Sensing a key opportunity in the fight for victory, Tänak produced a blistering time on the long Amarante stage. The Estonian was 4.6 seconds faster than Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä and no less than 9.8 seconds quicker than Sébastien Ogier, also driving for Toyota.
Tänak was informed of his margin over Ogier at the stage finish. His response was classic Tänak.
“Really? Good stage then,” Tänak smiled.
Ogier, on the other hand, wanted to take a closer look at the situation. He grabbed the interviewer’s phone and checked the stage times of other drivers. After a moment’s pause, the Frenchman offered a straightforward conclusion:
“I was just too slow,” Ogier admitted with a grin.
The friendly yet serious battle between Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta continued. This time it was Rovanperä who edged ahead of his teammate and reclaimed third place. The Finn now leads Katsuta by just 0.4 seconds.
Rovanperä had opted for hard tyres – a choice that seemed to pay off on this stage.
“Here the hards were pretty ok. I think we didn’t do a big difference in any direction,” Rovanperä assessed.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville was fourth fastest on the Amarante stage and remains fifth in the overall standings. He managed to beat Ogier on this one, with the Frenchman only fifth quickest.
“My tyres were overheating at some point. It was a good choice from Kalle with the hard tyres. I tried my best but obviously I felt very early in the stage the tyres got too warm, I tried not to manage and just go for it,” Neuville said.
In the overall classification, Tänak now holds an 11.8-second lead over second-placed Ogier. Rovanperä continues in third place, just 0.4 seconds ahead of Katsuta.
Toyota’s Sami Pajari has successfully kept teammate Elfyn Evans behind. Pajari remains sixth overall, with Evans seventh. The gap between the Toyota duo is now 15.2 seconds.
Four more stages remain on Saturday at Rally Portugal. The rally concludes on Sunday.
Rally Portugal standings after SS14/24:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
| 1. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | 2:20:01.8 |
| 2. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +11.8 |
| 3. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +35.8 |
| 4. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +36.2 |
| 5. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +46.6 |
| 6. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +1:31.8 |
| 7. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +1:47.0 |
| 8. | Josh McErlean | Ford | +3:11.6 |
| 9. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +3:35.3 |
Rally Portugal Itinerary (CET):
Thursday 15.5.
09.01 Shakedown: Baltar (5,72 km)
20.05 SS1: Figueira da Foz (2,94 km)
Friday 16.5.
08.35 SS2: Mortagua 1 (14,59 km)
10.05 SS3: Lousa 1 (12,28 km)
10.53 SS4: Gois 1 (14,30 km)
11.41 SS5: Arganil 1 (14,41 km)
13.31 Remote Service Arganil 20min
14.05 SS6: Lousa 2 (12,28 km)
14.53 SS7: Gois 2 (14,30 km)
15.41 SS8: Arganil 2 (14,41 km)
16.31 Remote Service Arganil 20min
18.05 SS9: Mortagua 2 (14,59 km)
19.35 SS10: Agueda/Sever (15,08 km)
20.20 SS11: Sever/Albergaria (20,24 km)
Saturday 17.5.
08.35 SS12: Vieira do Minho 1 (17,69 km)
10.35 SS13: Cabeceiras de Basto 1 (19,91 km)
11.25 SS14: Amarante 1 (22,10 km)
13.46 Service 44min
16.05 SS15: Vieira do Minho 2 (17,69 km)
17.05 SS16: Cabeceiras de Basto 2 (19,91 km)
18.55 SS17: Amarante 2 (22,10 km)
20.05 SS18: Lousada (3,52 km)
Sunday 18.5.
07.43 SS19: Paredes 1 (16,09 km)
08.48 SS20: Felgueiras 1 (8,81 km)
09.35 SS21: Fafe 1 (11,18 km)
10.58 SS22: Paredes 2 (16,09 km)
12.03 SS23: Felgueiras 2 (8,81 km)
14.15 SS24: Fafe 2 (11,18 km) *Power Stage
