The showdown was decided between two WRC veterans, as Hyundai driver Sordo defeated Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke by just 0.8 seconds in the season finale and also won the Power Stage that concluded the rally. Throughout the entire event, the gap between the pair was at most only 3.7 seconds in Sordo’s favour.
“It really was an incredible weekend. The battle was amazing, and I think the biggest gap was 3.7 seconds. I’m super happy. It’s just a title, of course, but it still feels good. We’ve developed over the year and taken steps forward with the car,” Sordo commented on the Vidreiro Rally’s Facebook page.
Joy in Hyundai’s Portuguese team, which Sordo represents, was naturally at its peak after the championship was decided in such a thrilling fight.
During the season, Meeke, competing with Toyota’s Rally2 car, won four rounds in the Portuguese championship, while Sordo claimed three victories. The Spaniard won the final two rounds of the season, which was enough to lift him to the top of the standings as champion.
Despite missing out on the title, Meeke could not feel disappointed.
“I can’t be upset or frustrated because I gave it everything. Someone has to win, and someone has to come second. I doubt any championship has ever been decided by 0.8 seconds. I’m super happy for Dani. We were already battling 20 years ago, and back then he beat me in the Junior World Rally Championship,” Meeke laughed.
“Looking back, there were many moments in the series that didn’t go my way. We dominated on gravel all year and were leading in Rally Portugal as well, but the car developed a problem on the final road section. Still, I got a lot of joy from competing against a good friend.”
Home-country veteran and familiar WRC name Armindo Araújo finished third. Araújo now has a total of seven national championship titles to his name.
Over his long career, Sordo has also won the Spanish Championship as well as the Junior World Rally Championship. In the WRC, he has taken three rally victories and appeared on the podium 58 times. Meeke, for his part, has claimed five WRC wins and 13 podium finishes in total.
