Zoom No more go for Auriol in Portugal

The second round of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge undertook the final loop of Rally Portugal this afternoon, with Nicolas Vouilloz making it clear that he intends to fight for a spot on the podium. The Peugeot Belgium Luxemburg driver completed his run with a time of 12:26.7, thereby signing his third stage win of the event.

At the wheel of a Group N class Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, Andreas Aigner did a great job by taking second place, only 3.7 seconds behind Vouilloz. Also accomplishing his best performance so far this week-end, fellow Austrian Manfred Stohl croosed the line in third position aboard his Peugeot 207.

Giandomenico Basso came next at the wheel of a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto, barely ahead of rally leader Luca Rossetti's Peugeot 207 S2000.

Rossetti was not quite pleased with his performance on this route: "I've made a wrong tyre choice. This SS is terrible for tyres and shock absorbers."

Bearing RalliArt Italy colours, Armindo Araujo's Mitusbishi Lancer was sixth on this stage, but second of the Group N cars. He was 4.1 seconds in front of fellow Portuguese driver Miguel Campos, whose Peugeot seems to be suffering fron alternator problems.

Over 20 seconds behind the stage leader, two more compatriots followed with Bruno Magalhaes bringing his 207 in eighth place and José Pedro Fontes driving his Fiat Punto S2000 into ninth. Juho Hanninen's Group N Mitsubishi completed the top ten very close to Fontes.

Third in the overall standings, 1994 WRC champion Didier Auriol had no choice but to retire after breaking the suspension of his Grande Punto S2000. Aboard same-model cars, Dani Sola stopped with a predicted engine failure, while Anton Alen's gearbox let go.

With two more stages to contest, Luca Rossetti's overall lead remains strong as second-placed Jan Kopecky is 1:08.0 away. Beyond the two-minute mark, and thanks to Auriol's retirement, Nicolas Vouilloz now holds third position in Portugal. Juho Hanninen and Giandomenico Basso complete the top five list.

The penultimate Ourique 2 trail comes next.

Daniel BASTIEN
© CAPSIS International