Sami Pajari has continued his impressive momentum in the WRC Rally Portugal. The Toyota driver vaulted into second place in the overall standings after the completion of Special Stage 6 (SS6), significantly narrowing the gap to the current leader, Adrien Fourmaux.
In SS6, Pajari delivered a highly competitive performance, although he narrowly missed out on the fastest time. He finished just 2.9 seconds behind the stage winner, Thierry Neuville of Hyundai. Pajari noted a significant increase in confidence, stating that his rhythm has improved and the car is responding optimally to the challenging Portuguese terrain.
Conversely, Sebastien Ogier faced a critical moment toward the end of the stage. The veteran Toyota driver nearly lost control during a severe excursion, though he managed to keep the car on the road. Ogier admitted that his current pace is not where it needs to be and indicated that technical adjustments to the shock absorbers (dampers) are necessary to restore the vehicle's stability.
Thierry Neuville emerged as the standout performer of SS6, recording his first stage win of the weekend. This aggressive push allowed Neuville to climb to fourth place overall, successfully overtaking Oliver Solberg. Solberg, meanwhile, struggled immensely with the surface conditions, citing loose stones and inconsistent grip. Solberg conceded that an incorrect tire choice contributed to his loss of time on the stage.
The battle for the lead has become exceptionally tight, with the top four drivers separated by a mere 8.2 seconds. Adrien Fourmaux maintains his lead, but he is under intense pressure from Pajari, who trails by only 7.7 seconds. With 17 stages remaining until Sunday, the volatility of the standings is expected to increase, particularly given the unpredictable nature of the Portuguese weather.
The general standings after SS6 of 23 are as follows:
| Pos | Driver | Team/Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | -- |
| 2 | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +7.7 |
| 3 | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +8.0 |
| 4 | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +8.2 |
| 5 | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +9.9 |
| 6 | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +15.2 |
| 7 | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +34.7 |
| 8 | Dani Sordo | Hyundai | +47.3 |
| 9 | Josh McErlean | Ford | +51.5 |
| 10 | Jon Armstrong | Ford | +55.3 |
The rally will continue after the remote service with four additional stages scheduled for Friday, before heading into the decisive challenges of Saturday and Sunday, which will determine who claims victory in Portugal.
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Thierry Neuville reveals drastic setup changes and a shift to aggressive driving to overcome grip deficiencies for Hyundai at Rally Portugal.
Sebastien Ogier and Oliver Solberg faced technical hurdles with understeer and incorrect tire choices while chasing Adrien Fourmaux in the WRC Rally Portugal.
Sami Pajari climbed to second place overall in the WRC Rally Portugal after a dominant morning performance, trailing Adrien Fourmaux by just 7.7 seconds.
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