Portugal (WRC) - 11-14 May 23

James Fulton to co-drive for Kris Meeke in Team Hyundai Portugal i20 N Rally2

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:58 AM

Hyundai Motorsport Preview: Round 5 – Rally de Portugal

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:54 AM

Following an emotional outing in Croatia Rally, which it contested in memory of Craig Breen, Hyundai Motorsport is preparing for Rally de Portugal next weekend (May 11-14) as the FIA World Rally Championship returns to gravel for the fifth round of the season.

After a tough weekend in Zagreb, Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm finished on the podium for the first time as a Hyundai Motorsport crew, which was dedicated to Craig. The team and its crews will continue to honour Craig’s competitive spirit as attentions turn to the first of seven consecutive gravel rallies.

Rally de Portugal is synonymous with the WRC, having been one of the founding events in 1973. Despite crews being well acquainted with the sandy Portuguese stages, which have been based around Matosinhos since 2015, the event still retains elements of surprise. Often described as technical and fast in profile, the roads are smooth and soft on the first run yet become rocky and rough on the repeat leg. Crests of hills can lead to challenging corners, and teams may need to raise the ride height of their cars to minimise damage on what can be a treacherous second pass.

The iconic Fafe jump is a fan favourite; Lappi and Ferm have form here, having won the 2017 FIA Action of the Year award for their 33-metre leap – which just so happened to be on their Rally de Portugal debut.

Three Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid cars will enter the 2023 edition of the event. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe and Lappi/Ferm will be joined by Dani Sordo and Cándido Carrera, who scored a debut podium with the new-generation WRC car on their very first outing with it in 2022.

Portugal in numbers
Hyundai Motorsport has one previous win at Rally de Portugal, where Neuville was victorious in 2018. In total the team and its crews have registered six podiums; Neuville and Sordo both appeared in 2017, Neuville was second in 2019, while Sordo scored consecutive top-three finishes in 2021 and 2022.

Dani on no holding back in Portugal
While Portugal may not be the fastest gravel rally on the calendar, it can be unrelenting. Crews have to balance the reward of pushing hard with the risk of picking up a puncture. Sordo expertly managed that tricky task in 2022, when he overturned a near six-second deficit for third place on the final stage.

Dani Sordo explained:
“Although the profile of the stage changes between runs, it is not so different in driving style. You just go and push! Sometimes it can be very rough on the roads in the second pass; personally, I take it a little bit carefully in those tricky places but at some point you need to dig really, really deep because the people in front are pushing like crazy – it doesn’t matter how bad the conditions are, they are going for it. Part of it is luck – you can easily pick up a puncture, but for us last year it paid off with a podium.”

Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said:
“There is no denying that this is still incredibly hard for our team, and that won’t change for some time. We’ve had some time to process our emotions, but we are still feeling the loss of Craig. Our focus in Croatia was to compete in his memory, and now we want to honour him by fighting consistently at the front. Portugal will kick-off a run of gravel events, where we believe we can be strong. We know what is possible from Mexico; Thierry and Martijn secured a superb second place, and Esapekka and Janne’s were on strong form to lead the rally in only their third event with the team, showcasing their speed and potential. With the right preparation and determination I believe we can demonstrate that same performance again next weekend. There is still a great sadness among us as we head into Rally de Portugal, and there will be times where Craig’s passing will hit us hard, but I think it’s important we remember to enjoy it, for him.”

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Belgians looking to return to podium in Portugal
Neuville boasts three top-three finishes from previous visits

Neuville said:
“It is easier to prepare for a rally where you know what is coming, especially with years of experience – we’ve had dry and very hot conditions, but also faced cold and rain there too. Often you have done most of the stages both ways and many times. However even the rallies we know well always have new elements, which requires a lot of preparation and work ahead of the event. We need to know what awaits us, exactly where we are going and most of the time we need to have this before the pre-event test to make it as efficient as possible. I do expect Portugal to be one of the easier gravel rallies we will go to this year. The atmosphere first and foremost really stands out, there is always a huge amount of spectators. We have the iconic Fafe jump, some really sandy roads, hard-based stages around Amarante, and it’s great to have so many enthusiastic fans there with us.”

