The re-run of Cabeceiras de Basto preceded the Wolf Power Stage at Fafe. The fog had failed to lift at the stage of the penultimate stage of the rally.
Grégoire Munster’s goal of finishing the event in the second of the M-Sport Ford Pumas ended 1.1km into the stage when he half-spun, slid off the side of the track on a left-hander and the car became wedged off the road with no spectators around to push him back into action.
There was drama for Elfyn Evans when the Yaris’s engine temperature began to soar and the car switched into EV mode for the latter part of the stage. He limped to the finish with the loss of one and a half minutes but still maintained sixth place in the overall classification. The Welshman’s major concern was being able to restart the engine and whether it had suffered any lasting damage.
Ott Tänak continued his charge and another quickest time enabled the Estonian to trim Sébastien Ogier’s overall lead to 10.1 seconds and set up the prospect of a thrilling showdown for ‘Super Sunday’ points on the final Fafe stage. Tänak led the day’s classification by 1.8 seconds.
The fog began to clear for the later crews and Solans attacked: the Spaniard regained the lead in WRC2 by just 6.4 seconds to set up a fascinating showdown in Fafe.
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“The rally is not over. There is one more stage to go. We are trying to get maximum points from the day. I feel better than yesterday. I try and keep a rhythm.”
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
Engine temperature began to soar and the Toyota switched into EV mode for the latter part of the stage. He lost one and a half minutes in the stage but maintained sixth overall. “I don’t know…,” said a distraught Welshman. Evans managed to get the car going on the road section and headed to the final regroup before Fafe.
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
“I am happy with the pace we had in this stage. It has been quite demanding with the weather this morning,. It is rougher than I expected but very nice.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“Let’s see. I felt a bit better this time than the previous time.”
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“It was quite okay. I think we know which part of the stage was rough for the tyres. The last part was soft. Nothing new, all good.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“Hopefully next one we get back the hybrid. I will try and push as much as I can if I have the hybrid.”
Car 17. OGIER/LANDAIS
“We try to control the gap. All good.”
Car 13. MUNSTER/LOUKA
A half-spin and slipped off the inside of the stage on a left-hander 1.1km into the special and became wedged half off the track.
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“We can see a little bit now in some places. Not like this morning.”
Car 28. SOLANS/SANJUAN
Regained the lead in WRC2.