After the Official Start in Estoril and the Lisbon SSS1, at the Praça do Império, shows the 2014 Vodafone Rally de Portugal takes the action to Baixo Alentejo and the Algarve gravel stages.
Ahead, a double loop over the Silves, Ourique and Almodôvar stages in an action packed day with lots in stake. If the majority of the entry list faces an important leg, the teams participating only on the National Rally Championship and on the Promotion Rally Championship face all decisions.
After having started the Rally in Lisbon, the National Championship drivers will end the Rally after the passage on the Almodôvar stage, while the Promotion participants do it all today; they will race the three stages only once, between the World Championship two Sections.
Local time: GMT +1
Day’s schedule
Start – 09h00 (Promotion 11h15)
PEC/SS 2/5 – Silves (21,50 km) 10h06 / 14h51 (Promotion 12h06)
PEC/SS 3/6 – Ourique (25,04 km) 11h06 / 15h51 (Promotion 13h06)
PEC/SS 4/7 – Almodôvar (26,48 km) 11h49 / 16h34 (Promotion 13h49)
Arrival at the Algarve Stadium – 18h10 (Promotion 15h15)
Section 5 Start list publication – 21h00
Day’s millage
Kms in SS: 146,07 (Promotion 73,02)
Kms in Liaison: 296,94 (Promotion 148,47)
Total kms: 442,98 (Promotion 221,49)
Weather forecast:
Algarve Stadium
Silves
Ourique
Almodôvar
Hyundai Motorsport has today announced Finnish driver Juho Hänninen as one of the team’s test drivers for 2013, ending weeks of speculation over the mystery man behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 WRC in May.
Hyundai Motorsport has been building up its new operation from scratch since the start of the year, establishing the team at a dedicated facility in Alzenau, Germany and recruiting specialists at every level of its organisation.
Test drivers are an integral part of the team’s development programme, requiring the necessary skills and experience to develop a competitive and reliable rally car in a short space of time.
Six months ahead of the debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo in January 2014, Hyundai Motorsport is in the process of carrying out an intensive test programme to evaluate and develop the i20 WRC on all terrains and conditions.
Hänninen won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2010 followed by the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship and the FIA European Rally Championship titles in 2011 and 2012 respectively. He will be a valuable asset for the team to prepare the assault to the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.
Hyundai Motorsport will soon be in a position to announce a second test driver for the remainder of the 2013 test phase. 2014 drivers will be announced at the end of the year.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan commented: “We’re very pleased to welcome Juho on board for our 2013 test programme. I’m sure his experience and background will contribute to the project and I’m happy with the job he’s done so far.
We have decided to work with different drivers with unique skills and capabilities this year, which will provide us with valuable feedback for 2014.
Hänninen said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Hyundai Motorsport testing programme for this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work closely to a manufacturer and to give my contribution to this great challenge.
The first run with the i20 WRC was quite positive for me; I’m very impressed with the work the team has done so far in such an incredibly short space of time. I feel comfortable with everyone in the team and I look forward to carry on working with them in the next six months.”