Tänak experienced a power steering failure and lost 45.6 seconds to the leaders. As a result, Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier moved into the lead of the rally.
Ogier now holds a solid advantage in the standings. His teammate Kalle Rovanperä is second overall, 26 seconds behind the Frenchman. At the finish line, Rovanperä was asked which act he’ll be supporting in Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest – Finland’s Erika Vikman or KAJ, representing Sweden?
“There was a bit of drifting. I don’t know who to support… but of course, Finland!” Rovanperä smiled.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville moved up to fourth place, overtaking Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta by a margin of just one second.
Toyota’s Sami Pajari continues to hold sixth place with a solid margin ahead of teammate Elfyn Evans. M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean and Grégoire Munster follow in the standings.
In the WRC2 category, Sweden’s Oliver Solberg remains in the lead.
There is still one more stage to run on Saturday. Rally Portugal concludes on Sunday.
Rally Portugal standings after SS17/24:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
| 1. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 2:58:34.2 |
| 2. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +26.0 |
| 3. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +28.1 |
| 4. | Thierry Neuville | Toyota | +44.4 |
| 5. | Takamoto Katsuta | Hyundai | +45.4 |
| 6. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +1:57.3 |
| 7. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +2:14.4 |
| 8. | Josh McErlean | Ford | +4:10.2 |
| 9. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +4:39.9 |
| 10. | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +7:00.4 |
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
