SS19: Neuville survives stage fright

Thierry Neuville remains on course for his first points in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia despite reporting a “very, very big moment” in his Citroen Junior World Rally Team DS3 WRC.

The Belgian was seventh fastest through the stage as a result but holds on to 10th position in the overall standings on Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

“It was a very, very big moment,” said Neuville. “We went off the road. I went much too fast in a corner, but I managed to get the car out.”

Petter Solberg was fastest through the run, which will form the rally-closing Power Stage later today, in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The Norwegian was 0.1s quicker than Dani Sordo in a MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

The power loss problem that slowed Mads Ostberg on stage 18 continues to plague the Norwegian, who had to complete Sambro in road mode. He is now 1m40.1s behind overall leader Mikko Hirvonen, who was fourth quickest.

Jari-Matti Latvala was third fastest in his Fiesta with Jari Ketomaa fifth and Patrik Sandell impressing in sixth in his Prodrive-run MINI.

Ott Tanak is nursing damaged rear suspension and was more than one minute off the pace in his M-Sport Fiesta.

Crews are now heading to service at the Algarve Stadium in Faro for a 30-minute halt. Stage 20, the repeat of the 21.42-kilometre Silves test, goes live at 12:23hrs local time.