Crew Notes: Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (#4 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Finns secured debut podium with Hyundai Motorsport last time out in Croatia
Duo finished first in WRC2 category in Portugal in 2021

Lappi said:
“Whenever you think of Portugal, you might think it’s not that difficult or such a challenge for the car, but you always end up in a situation on the second pass where it is really, really rough. You fall into the mindset that it is a smooth rally, and it isn’t and it can catch you out. On the second run of a stage there are a lot of loose rocks and big ruts in some places. It’s definitely an event that I enjoy – it is what I would call ‘medium fast’, so not as slow as Sardinia for example. There is also some tarmac sections in this rally that are quite fast, and of course Sunday in Fafe is always a highlight with the gravel banks next to you. It’s a unique rally. It was emotional to finish on the podium in Croatia, but it was special to do it for Craig. We hope we can carry that momentum forward with us into Portugal.”

Crew Notes: Dani Sordo/Cándido Carrera (#6 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)
Crew scored Portugal podium on debut event in Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
Top-three finish next week would complete podium hat-trick for Sordo

Sordo said:
“Rally de Portugal is always special. The roads have always been really nice, and the spectators travel from all over Portugal and Spain; they make the event really special. Last year we saw that the roads had become a little bit more rough and we were suffering a lot with the temperatures, it was really hot in the rally. The rally is known for a good evolution of the stages between the first and second pass, you have more grip but they are more rough, which was risky for the cars, tyres and even the rims last year. It would be amazing to finish on the podium again next weekend; we felt we had the pace and potential in Mexico, so we want to be back in the fight for the top-three in Portugal.”

WRC2 Overview
Hyundai Motorsport N will also return to the WRC2 class in Rally de Portugal, with Teemu Suninen/Mikko Markkula and Fabrizio Zaldivar/Marcelo Der Ohannesian set to contest the event with the Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

In their first event of the season in Sweden, Suninen/Markkula registered four top-three stage times in class. However an issue on Friday afternoon left him down on power, and he would finish sixth in the WRC category. Zaldivar/Der Ohannesian were running in the top ten before the crew lost time in a snowbank, and finished 15th in class.

Suninen/Markkula topped the WRC2 timesheets in 12 stages in 2022’s Rally de Portugal, building a sizeable lead to the next crew as a result. Unfortunately, a mistake on the Power Stage cost the Finns a class victory. Zadlivar and co-driver Carlos del Barrio were classified 14th at the conclusion of the rally.

Teemu Suninen said: “I am really looking forward to getting back to behind wheel of the Hyundai i20 N Rally2. It has been a long time since Rally Sweden and a lot has happened during that time, but I feel even more that when we have chance to drive, I want to do it well. Rally de Portugal has always been one of my favourite events. It was where I got my first podium in only my sixth WRC event. It is the first gravel rally where we can start to see our performance compared to others. The stages are well known, conditions are normally really good, and we can push to the absolute limit and enjoy rallying. The top of the WRC2 championship is very tight, and there are so many good drivers. It will be a fight for tenths of seconds and tyre choices will be extremely important; there is no room to give away any time. I hope we can deliver a win for me and the team.”

Fabrizio Zaldivar said: “I think Rally de Portugal and I have some unfinished business. The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 was very strong at this event last year, so we know we have a competitive car heading into the event. My mission is to pull everything together in Portugal and demonstrate the potential we have, and bring home a strong result. We are up against some very talented competitors and it won’t be easy, but we are determined to fight and bring home important championship points.”

Weekend at a Glance

Rally de Portugal begins with shakedown on Thursday before a ceremonial start that evening in Coimbra
Friday’s itinerary covers a competitive distance of 121.25km, featuring two runs of Lousã (12.03km), Góis (19.33km), Arganil (18.72km) followed by Mortágua (18.15km) and Figueira da Foz (2.94km)
Saturday is the longest day of the rally in length and duration, with crews taking on Vieira do Minho (26.61km), Amarante (37.24km), Felgueiras (8.81km) and Lousada (3.36km)
Sunday contains four stages – Paredes (11.05km), Cabeceiras de Basto (22.01km) and two runs of Fafe (11.18km), the latter of which acts as the event’s Power Stage.

M-SPORT READY FOR RALLY DE PORTUGAL

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:53 AM

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is gearing up for Rally de Portugal, the fifth round of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship. The team is looking to building on its strong performances so far this season and continue to challenge for the top of the drivers’ championship.

Rally de Portugal is one of the most iconic events on the WRC calendar, known for its fast and technical stages, including the famous Fafe jump and the Lousada super special. The rally will test the drivers' skills and endurance over 19 challenging stages, covering a total competitive distance of over 300km.

