Sousa hits trouble in the Azores

Juho Hänninen has edged closer to victory on Sata Rallye Açores with his seventh stage victory of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

He was 0.5s faster than Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký through the 6.94-mile Lomba da Maia stage and now leads Bruno Magalhães by 21.0s, who is now only 1.8s ahead of Kopecký.

Bernardo Sousa reached the end of the stage with damaged rear suspension and is unlikely to go any further in the event.