Portugal : BP-Ford World Rally Team - FinishBP-Ford World Rally Team claimed a double podium finish on the Rally de Portugal today to preserve its lead in both the manufacturers' and drivers standings in the FIA World Rally Championship. Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen
were second in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car with Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen third in a similar car.
The result ensured reigning world champion BP-Ford retained its 15-point advantage in the manufacturers' series after five of the 16 rounds. Grönholm remains in the lead of the drivers' championship, two points ahead of Loeb, with Hirvonen in third.
The series returned to Portugal after a five-year absence and with a new base on the edge of Faro in the heart of the Algarve holiday region. The gravel speed tests in the hills to the north were unknown to virtually all the drivers but proved technically difficult as the characteristics of the roads changed frequently. They were also extremely abrasive and, combined with high temperatures on Friday and rain yesterday, placed high demands on tyres. Drivers tackled 18 special stages covering 357.10km, including two passes over a spectacular test inside the Estádio Algarve soccer arena at Faro.
After leading for most of the opening leg, Grönholm began today's third leg in second place. With no realistic opportunity of catching leader
Sebastien Loeb over the five stages, covering 81.
39km of competition, and with no pressure from behind, the 39-year-old Finn was able to pace himself today. He still won two stages, taking his total for the rally to five, and finished 37.1sec behind Loeb.
"It was a good weekend, but not a perfect one," he said. "I'm still leading the championship and that's good but I really wanted to win here. The first day was good, especially considering our road position and a broken shock absorber, but I lost time with bad tyre choices on leg two and I couldn't regain the time. I was quite careful today because I had nothing to gain and everything to lose.
"If we want to win the championship, we have to win rallies. We can't afford to make mistakes because we can't give Loeb any advantage at all if we want to come first," he added.
Hirvonen held third for most of the rally. He started today just 13.0sec ahead of Petter Solberg but the 26-year-old Finn sealed the position on the opening stage when he was fastest and doubled his advantage. He eventually finished 65.8sec ahead.
"I couldn't do any better than third but I've scored valuable points for myself and the team, he said. "Last night I decided to attack hard on the first stage. I watched the in-car footage from the recce last night on video and Jarmo and I agreed that we would push hard to try to widen the gap to Petter. I was flat out and it worked well, so I was able to pace myself for the rest of the morning.
"It was a fantastic, but difficult, event with really enjoyable stages, proper drivers' roads. I was frustrated on Saturday morning because the times that Marcus and Seb set were a shock to me. I have to think about why I'm wearing out my tyres so quickly in conditions like this," he added.
BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson said: "I'm pleased that we have preserved our lead in the manufacturers' championship. We didn't make optimum tyre choices this weekend but we have to look at other aspects as well. We have some work to do to improve but it's still a great team result."
Jost Capito, director of Ford TeamRS, said: "To place two cars on the podium is a great achievement but we have reached the top level now where it is victories that really count. I hope we can return to winning ways in Argentina and so increase our lead in the championship."
The championship takes a few weeks' break before returning with Rally Argentina on 3 - 6 May. The gravel event is round six of the series and will be based in Villa Carlos Paz.
BP-Ford World Rally Team
