Portugal joy for Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen has moved to the top of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia after winning the fourth event of the season, Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Driving a Citroen Total World Rally Team DS3 WRC, Hirvonen moved in front on stage six and has remained at the head of the overall classification ever since following a faultless display alongside co-driver and fellow Finn Jarmo Lehtinen.

Norway’s Mads Ostberg finished second for the Adapta World Rally Team with Russian Evgeny Novikov scoring his first podium at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Fiesta RS WRC.

SS22: Power Stage glory for Sordo

Dani Sordo has won the Vodafone Rally de Portugal Power Stage, which has brought the action on round four of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia to a close.

Driving a Prodrive-run MINI John Cooper Works WRC, Sordo was 0.3s faster than Ford pilot Jari-Matti Latvala to secure his first Power Stage victory and three bonus points. Latvala scored two bonus points with Ott Tanak claiming the final point with the third best run in his M-Sport Fiesta.

“At the beginning there was a lot of rain and it was really difficult but afterwards I was pushing a lot,” said Sordo. “I am really happy with the performance of the car. I’ve had some good moments on this rally, I have a lot of confidence and also the car is fantastic.”

Petter Solberg had hoped to end his troubled rally with victory on the Power Stage but lost out in the deteriorating weather conditions. “It was raining very hard before we started and unfortunately we didn’t get any points,” said Solberg, who was 10.3s slower than Sordo. “It was so slippery I tell you. But I got a lot of points and I am still third in the championship. The Ford has been fantastic, very fast. We should be happy with the situation after Friday.”

Mikko Hirvonen secured victory with the 15th fastest time. Mads Ostberg was 11th quickest to finish second overall with Evgeny Novikov claiming his maiden podium by posting the 10th quickest time.

Reports of Thierry Neuville retiring his Citroen Junior World Rally Team DS3 WRC on the road section heading to the final stage proved unfounded although the Belgian did have to start the Power Stage with a punctured tyre following a double deflation on the previous run. “I had only one spare wheel and now I have 70 kilometres to get back to service,” said the 23-year-old. “Hopefully I will arrive.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah reclaimed fifth place from Martin Prokop by 3.4s following a charging run as the Czech lost time with a hesitant start.

Jari Ketomaa snatched the final FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia drivers’ point by overhauling Peter van Merksteijn Jr for 10th position.