DRIVER ANALYSIS
SEBASTIEN OGIER M-SPORT FORD FIESTA
Candidly admitted to his own mistake. When Julien Ingrassia says: “don’t cut” he really does mean it. This one will hurt Ogier; it’s been a long time since he’s been anywhere other than well clear at the top of the table come mid-year…
TEEMU SUNINEN M-SPORT FORD FIESTA
One of his finest outings. Has better experience of Sardinia than most of the other events he’s done in a Fiesta WRC, but we shouldn’t forget this fella’s still not that long out of karts. Beat Lappi through an outstanding final day.
ANDREAS MIKKELSEN HYUNDAI MOTORSPORT HYUNDAI i20
On the face of it, another poor result for Mikkelsen. But… this one was different. He’d found form in the car and was wholly let down by the Hyundai – first with a powersteering problem and then with no oil pressure.
KRIS MEEKE TOTAL ABU DHABI CITROEN C3 WRC
Brilliant when he had four fully inflated Michelins beneath him and pretty special on three wheels through the streets of Porto. Like Paddon, led the event twice, before paying a very high price for what was a pretty minor mistake.
JARI- MATTI LATVALA TOYOTAYARIS WRC
This one broke. He didn’t break it. But now, more than ever, Jari-matti Latvala needs a break. He remains toweringly quick, but now, somehow, needs to find his way to the finish without any kind of issue.
OTT TANAK TOYOTAYARIS WRC
One’s a bit harsh… let’s make it a two, he did win Lousada after all. Like you I couldn’t wait to see how much of his Argentinian speed he’d brought back to Europe. We’ll just have to wait until Sardinia now.
ELFYN EVANS M-SPORT FORD FIESTA
It’s easy to look at the retirement rate in the first half of the event and say this result flattered Evans. It didn’t. He drove brilliantly, quickly and consistently. He deserved this one. There’s more to come, but he’s back on the road.
THIERRY NEUVILLE HYUNDAI MOTORSPORT HYUNDAI i20
The perfect 10. In the last few rallies we’ve seen Neuville struggle with the car, the set-up and the pace of his rivals. Not this time. He found his feet with the i20 on Friday lunchtime and was simply perfect thereafter.
DANI SORDO HYUNDAI MOTORSPORT HYUNDAI i20
Undoubtedly had some of the stuffing and appetite for the final-day fight knocked out of him when he was hit with a 10s penalty for hitting the tyres in Porto on Friday. But still another superb drive from the likeable Spaniard.
CRAIG BREEN TOTAL ABU DHABI CITROEN C3 WRC
Didn’t put a wheel wrong and thoroughly deserved a shot at winning this rally. Set a fastest time and was running third and right at the sharp end when he punctured. Like his team-mate, needs and deserves a change in fortune.
ESAPEKKA LAPPI TOYOTAYARIS WRC
Sensible drive mostly, no doubt aware that with his two team-mates hitting trouble, Toyota was relying on him for points. In the finalday fight but couldn’t catch Suninen and lost to Sordo in the stewards’ room.
MADS OSTBERG TOTAL ABU DHABI CITROEN C3 WRC
A warm-up event for Sardinia and spent time playing with suspension and transmission set-up. Went to Portugal for seat time. Flew in Fafe, but now needs to deliver on his Italian job.