SS3: Sordo moves ahead

What a morning for Hyundai!

After Dani Sordo gave the Korean manufacturer’s 2014 squad its first fastest time in today’s opening Silves test, a second win in the shortened 20.21km Ourique (SS3) propelled the team into the lead of a WRC event for the first time.

The Spaniard was quickest by 4.0sec from Ott Tänak to move his i20 into the lead by 2.8sec over the Estonian’s Ford Fiesta RS.

Henning Solberg dropped more than 20sec after a puncture on the rear left of his Ford Fiesta RS.

The Norwegian, seventh fastest through the opening stage this morning, picked up the flat shortly after the midpoint. “I was quite fast at the beginning. The puncture happened 8km before the end, on a straight section. I don’t know what happened,” he said.

Sébastien Ogier is finding it hard opening the road in his Volkswagen Polo R and the Frenchman slipped to third overall. “I’m not so happy with the car, and that’s not helped by carrying two spare wheels. But that’s a team decision - not mine.”