Vodafone Rally De Portugal: Kalle Rovanperä Maintains First

The second day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal has passed. Kalle Rovanperä dominated during the day to maintain the lead.

SS9, VIEIRA DO MINHO 1

The ninth stage of Vodafone Rally De Portugal and the first one of day two saw Kalle Rovanperä take the win. Setting a time 12.8 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi who set the second-fastest time on the stage. Dani Sordo set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than this Hyundai teammate Esapekka Lappi. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than his Hyundai teammate Dani Sordo. Thierry Neuville’s former teammate Ott Tänak set the fifth fastest time on the stage, 3.3 seconds slower than Neuville. 

SS10, AMARANTE 1

Stage 10 would once again see Kalle Rovanperä take the stage win. Setting a time 3.3 seconds faster than Ott Tänak who set the second fastest time on the stage. Esapekka Lappi finished with the third fastest time, 5.7 seconds slower than the time of Tänak. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than the time of Lappi. The returning Takamoto Katsuta finished with the fifth fastest time on the stage, that time would be 8.2 seconds slower than Neuville’s however. 

SS11, FELGUEIRAS 1

The third stage of the day would see Kalle Rovanperä take his third consecutive stage win. Setting a time 5.7 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville who set the second fastest time. Dani Sordo set the third fastest time in the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than the time set by Neuville. Ott Tänak finished fourth in the stage, setting a time 1.2 seconds slower than Sordo’s. Esapekka Lappi set the fifth fastest time in the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than the time set by Tänak. 

SS12, VIEIRA DO MINHO 2

The twelfth stage of Vodafone Rally De Portugal would once again see Kalle Rovanperä top the stage. With Rovanperä setting a time 2.8 seconds faster than Dani Sordo. Esapekka Lappi set the third quickest time in the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Sordo’s time. Thierry Neuville finished the stage with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.9 seconds slower than Sordo’s time however. Ott Tänak set the fifth fastest time in the stage, 9.7 seconds slower than the time set by Neuville. 

SS13, AMARANTE 2

The fifth stage of the day would see Dani Sordo end Kalle Rovanperä’s stage win streak. Setting a time 0.7 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä who set the second fastest time. Thierry Neuville set the third fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä’s time. Esapekka Lappi would finish with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville’s time. Takamoto Katsuta would round out the top five on the stage, setting a time 6.7 seconds slower than Lappi. 

SS14, FELGUEIRAS 2

Stage 14 would see Kalle Rovanperä back on top. With Rovanperä setting a time 2.4 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi, who finished with the second fastest time. Thierry Neuville would finish the stage with the third fastest time, that time would be 0.5 seconds slower than Lappi’s time however. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, with a time 1.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Dani Sordo would round out the top five on the stage. Setting a time 0.8 seconds slower than Tänak’s. 

SS15, LOUSADA (SSS)

Stage 15 would mark the final stage of the second day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal. Dani Sordo would end the day with a stage win, much like the first day. Sordo would set a time 0.2 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta who would finish second on the stage. Thierry Neuville set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Esapekka Lappi would set the fourth quickest time on the stage, that time would be 0.1 seconds slower than Neuville’s. Ott Tänak would round out the top five on the stage, with a time 0.6 seconds slower than Lappi. 

Rovanperä Dominates 

Kalle Rovanperä would take 4 of the 6 stage wins on the second day of Vodafone Rally De Portugal. This would give Rovanperä a 57.5-second lead heading into the final day of the event. All Rovanperä has to do now is finish. If Rovanperä manages to take home the win he will take over the Drivers’ Championship lead. 

Vodafone Rally De Portugal Day One Recap

Vodafone Rally De Portugal Preview WRC1