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team's drivers are looking forward to the challenge and are determined to put up a strong performance in Portugal following a positive pre-event test last week.

Currently, Estonian driver Ott Tänak sits fourth in the championship, just four points from the top spot in what is expected to be a close battle throughout the year. As the team heads to Europe for its traditional run of gravel events, the battle for the championship is heating up, and Tänak is eager to fight for victory in Portugal and close the gap to the top.

Starting road position is crucial on gravel rallies, and Tänak will be starting from third on the road on Friday, allowing him to capitalize on his rivals at the front who will be combatting a looser and less friendly gravel surface. The team is confident that Tänak's experience and skill will give him an edge on the challenging stages of Rally Portugal.

In addition to the Estonian crew, Pierre-Louis Loubet will be heading to his favoured surface in his Puma Hybrid Rally1. The Frenchman has previously shown strong performances on gravel rallies, he will be looking to build on his experience and push for a top-five result in Portugal.

It’s a big weekend for the Fiesta Rally2, as M-Sport fields a trio of talented hot shots. Adrien Fourmaux, Grégoire Munster, and Robert Virves will be competing in the WRC2 category with all three drivers setting high expectations for the event. Fourmaux recently highlighted the improvements made to the Fiesta Rally2 in Mexico and Croatia with competitive times on both rallies. Robert Virves has already highlighted the pace of the Fiesta Rally2 on the same roads Rally de Portugal will use, taking two stage wins in ERC’s Rally Serras de Fafe and fourth on the power stage earlier this year.

Rich Millener, the Team Principal of M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, expressed his confidence in the team ahead of Rally de Portugal:

"We've had a strong start to the season, but we know that the competition is getting tougher as we head into the middle of the year. Ott has shown incredible pace and consistency so far this season, and we're confident that he'll be able to continue his form in Portugal. We're also excited to see what Pierre-Louis can do on the gravel stages, and we have high expectations for our WRC2 drivers as well."

Millener continued, "The team has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we're delivering the best possible performance on the stages. We're constantly improving our cars and developing our strategies, and we're confident that our hard work will pay off in Portugal. We're excited to see what the rally has in store for us and are eager to put on a show for the fans."

Ott Tänak, said,:

“We are going now into gravel season where things are starting to get more serious in terms of championship competition. After our pre-event test we are still a bit behind in a few places, but guys are working hard to find ways for improvements and we still have shakedown to test the final details.

We did see in Mexico that our competitors are strong on gravel and we have some areas where we need to improve over the next few races. Portugal is generally a fast event with quite a sandy surface. Some of the second loops of stages can be very rough and demanding. We are looking to reduce our gap to the fastest guys and let’s give it a go to stay in the championship fight!”

Pierre-Louis Loubet, said:

“I’m very happy to be going to Portugal, it’s my favourite rally where I have better experience, I’ve already done it quite a few times! The target will be to get a good result there, last year this was my first rally on gravel with the team and the speed was there without the experience. I’m sure we can do some great things this year.”

Adrien Fourmaux, WRC2 driver, said:

“This will be my third time in Portugal, but my first in a Rally2 car. It’s a really nice rally, very famous with a lot of spectators coming to watch; I really love the atmosphere of this rally. We will be back out on gravel, which is a good thing because I like the surface and I hope we will see some good pace like we did in Mexico. We’re hoping for a good result and we’re working very hard to achieve it.”

Grégoire Munster, WRC2 driver, said:

“We are heading into a series of events that Louis and I have never done before, Portugal followed by Sardinia and Kenya. So it’ll be a period of discovery and quite interesting. Portugal will be our first WRC2 event on gravel with the Fiesta Rally2, so we’re looking forward to it. We will do a small event in the south of France to prepare this weekend. I’m looking forward to making our first proper outing on gravel, and we hope to enjoy it.”

Robert Virves, WRC2 driver, said:

“I’m excited to do my second rally with M-Sport in the Fiesta Rally2 this season, we set some good groundwork in Sweden and hope to do the same in Portugal. We have some experience here already, competing in the ERC round back in March, so we have the opportunity to set competitive times and develop our learning with the car.”

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing prepares for intense gravel workout

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:52 AM

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team is preparing to enter a crucial run of gravel events as the closely-contested 2023 season continues at the popular Rally de Portugal on May 11-14.

