Ogier leads Rally of Portugal after 1st day
Sebastien Ogier grabbed lead after the opening five stages in the Rally of Portugal.
LISBON (AP) - Championship leader Sebastien Ogier was the fastest driver at the Rally of Portugal through Friday s opening five stages, with Daniel Sordo as his nearest chaser.
Ogier started the day strong by winning the first stage and then moved back to the top of the time standings after Mads Ostberg crashed in the third stage.
Ogier, who leads the championship by 31 points after three of 13 rallies, steered his Volkswagen Polo through the day s stages in 49 minutes, 33 seconds.
Sordo in his Citroen was 4.4 seconds behind, followed by Finland s Jar-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen.
Former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, driving in his first gravel rally, had to retire in the fifth stage after puncturing two tires. It was unclear whether he would return on Saturday.
