WRC teams ready for Portugal

Le Toyota Gazoo Racing was the first to start. Winner in Croatia, Elfyn Evans immediately went to Sardinia where the team stayed for 4 days. The possibility of carrying out tests having been reduced this year, the manufacturers are forced to make choices and the men of Tom Fowler, the technical director, have decided to prepare Portugal and Sardinia at the same time. The bet is risky. Indeed, the paths around Porto are quite different from those on the Italian island in terms of speed and surface. The Yaris, however, showed great difficulty in Logudoro and Gallura last year (while Kalle Rovanperä won in Portugal) that Toyota preferred to emphasize this event. The other drivers also had their session. Significant work has been carried out on this type of terrain and the success of Sébastien Ogier in Mexico seemed to prove that the Japanese's performance was better than before on soft, slow surfaces and with low grip. At the same time, their rivals took up residence in Portugal.

Located in the north of the country, Hyundai Motorsport returned to work after the traumatic days in Croatia and the disappearance of Craig Breen. In front of many spectators who were sometimes very poorly positioned to take the photo of the year with their mobile phone, Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo chained runs at an impressive pace. It will be necessary to check on the day of the race if the bases chosen were sufficiently close to what the 5th will offer.^e meeting in 2023. Still looking for its first victory in 2023, the team led by the French Cyril Abiteboul will have arguments in Porto with 3 drivers well placed in the starting order (4^e, 5^e, 7^e).

The pace was also high among M-Sport with Ott Tänak and Pierre-Louis Loubet. Here too, the Portuguese sections selected for these tests offered the full range of what the special stages towards Arganil to the south, Amarante to the east and Fafe to the north will offer on Sunday. While the Estonian sought to make the best use of the equipment at his disposal by incorporating a modified wing design, the Frenchman decided to return to his own settings after trying to ride with those of his teammate. At the end of his day, Pierre-Louis said he was impatient to be at the start.

Le Rally of Portugal (May 11-14) will offer 325,35 km timed divided into 19 special stages. The start of hostilities will take place on Thursday with the traditional shakedown which will allow the teams and crews to carry out a final check.

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