WRC Rally of Portugal
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WRC2 leader Pontus Tideman is 3.4s faster than Lefebvre in the final split.
Perhaps Lefebvre was OK, as Pieniazek can't beat his time. Pieniazek sets a 7m08.5s, 3.6s off Lefebvre.
Massive crowds making a big noise as ever at Fafe.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre sets the first time with a 7m04.9s - it sounded a little like he was stuck in gear at points of the run.
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There is 20s between Pieniazek in second and Lefebvre in third, but that order's unlikely to swap without major dramas. Pieniazek is off and running.
There isn't much at stake at the front of WRC2, Pontus Tidemand leads overall by near enough two minutes.
Green flag
We're underway on the Fafe power stage - starting with three WRC2 runners, led by Stephane Lefebvre.
The Fafe power stage is due to start in about 25 minutes.
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Here is our report of this morning's action, which left Thierry Neuville on the brink of victory with the Fafe power stage remaining : 
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Here's how we stand with just the Fafe power stage remaining:
SS19 leading times
1 Suninen 5m41.3s
2 Lappi +1.7s
3 Sordo +2.5s
4 Evans +3.4s
5 Latvala +4.9s
6 Neuville +7.1s
Overall classification
1 Neuville 3h43m11.5s
2 Evans +37.5s
3 Suninen +45.9s
4 Lappi +56.6s
5 Sordo +1m00.7s
6 Ostberg +3m30.5s
7 Breen +5m16.9s
8 Tidemand (WRC2) +13m44.0s
SS19 leading times
1 Suninen 5m41.3s
2 Lappi +1.7s
3 Sordo +2.5s
4 Evans +3.4s
5 Latvala +4.9s
6 Neuville +7.1s
Overall classification
1 Neuville 3h43m11.5s
2 Evans +37.5s
3 Suninen +45.9s
4 Lappi +56.6s
5 Sordo +1m00.7s
6 Ostberg +3m30.5s
7 Breen +5m16.9s
8 Tidemand (WRC2) +13m44.0s
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"That's what we've been waiting for since Friday afternoon," says Ogier of the power stage, "the first time went well for me, we set the fastest time."
Ogier also is conservation minded, a 5m55.7s, 14.4s off the pace.
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"Seb and I have been going for the championship for the slowest drivers this morning!, jokes Mikkelsen, "trying to save tyres."
Mikkelsen sets a 5m57.5s, 16.2s off Suninen's pace.
Now the Rally2 runners led by Mikkelsen.
Neuville sets a 5m48.4s, 3.7s off Evans and 7.1s off Suninen. But he has a cushion and is clearly minded only to make the finish.
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"Got through the stages all OK," says Evans.
Evans has set a 5m44.7s, 3.4s slower than Suninen. He has a 8.4s lead over him going into the last stage.
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Sordo has windscreen damage picked up on this stage. "We take a bit of stone iwth the splitter," he says, "it was incredible, it was a small stone. I lost a little bit at the end, I tried to push really really hard, we had a bit more grip than earlier."
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"I will follow my feeling once I have started the stage," says Neuville of the power stage ahead. "I am definitely going to try to keep it on the road, and if the feeling is good we are going to try to get one of the points."
Sordo is in too, 0.8s slower than Lappi, a 5m43.8s.
Stopwatch
Suninen's time is in, he's 1.7s quicker than Lappi - a 5m41.3s.
Sordo meanwhile is 0.4s under Lappi at the split.
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"It's really constant speed," says Suninen, "I was taking it bit more careful, but with one stage to do we need to push. I can't think about this [my first podium] now."
Suninen's finished the stage, but something up with his timing as he's not given a time...
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"Its really tough to gain anything to be honest," says Lappi on the fight for third, "but I'm trying all the time. Let's see how we finish but it's tough, definitely."
Stopwatch
Lappi goes top - a 5m43.0s, 7.1s under Ostberg.
Now onto the battle for third overall, with Lappi first up on the road.
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"Yeah I think so," says Ostberg on whether his car is working well, "this was really the first stage that the car was supposed to work and I had a good feeling."
Stopwatch
Ostberg pips Breen by 1.2s, with a 5m50.1s.
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"Yeah I am [enjoying it]," says a philosophical Breen, "people are sitting in offices at nine to five every day and would love to do this. Hopefully in the future this is something we'll have to put up with on more regular occasions."
Stopwatch
Breen sets the opening time, a 5m51.3s
Green flag
The second run at Montim is underway, Breen again first out.
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By: Matt Beer
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