SS5: Fires force stage cancellation

Forest fires forced the cancellation of Friday afternoon’s second pass through the Ponte de Lima stage at Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Emergency services battled overnight blazes to allow the 27.53km test to start as scheduled this morning, but it was stopped after 33 cars as the hillsides continued to burn.

Organisers had no option but to scrub the second run and cars were held in Matosinhos following the mid-leg service before heading directly to the Caminha test, which will start on schedule at 16.35 (CEST).

Almost 250 people and 60 vehicles were involved in an 18-hour battle to bring the fires under control after they started yesterday afternoon.