Portugal – SS17: Kalle Rovanperä wins, Tänak lets the general classification slip away!

• What a scenario at the end of this second day in Portugal! While Ott Tänak was on course to confirm his overall lead in SS17 around Amarante, the Estonian suffered a power steering failure in the final kilometers. The result: 45 seconds lost at the finish to Rovanperä, the winner of the special, and an overall victory that vanished!
• Sébastien Ogier, second in this fast and tricky SS17, 3″6 behind his teammate, did not need much time to take the lead in the Portuguese event on the eve of the finish. Overall, the Frenchman now has a 26″ lead over the Finn and 28″1 over the unfortunate Tänak before SS18 this Saturday evening, a sort of 3,36 km Superspecial.
• The other good operation of the evening in Portugal is for Thierry NeuvilleThe Belgian, third in SS17, snatched 4th place overall from Takamoto Katsuta. The driver Toyota failed to regain the excellent pace seen in the morning. However, only a second separates the reigning world champion from the Japanese. Tomorrow promises to be another exciting battle.
• In Rally2, Yohan Rossel got the better of Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith on SS18. Overall, the Frenchman remains behind the two men, 6 seconds behind the Briton and 8 seconds behind the Swede, who is firmly in the lead.

WRC – Rally Portugal
ES17 – Special stage classification

ES17 – General classification

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