WRC Portugal stewards place Kris Meeke back in rally lead
Kris Meeke has been returned to the Rally of Portugal lead after organisers handed him the fastest time on the stage interrupted by Hayden Paddon's fiery crash
Hayden Paddon and Ott Tanak crashed on the afternoon's first stage, Ponte de Lima, forcing the organisers to neutralise the test before rally leader Meeke had gone through.
He has subsequently been credited with a time 5.2 seconds faster than anybody else, giving him a 35.2s advantage heading to the street stage that closes Friday's action.
In deciding what time to award Meeke, the organisers turned to article 39 of the WRC's sporting code
It states: "When a special stage is interrupted or stopped for any reason, each crew affected will be allocated by the clerk of the course a time which is judged the fairest.
"However, no crew which is solely or jointly responsible for stopping a stage may benefit from this measure."
Meeke was fastest by 5.6 on the first run of Ponte de Lima in the morning, and it is understood that was the basis of the stewards' estimate.
Previous article
Hayden Paddon suffers fiery crash on WRC's Rally of Portugal
Next article
WRC Portugal: Kris Meeke leads into Saturday by half a minute
About this article
| Series | WRC |
| Drivers | Kris Meeke |
| Author | David Evans |
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
This week's Arctic Rally Finland will bring the World Rally Championship into new territory. And, almost without exception, the service park can't wait for the subzero challenge to commence
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
Evans on the talking points of WRC 2021
He came close to the title last year, and now Toyota's Elfyn Evans gives his verdict on what to expect from 2021 as the World Rally Championship prepares to reconvene for the Monte Carlo season opener
Why Britain's continued WRC absence is a wake-up call
OPINION: With Rally GB dropping off the World Rally Championship calendar for the second year in a row, one of Britain's best-attended sporting events faces an uncertain future. It's an unfortunate situation that points to troubling times ahead
