Magalhaes takes a 2 second lead into Azores’ final day

After SS10: Hänninen closes on Kopecký

Juho Hänninen has closed to within 0.3s of second-placed Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký (pictured right) by setting the fastest time on the 10th stage of Sata Rallye Açores.

Bruno Magalhães maintains his overall lead in his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207, but his advantage over Kopecký has been trimmed to 12.9s with two stages of the second leg remaining.

Kris Meeke, who is suffering from a fever, picked up a left-rear puncture with four kilometres of the 14.90-kilometre stage remaining. He falls to fifth behind Andreas Mikkelsen and must now tackle the next two tests with no spare tyre after only electing to carry one spare for the loop.

After SS11: Kopecký holds on to second

Jan Kopecký continues to maintain second place on Sata Rallye Açores after resisting Juho Hänninen’s advances on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event by going fastest on the first run through the Achada das Furnas stage.

The Škoda Motorsport drivers are separated by 0.4s with one stage of Friday’s second leg remaining.

Bruno Magalhães still leads overall but his advantage in his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207 has been narrowed to 9.5s.

Kris Meeke needs to make up a gap of four seconds to Andreas Mikkelsen (M-Sport Ford Fiesta) on Friday’s final stage in order to avoid finishing the leg in fifth overall, which would force him to run first on the road on day three.

After SS12: Hänninen takes second place

Juho Hänninen has closed to within 2.2s of overall leader Bruno Magalhães after winning his fourth stage of Sata Rallye Açores.

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge pacesetter demoted Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký to third following a blistering run through the day-closing Lomba da Maia stage and is now within touching distance of Magalhães, who moved into the lead on Friday’s first stage.

Magalhães said he lost time by having to replace a punctured rear-left tyre with a right-sided wheel prior to the stage, which caused a handling imbalance in his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207.

Kris Meeke’s efforts to snatch fourth place from Andreas Mikkelsen failed after the Norwegian went on an all-out attack to maintain the position in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. Peugeot UK driver Meeke will now have to start first on the road on the final day of the rally.

Overall standings after SS12: