Rally of Portugal – SS16: Fourmaux sets the fastest time, Solberg suffers a puncture

Two major events fueled the 16th special stage of a Rally Portugal is proving to be a truly eventful season. First of all, the best time went to the Frenchman. Adrien fourmauxAuthor of an SS16 completed in 13:04.2, the driver Hyundai surpassed Elfyn Evans, Thierry Neuville and Sami Pajari in particular, to secure the win as he had already done earlier the day before. Thierry Neuville, who finished third, reclaimed second place overall, given Oliver Solberg's latest misfortunes.

Unlucky, the driver who sets a solid pace whenever possible suffered another puncture on the front right tire in the final kilometers of the special stage. Losing 18,8 seconds to Fourmaux, the Swede logically lost his lead over Sébastien Ogier at the same time. Regaining the overall lead, the nine-time world champion now has a little over 3 seconds advantage over Thierry Neuville, for a long-distance duel that resumes between the two drivers.

In WRC2, Finland's Roope Korhonen continued his winning streak by setting the fastest time in his category, on increasingly waterlogged conditions. SS17 promises to be another exciting stage, and particularly treacherous given the state of the road surface…

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WRC – Rally Portugal
Rankings after SS16