The grueling first leg of the Rally Portugal is over, and Ott Tanak is on top, driving his Hyundai i20 N. He’s clocked an impressive 1:41:26.2 hours across ten timed stages, with four stage wins under his belt. Sébastien Ogier, behind the wheel of his Toyota GR Yaris, is hot on Tanak’s heels, just seven seconds behind with two stage victories.
A Long Day for Everyone
Tanak didn’t have it easy, though. “It was a long day,” he admitted. “We started at 6 am and didn’t finish until nightfall. The schedule was poorly planned, leaving us with barely 9 or 10 minutes for lunch.” Tanak was pleased with his morning performance but struggled in the afternoon. Still, he managed to hold his ground and keep his position on the road, setting himself up for a potential showdown with the Toyotas on Saturday.
Ogier, Tanak’s closest rival, was content with his second-place finish. “I’m happy to be in second,” he said. “We had a tough start, but we fought back and stayed close to Tanak. We got a good starting position for tomorrow.” Ogier acknowledged the long day would take its toll, emphasizing the need for rest before Saturday’s battle. “Seven seconds isn’t much; we need to push hard.”
The drivers weren’t just tired – they were also concerned about the long days. Kalle Rovanperä, another Toyota driver, questioned the need for such lengthy stages. “We talk about road safety, but then we spend weekends sleeping just four or five hours a night, several nights in a row. It doesn’t make sense.” Rovanperä believes the schedule should be rethought, prioritizing rest and safety.
Takamoto Katsuta, also driving for Toyota, had a mixed day. “The afternoon wasn’t as good as the morning,” he said. “I was more cautious, but it didn’t pay off. I’m a bit disappointed, but it’s not a big deal.” Thierry Neuville, Tanak’s teammate at Hyundai, had a decent day, improving his performance in the afternoon. “We made gains in the afternoon, but we still lost some time this morning,” he explained. Neuville is optimistic about his chances, sitting just off the podium.
The drivers agree: the long days are taking a toll. “It’s too long,” Neuville said. “I like a challenge, but today’s schedule was excessive.” As the drivers prepare for another long day on Saturday, they hope for a more balanced schedule in the future.