Meeke won the first three races of the season and leads the CPR with an 18 point advantage over Armindo Araújo (Skoda Fábia), who has already had 17 appearances, having been the best Portuguese in 13.
The driver from Santo Tirso, who has already won this race three times, in 2003, 2004 and 2006, years in which he did not score points for the World Championship (WRC), recognizes that Meeke is the favorite in the CPR, and that even now he won in 2016, when he was competing in the World Cup.
“Meeke, as was already known and predictable, is on another level and we (Portuguese pilots) have to know how to live in that reality. There’s no point in opposing her”, said Araújo.
The Skoda driver’s main objective is to be the best driver of Portuguese nationality.
“It’s our biggest race of the year, the one we’ve been looking forward to since the beginning of the season and which always brings us extra motivation for being part of the WRC. It is the 18th time that I will take part in this rally and with the aim of achieving for the 13th, being the best Portuguese driver at the end”, he pointed out.
The CPR classification closes at the end of the first stage, on Friday, so from then on what is at stake is the virtual title of “best Portuguese”.
After three races, Kris Meeke leads, with 84 points, as a result of victories in Fafe, Algarve and Amarante.
Armindo Araújo, who was second in the three races, has 66 points, compared to 32 for the surprising Lucas Simões (Ford Fiesta).
In two-wheel drive, Hugo Lopes leads, with 55 points, 20 more than Ricardo Sousa and 25 than Pedro Pereira, who closes the podium places.
