Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe moved into a slender lead of just six-tenths of a second after the opening 2.94km super special stage of the 57th Vodafone Rally of Portugal that was held in front of huge crowds in warm sunshine at Figueira da Foz.
The narrow stage adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean ran over a mixture of asphalt and cobble stones, used a jump and followed the traditional ceremonial start in nearby Coimbra.
Eight of the leading WRC2 runners were first on the road followed by the Rally1 cars running in reverse order. Young Lauri Joona was given road-opening duties to entertain the crowds and the Finn clocked a target time of 2min 37.6sec. Sami Pajari was quicker than his fellow countryman but clouted a concrete block with the front of his Toyota. Tarmac specialist Yohan Rossel was the quickest of the first group of WRC2 drivers
Three-minute intervals for Rally1 cars.
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“It is a difficult weekend ahead of us. I tried to be clean in there. I don’t want to be the one to bring down the atmosphere but to do this stage on these tyres with 70km tomorrow is nonsense. We have said this before but nobody listens.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“We know it is a bit of a challenge this weekend. With the rain of the last week there is a little hope for some better road conditions tomorrow. It is hotter than even expected and tyre choice will be crucial. Friday is always a challenging day in Portugal.”
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
“Let’s see how it goes. It’s a long tough day ahead tomorrow.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“Looking forward to it. A tough job ahead. It should be good fun. Every weekend is important to get a good result; This weekend is no exception.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
“Some time you want to take risks (one spare tyre in the car). We are quite confident with our tyre choice. I don’t expect a lot of tyre wear tomorrow.”
Coimbra - start quotes
It’s good to continue. I am really happy to be third (in championship). The road position is not so good for the cleaning. I am really enjoying to come to Portugal each year. Let the fun begin.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“It’s important to get into the rhythm and more flow. We will try and push. Let’s see how it works out.”
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“It’s not so nice for the drivers. The organisers could do a better job in the future. But so many doughnuts with the tyres we use tomorrow is not fair. I need to check on the tyres.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“We will see. I try to enjoy and push every stage. This one I was surprised how slippery it was. A lot of fans but I hope our tyres are okay.”
Car 17. OGIER/LANDAIS
“I tried to (save tyres). It is not really clever to drive a tarmac stage at the start. This stage should be at the end of the loop with gravel tyres.”
Car 13. MUNSTER/LOUKA
“For us, it is about grabbing experience. We didn’t have much mileage in previous years. It’s a bit frustrating for the fans with the doughnut. We are trying to manage. This one is out of the way.”
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“I don’t know how it looks with the tyres. We have to do this stage and then the same ones on the loop tomorrow.”
Car 20. SOLBERG/EDMONDSON
“I am a showman. It runs in the family. It is a fantastic stage and a fantastic evening. We have to keep the tyres for tomorrow. I wish we had just four tyres for this, full doughnuts and give a show for the fans.
But this is how it is..”
Coimbra - start quotes
“I think the plans are quite simple from last year - revenge and no doughnuts. Last year could have been very good. This year we will give a show in a different way and try to win the rally.”
Car 21. ROSSEL/DANAND
“The proper rally start tomorrow, for sure, For the fan it is fun, but for the tyre, not.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“It is not an easy rally, for sure. The plan is to keep the position all the year. I am happy to come back on gravel. We work a lot on the car for improve every condition with grip. Let’s see. The team has worked very well but it is a little bit early to play for the win. We need to keep the pressure.”
Car 22. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
“To be honest, I could not see the bollards on the inside; Maybe the organisers could have invested in some hay bales, but all is okay.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“Coming to Porto is my favourable place to come to in the calendar this year. Fans, there are always hundreds and thousands here. On Friday afternoon. We can’t be 100% flat out, maybe 95 to avoid punctures.”
Car 23. LÓPEZ/VÁSQUEZ
“I just drive through the stage. We see tomorrow. Little-by-little during the rally will be the target.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“Changes in the season (car) is always difficult. We need to adapt as soon as possible and try and find something. It is a rally to be confident and try and get the pace.”
Car 24. PAJARI/MÄLKÖNEN
“I hit this concrete. I couldn’t see where the front was going. It was a bit stupid but I need to investigate. I need to go…”
Coimbra - start quotes
“It seems to be quite hot. It is nice to be back on gravel rally. We will really go for it.”
Car 25. GRYAZIN/ALEKSANDROV
“You want to have fun but you have to think about the tyres, I was trying to be smooth on the roundabout. The jump was fine. Still, I was trying to be super smooth on the throttle.”
Coimbra - start quotes
“It will be difficult for everyone, especially the Friday without any service interval between the stages. Puncture risk is quite high. This is the first race with this car on gravel and I need to find the small tunes to be super confident.”
Car 27. KORHONEN/VIINIKKA
Coimbra - start quotes
“This is a nice rally. Shakedown was good, two runs there. We are ready for rally. I try to get maximum experience but podium is the big target.”
Car 29. JOONA/HUSSI
“It was a really nice stage, really slippery. I think not the fastest time but it was fun for the spectators. The real rally will start tomorrow. We will try to push and drive fast.”
Car 30. YAMAMOTO/SALMINEN
Coimbra - start quotes
Stages are very nice. I think it will be hot and tough. I am super excited to do a gravel rally like this with this car.”
Car 41. ARAÚJO/RAMALHO
“It is fantastic. The crowd is good and enthusiastic. We are all the time pushing on the limit to give a good show for the people. It is an honour for me to start this party and to be at this event.”