Magalhães vows to carry on pushing

Bruno Magalhães has vowed to carry on pushing in his efforts to remain at the top of the Sata Rallye Açores leaderboard.

The 30-year-old Peugeot Sport Portugal driver leads the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier by 9.4s following Friday’s opening three stages.

Speaking at the midday service halt in Ponta Delgada, Magalhães said: “It’s been fantastic so far but we are having to push to the maximum because that is the only way we can keep the other guys behind us. Of course we know the rally from before and that gives us confidence but the car is also very good.”

Magalhães has scored points on all six rounds of this year’s IRC season but has yet to take an outright victory.

“This afternoon it will be the same, more pushing and hoping the luck stays with me," he said. "We cannot relax."