Solberg starts with Lisbon SSS win
Ford's Petter Solberg leads Rally de Portugal, the fourth round in the 2012 World Rally Championship, following the Lisbon super special this afternoon.
The Norwegian completed the short 3.27 kilometre tarmac test in 2 minutes 57.1 seconds, just edging out Sebastien Loeb, who was 0.1 seconds slower in his Citroen DS3 WRC.
Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen were joint third, 0.6 seconds further back, with Ott Tanak completing the top five. Dani Sordo came in sixth for the Prodrive WRC Team, 3.8 seconds off the pace in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC car, followed by Armindo Araujo, Thierry Neuville, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Dennis Kuipers in positions 7 through to 10.
The action now gets underway 'proper' tonight, with three night stages. SS2, the 10.19 km Gomes Aires test, is due to start at 20.19 hours local time. SS3 starts 30 minutes later, with SS4 concluding the day's action and running at 21.25 hours local time.
Rally de Portugal: Overall standings after Stage 1 (Top 10):
1. Petter SolbergFord WRT Fiesta RS WRC2mins 57.1secs M
2. Sebastien LoebCitroen Total WRT DS3 WRC+00mins 00.1secs M
3. Jari-Matti LatvalaFord WRT Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 00.7secs M
= Mikko HirvonenCitroen Total WRT DS3 WRC+00mins 00.7secs M
5. Ott TanakM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 02.8secs M
6. Dani Sordo Prodrive WRC Team MINI John Cooper Works WRC+00mins 03.8secs
7. Armindo Araujo WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC +00mins 04.3secs
8. Thierry Neuville Citroen Junior WRT DS3 WRC+00mins 04.4secs M
9. Nasser Al-AttiyahQatar WRT Citroen DS3 WRC+00mins 05.5secs M
10. Dennis Kuipers M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 06.4secs
Others
11. Martin Prokop Czech Ford National Team Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 07.6secs
12. Mads OstbergAdapta WRT Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 07.7secs M
13. Evgeny NovikovM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 08.3secs M
14. Sebastien OgierVW Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000+00mins 08.7secs
= Peter van Merksteijn Jr van Merksteijn Motorsport Citroen DS3 WRC+00mins 08.7secs
= Jari Ketomaa Ford Fiesta RS WRC+00mins 08.7secs
18. Patrik Sandell Prodrive WRC Team MINI John Cooper Works WRC+00mins 09.3secs
19. Daniel Oliveira Brazil WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC +00mins 09.4secs M
SWRC standings after Stage 1 - Top 3:
1. Craig BreenFord Fiesta S20003mins 10.2secs S
2. Hayden PaddonSkoda Fabia S2000+00mins 01.7secs S
3. Yazeed Al-RajhiFord Fiesta RCC+00mins 01.9secs S
Notable retirements:
DNS. Paulo Nobre WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC Did not start - crashed in Qualifying stage
DNS. Kevin Abbring VW Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000Did not start - crashed in shakedown
all times unofficial
