Neuville completed the 2.94 kilometers timed in that coastal city with a time of 2.24.2 minutes, beating the Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) by 0.6 seconds, with the Estonian Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20) in third place, two teammate’s seconds.
The asphalt surface in a dirt rally drew criticism from some drivers, particularly the winner of the super special, unhappy with the fact that he had to use these same tires in Friday’s long stage, in which the preservation of the rubber could make a difference to achieve a good result.
“I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere, but doing this stage with the same tires that we have to do tomorrow is nonsense. We’ve said it several times, but it seems like no one wants to listen to us. I hope the public enjoyed it, but we could have done a lot better”, highlighted the Belgian driver, winner of the Portuguese race in 2018.
Sébastien Ogier was also upset with the organization’s decision, in charge of the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), to include an asphalt stage before the eight dirt stages scheduled for Friday.
“It’s not smart to ask us to do an asphalt stage where we have to go cautiously without making a spectacle. These types of stages have to be at the end of a section. I tried to be careful with the tyres. We tried our best with the we have”, said Ogier, who is trying for his sixth victory on Portuguese soil.
The defending world champion, Finnish Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris), finished in fifth place, 2.4 seconds behind Ogier and 0.4 behind Japanese Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota Yaris), fourth fastest in the super special.
Thierry Neuville won the 27th stage of the season and on Friday he will be the first driver on the track, with his responsibility to clear the track for his opponents.
Northern Irishman Kris Meeke (Hyundai i20) was the best driver competing in the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR), recording the 10th best provisional time.
Meeke beat Armindo Araújo (Skoda Fábia) by 0.7 seconds, with the Santo Tirso driver ranking as the best Portuguese, provisionally in 12th place overall.
On Friday, the first full day of the Portuguese race takes place, with eight sections and 126.9 timed kilometers, out of a total of 529.83.
Thierry Neuville arrives at Rally de Portugal as the World Cup leader, with 86 points, six more than the British Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris), who was only eighth today.
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