Ogier wins Rally De Portugal

The first event of the Rally De Portugal was held in 1967 and it continued for nearly three decades. The rally was dropped from 2002-2006. In the 1970s, 1980s and the early 1990s it was an asphalt and gravel event but it is currently a hardcore gravel event. Portugal hosts a mixture of open roads, technical and narrow sections with a superspecial stage through the country’s capital Lisbon.

Sebastian Ogier won Rally De Portugal

Rally De Portugal 24-27 March. Ogier led the Mexican Rally almost throughout the rally but in the process of keeping team-mate and seven-times champion Sebastian Loeb behind, he crashed to lose a wheel eventually retiring from the competition. This time round at Portugal, he made sure that no such mistake was made. He was fourth in the opening stage of the rally but later geared up to take top notch in SS4 on Day two but lost out again later in the day. He regained first place on the same day in SS10 and maintained it from then. Team-mate Loeb finished a little over half a minute behind in second place and also won the ‘Power Stage’ to gain three extra points bringing him in line with Mikko Hirvonen in the championship standings.

Mikko Hirvonen secured third place

Jari-Matti Latvala has made it a habit to find a place on the podium with his 100% podium record so far. He managed a second runner-up in all the three rallies so far. Mikko Hirvonen had to struggle for his fourth spot with his car suffering a broken drive shaft and a probable rear damper issue during the Power Stage. The Ford team tried to stage a challenge to the Citroens up ahead but due to mechanical problems in Hirvonen’s car they couldn’t achieve much on this front.    

With the Citroen Team winning 1-2 this rally, the season is opened up like a whirlpool in the sea, with endless possible results to come in the future rallies.

Drivers' Championship

Manufacturers' Championship