Rally Portugal: Solberg takes the lead, Hyundai stays close
Rally Portugal got underway on Thursday afternoon with more than 37 kilometers of special stages. This first part of the Portuguese marathon has already produced an initial standings order. Toyota driver Oliver Solberg took the lead of the event after the opening timed sections.
Behind him, the Hyundai cars remain very close and can still change the situation. The Korean team has looked competitive from the very start of the race, with several drivers well placed. The gap between the frontrunners remains small, which points to a tight battle for the rest of the rally.
Thierry Neuville, for his part, lost a little time after a half-spin. Despite this incident, he is in fourth place. The Belgian driver remains in a very close fight with Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans for the podium, with only a few tenths separating them.
Adrien Fourmaux, Neuville’s teammate at Hyundai, is ahead of him in the provisional standings. His strong performance allows Hyundai to stay in ambush behind the leader. After this first day, nothing has been decided yet and the race remains very open.
The start of Rally Portugal therefore confirms an intense competition between Toyota and Hyundai. Solberg is leading for the moment, but his pursuers are close behind. The upcoming special stages will be important in confirming the pecking order or bringing about new changes at the front.