the lead. Rovanperä will return for the final day to help Toyota chase valuable manufacturers’ championship points.
What To Expect From Day Four
The fourth and final day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal will see drivers contest 62.18 km across 4 stages. The longest of these stages is the 19.91 km Cabeceiras de Basto stage. While the shortest is the famed 11.18 Fafe stage, which will serve as the Wolf Powerstage. Kalle Rovanperä will be first on the road tomorrow, followed by Takamoto Katsuta and Grégoire Munster. Being Super Sunday drivers will likely push to gain as many extra points as possible, especially Elfyn Evans who sits sixth overall heading into the final day. Thierry Neuville will also push to try to score more points than Evans. Ogier and Tänak will both push because they are battling for the event win.