SS5 : Latvala shares fastest time with leader Ogier

Sebastien Ogier has extended his lead of Vodafone Rally de Portugal after sharing the fastest time with Jari-Matti Latvala on stage five.

Ogier and Latvala both completed the 22.99-kilometre Santa Clara test in a time of 13m50.9s. As a result, Latvala has moved into second overall, two-tenths of a second ahead of Sebastien Loeb, who was third fastest through the run.

“It’s okay, it’s going well,” said Citroen driver Ogier. “The car is perfect and for now [there’s] no problem. I have to be calm with no worry. It is just the start of the rally.”

Ford ace Latvala added: “It felt much quicker than the first time through the stage. I am happy with that.”

Petter Solberg’s efforts to make up the time he lost with a puncture on stage three suffered a blow when he suffered a right-rear puncture and dropped more than 20 seconds.

Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen also suffered a puncture - his left-rear tyre failing approximately 11 kilometres into the stage. “I didn’t feel anything,” the Finn said.

Standings after SS5: