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SS16: Solberg flies in the Portugal rain

Hirvonen back into fourth as heavy rain falls in Portugal

By Franck Drui

27 March 2011 - 14:40

Petter Solberg has won the penultimate stage of Vodafone Rally de Portugal as heavy rain made driving conditions treacherous.

The top 20 drivers tackled the 21.39-kilometre test in reverse running order to establish the starting positions for the event-closing Power Stage.

Solberg was 11.4s faster through the stage than fellow Norwegian Mads Ostberg. Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen was third quickest to move back ahead of Matthew Wilson into fourth overall.

Afterwards Hirvonen said: “I am okay, I am here but some places it is like driving on ice.”

Sebastien Ogier’s overall lead to Sebastien Loeb has been trimmed to 35.9s heading into Power Stage. “I had the worst of the rain,” said Ogier. “I took it steady to keep my position.”

Henning Solberg has slipped to ninth overall after his Ford Fiesta RS WRC developed a suspected turbo problem during the stage.

Standings after SS16:

Pos.	Driver	Car	Time
01	S. OGIER / J. INGRASSIA	Citroën DS3 WRC	3h48m13.4s
02	S. LOEB / D. ELENA	Citroën DS3 WRC	+35.9s
03	J. LATVALA / M. ANTTILA	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+3m24.5s
04	M. HIRVONEN / J. LEHTINEN	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+5m58.4s
05	M. WILSON / S. MARTIN	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+6m15.5s
06	K. RAIKKONEN /K. LINDSTROM	Citroën DS3 WRC	+9m36.9s
07	P. SOLBERG / C. PATTERSON	Citroën DS3 WRC	+10m06.0s
08	F. VILLAGRA / J. PÉREZ COMPANC	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+10m10.6s
09	H. SOLBERG / I. MINOR	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+10m36.0s
10	D. KUIPERS / F. MICLOTTE	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+15m25.8s
11	H. PADDON / J. KENNARD	Subaru Impreza STI	+19m49.5s
12	B. MAGALHAES / P. GRAVE	Peugeot 207 S2000	+21m08.0s
13	K. KRUUDA / M. JARVEOJA	Skoda Fabia S2000	+24m04.8s
14	K. AL QASSIMI / M. ORR	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	+24m53.2s
15	J. KETOMAKI / K. RISBERG	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X	+28m05.3s