Portugal marks the first of seven consecutive events on gravel, a sequence that will stretch through to the start of October and pose a wide variety of challenges for the teams and drivers. TGR-WRT drivers head up a close championship battle after four rounds: following his win last time out on the asphalt roads of Croatia, Elfyn Evans is tied on points at the top of the table with Sébastien Ogier (who does not include Portugal in his programme of selected events this year) while Kalle Rovanperä is just one point behind them. The top five are covered by only 11 points.

TGR-WRT has a strong recent record in Portugal, winning the last three editions, with Evans and then Rovanperä victorious in each of the last two years. For the second time this season, Takamoto Katsuta steps up to join them in the main TGR-WRT line-up and compete for manufacturers’ championship points on a rally where he has also performed strongly before.

The Rally de Portugal was part of the first WRC season held 50 years ago, and is based in the north of the country around the second-largest city of Porto with the service park located in nearby Matosinhos. Large numbers of passionate fans can be expected to line the stages, which are fast but technical in nature. The surface is usually soft and sandy at first but often becomes rocky and rutted for the second pass, although the often-changeable weather can bring a different complexion.

As in recent years, the central city of Coimbra will host the ceremonial start on Thursday evening, before the action starts nearby on Friday with a trio of stages tackled twice around a mid-day tyre fitting zone in Arganil. A single pass of the Morta?gua stage and a new super special stage in the coastal city of Figueira da Foz round out the day. Saturday is the longest day of the rally featuring 148.68 competitive kilometres: a repeated loop of three stages in the Cabreira mountains includes the longest stage of the season so far, Amarante (37.24 km), while another super special stage at the Lousada rallycross circuit runs in the evening. Sunday, as usual, is centred around the famous Fafe stage; venue for two of the final four tests including the rally-ending Power Stage.

Quotes:
Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“We are in a good position in the championship but it is still extremely close, particularly between the drivers, and we have to keep working in a positive way to achieve more great results. Portugal is a rally that on one hand you can attack, but on the other hand, you also have to take care with the tyre wear and avoid hitting rocks, especially on the second pass. It’s a rally I always enjoyed as a driver and I believe our drivers enjoy it too: Elfyn and Kalle have both won there and it has been a strong event for Takamoto too. We feel quite confident going there as we have made good improvements to the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID on gravel, which paid off already in Mexico. We worked to build on this during our recent test in Sardinia, which was important preparation for the three rough gravel rallies we have coming in quick succession over the next few weeks.”

Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen
Kalle Rovanperä (Driver car 69)
“I’m really happy to be going back to Portugal. It has always been an event that I have liked quite a lot, and last year we were able to win it even though we were starting as the first car on the road. It’s a rally that as drivers we all know fairly well with some legendary stages, so the pace is always high and it should be quite an equal fight. The start of our year has not been perfect – I was aiming for bigger results – but we are still very much in this close championship fight: I don’t think it has been so tight after four rounds for a very long time. This series of gravel events will not be easy but we’re going to continue to push hard and hopefully get good results.”

Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin
Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“Portugal is a nice rally but in recent years it has also become quite a rough one. There are sections which are really fast and flowing and fun to drive, and others where it’s a challenge to look after the tyres and the car. It’s definitely a mixed rally in that sense, but it’s one that I enjoy. We’re into a busy period now with rallies coming thick and fast, and Portugal is the start of a string of gravel events. Now that we were successful in Croatia we will have the job of opening the road, but I’m sure that is something that is going to swing back and forth between the drivers a few times over the next rallies. We will just have to try and maximise our performance in the loose conditions we will face on Friday and see what’s possible.”

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston
Takamoto Katsuta (Driver car 18)
“I’m really looking forward to Portugal. In the last two years I finished fourth there, and last year especially I was very close to the podium. In the end, I wasn’t able to take it – we missed out by just two seconds – so this year I will try to achieve that. It will be a big challenge, but I think it’s possible. The beginning of this year has not been what I wanted, but I have always had a good feeling with the car. It’s developing every single time and we had a good test, so hopefully our hard work pays off for these next rallies. In Portugal I like the stages and I feel very comfortable there, so I just need to push myself and I’m sure we can have a good weekend.”

Entry List

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:37 AM

Portugal (WRC) - 11-14 May 23 - ENTRY LIST

Rally Guide / Event Website / Details

Posted: May 8, 2023 4:35 AM

Rally de Portugal