The longest leg of the Rally Portugal saw an intense fight for second position right from the start on Saturday morning. While Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Anders Jæger controlled the lead with a fast and measured drive, the Ford pairing of Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula went fastest on the first two stages. On the first run of the longest special stage of the event, the 37.55 kilometres long “Amarante”, the ŠKODA teams fought back. Andreas Mikkelsen and Pontus Tidemand shared the fastest time with a more than 15 seconds advantage over Teemu Suninen. Just before midday service Tidemand climbed to second in WRC 2 category, leading Suninnen by 5.9 seconds.
After service teams were heading back for a second loop of the three stages. And again, Suninen scored two fastest times in a row and took second position in WRC 2 back from Tidemand. On the last stage of the day, the second run over the 37 kilometres gravel road of “Amarante”, Suninen and Tidemand both got a puncture. Tidemand / Andersson changed the flat tyre faster than their competitors and consequently moved ahead into second place.
Sunday will feature the smooth and fast gravel roads close to the village of Fafe, situated in the northeast of Porto. The famous Fafe jump alone attracts ten thousands of enthusiastic rally fans. Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger are now in the best position to win WRC 2, but the fight for second place in the category, starring Tidemand and Suninen, is far from over.
2017 Rally de Portugal
The longest leg of the Rally Portugal saw an intense fight for second position right from the start on Saturday morning. While Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Anders Jæger controlled the lead with a fast and measured drive, the Ford pairing of Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula went fastest on the first two stages. On the first run of the longest special stage of the event, the 37.55 kilometres long “Amarante”, the ŠKODA teams fought back. Andreas Mikkelsen and Pontus Tidemand shared the fastest time with a more than 15 seconds advantage over Teemu Suninen. Just before midday service Tidemand climbed to second in WRC 2 category, leading Suninnen by 5.9 seconds.
After service teams were heading back for a second loop of the three stages. And again, Suninen scored two fastest times in a row and took second position in WRC 2 back from Tidemand. On the last stage of the day, the second run over the 37 kilometres gravel road of “Amarante”, Suninen and Tidemand both got a puncture. Tidemand / Andersson changed the flat tyre faster than their competitors and consequently moved ahead into second place.
Sunday will feature the smooth and fast gravel roads close to the village of Fafe, situated in the northeast of Porto. The famous Fafe jump alone attracts ten thousands of enthusiastic rally fans. Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger are now in the best position to win WRC 2, but the fight for second place in the category, starring Tidemand and Suninen, is far from over.
