Neuville the fastest in the opening stage of the WRC in Portugal, the athletes criticize the organizers

Photo: Hyundai Motorsport

The Portuguese WRC rally started on Thursday evening with a 2.94 kilometer long speed stage. The fastest time was shown by the WRC leader Thierry Neuville. Ots Tanak was 0.6 seconds slower, but Ots Tanak was two seconds behind.

Almost all the leading WRC drivers criticized the organizers and the WRC organizers. There was a lot of sunshine to be done in this stage, and the drivers admitted that it was not wise, because tomorrow they will have to spend lunch on the same tires. “Yes, the atmosphere here is great, but a stage like this with so many places where we have to turn suns and then we have to do 70 kilometers with these tires is stupid. We have said this many times, but no one listens to us. It’s a pity,” he says Thierry Neuville.

”It’s not smart to make us drive an asphalt section, doing it slowly and not making a show. Stages like this have to be at the end of the day when we can come and destroy the old tires and put on a show,” so Sebastien Ogier.

“I think that the organizers should do a better job in the future. We like to ride for the fans, but so much sun and tomorrow we have to ride with the same tires, it’s not cool,” so Kalle Rowanper.

In the WRC2 class, Yoan Rosell was fastest, 1.1 seconds behind Chris Meeke, with Oliver Solberg 1.6 seconds behind.

On Friday, the athletes will have to do eight laps (126 km).

Results after SS1: