Neuville wins Coimbra super special and is the first leader
Belgian pilot spent 2.37 minutes to complete the 2.82 kilometers of the special designed in the City of Students.
The Belgian driver Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) is the first leader of the 55th edition of the Rally de Portugal after this Thursday he was the fastest in the super special in Coimbra, one of the novelties of this fourth round of the World Championship.
Neuville spent 2.37.9 minutes to complete the 2.82 kilometers of the special configuration in Student City, predicting second place Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20) in second position, 0.6 seconds away.
Irish Craig Breen (Ford Puma) was third, already 1.4 seconds behind the fastest. “It was an opening time. It’s good to see a good special fight. I hope this weekend will be a weekend”, underlined Neuville, winner in 2018 of the Portuguese competition.
Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) was fifth fastest, at 2.1 seconds and just behind Britain’s Gus Greensmith (Ford Puma), who was fourth, at 1.8. “I have a second family here, with a lot of people, it’s an hour and it lasts me. I’m going to fight, but it’s good to be here”, said the current world champion.
The championship championship at the start of this competition, the Finnish Harri Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) was sixth leader, at 2.7 seconds, while the French Sébastien Loeb (Ford Puma), nine times champion, was only eighth, at 3.4 seconds. . “I think it will be difficult to fight for the victory, but I will do my best,” promised the 47-year-old.
Breen took the lead, but his time was overtaken by Tanak, who was defeated by his teammate in the final part.
On Friday, the first “real” day of the Portuguese race will take place, with eight specials, including the super special held in Lousada, at 7:03 pm.
In all, the drivers will face 121.67 kilometers designed in the central area of the country, with double passes through Lousã, Góis and Arganil, before the Mortágua special and the final Superspecial in Lousada.