He has entered the hybrid era of the World Cup on the right foot. Six months after his last participation in the race in Monza, Dani Sordo has arrived and has ‘kissed the saint’ setting the best time in the first pass through the ‘shakedown’ of the Rally de Portugal. Little did he care that half a year of inactivity, nor that it was his first time fighting against the clock with the new Hyundai hybrid. A good omen for what can happen from this afternoon on the fourth date of the season.
The 4.6-kilometre section of Paredes has served for the teams and drivers to face each other for the first time on gravel with the new cars. With a wide layout and smooth floor, the best ‘volantistas’ in the world have been able to check the level on this surface. “Is rare”, Deaf explained. “Sometimes you have power, sometimes you don’t. But, well, it’s the same for everyone.” Nothing to prevent him from setting that best time on the first pass, being the only one who mounted soft tires for the occasion.
In the total computation of the morning it was Elfyn Evans who set the fastest time. The Welshman already won this race last year after having a close duel with Sordo, and he arrives eager to repeat after a difficult start to the season. Craig Breen and Ott Tanak followed, with Sordo placing sixth and the somewhat discreet ‘sebastians’, Ogier seventh and Loeb tenth.
The Rally de Portugal caravan has set off for Coimbra from its headquarters in Matosinhos. The first section will be held there this afternoon, an urban super special of less than three kilometers that will serve to open hostilities and will give way to tomorrow’s stage through mythical sections, such as Arganil.
Shakedown classification
1. Evans-Martin (GBR/Toyota), 2m56.1s
2. Been-Nagle (Irl/Ford), at 0.4
3. Tanak-Jarveoja (Est/Hyundai), 0.7
4. Neuville-Wydaeghe (Bel/Hyundai), at 0.8
5. Loubet-Landais (Fra/Ford), at 1.1
6. Deaf-Carrera (Esp/Hyundai), at 1.2