2009 Rally de Portugal
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Vodafone Rally de Portugal was the 43rd running of the Rally Portugal and the fourth round of the 2009 World Rally Championship season
. It took place between 2-5 April 2009 and consisted of 18 special stages.
The event was won by Citroën
's Sébastien Loeb
ahead of Ford
's Mikko Hirvonen
and Loeb's teammate Dani Sordo
. Norwegian drivers Petter Solberg
, his brother Henning Solberg
and Mads Østberg
took the following positions. The last point-scoring places went to Federico Villagra
and Khalid al-Qassimi
, after Evgeny Novikov
crashed out from eighth place on stage 15, and fifth-placed Matthew Wilson
and now eighth-placed Conrad Rautenbach
both retired on the penultimate stage.
The early leader Jari-Matti Latvala
had a big crash on the fourth stage, rolling his Ford Focus WRC
17 times over a distance of 150 metres. Marcus Grönholm
, who came out of retirement to contest the rally in a Prodrive
-prepared Subaru Impreza WRC, crashed out from fourth place on stage eight.
2009 World Rally Championship season
The 2009 World Rally Championship season was the 37th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of twelve rallies and began on 30 January, with Rally Ireland and ended with Rally GB on 25 October. Sébastien Loeb won the World Drivers' championship at Rally GB by one point...
. It took place between 2-5 April 2009 and consisted of 18 special stages.
The event was won by Citroën
Citroën Total World Rally Team
The Citroën Total World Rally Team is the Citroën factory backed entry into the World Rally Championship, run by Citroën Racing.-Management:* Olivier Quesnel – team director* Xavier Mestelan-Pinon – technical director-1990-1998 Seasons:...
's Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
ahead of Ford
BP Ford World Rally Team
The Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, also known as the Ford Motor Co. Team prior to 2005, is Ford Motor Company's full factory World Rally Championship team. In its current form, it has been a competitor since the 1997 season, when Ford Motor Company's motorsport arm selected the Malcolm Wilson...
's Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to...
and Loeb's teammate Dani Sordo
Dani Sordo
Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team...
. Norwegian drivers Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
, his brother Henning Solberg
Henning Solberg
Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg....
and Mads Østberg
Mads Østberg
Mads Østberg is a Norwegian rally driver. His co-driver is Jonas Andersson.Østberg competed in his first rally in 2004. His first World Rally Championship event was the 2006 Swedish Rally, in which he finished 31st in his Subaru Impreza WRC...
took the following positions. The last point-scoring places went to Federico Villagra
Federico Villagra
Federico Villagra is an Argentine rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team...
and Khalid al-Qassimi
Khalid al-Qassimi
Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal bin Sultan Al Qassimi is a rally driver from the United Arab Emirates. He won the FIA's Middle East Rally Championship in 2004 and currently competes in the World Rally Championship...
, after Evgeny Novikov
Evgeny Novikov
Evgeny Novikov is a Russian rally driver previously competing for the Citroën Junior Team in the World Rally Championship.- Career :...
crashed out from eighth place on stage 15, and fifth-placed Matthew Wilson
Matthew Wilson
Matthew Wilson is an English rally driver from Cockermouth in Cumbria. He is the son of M-Sport boss and former WRC driver Malcolm Wilson. Wilson currently competes in the World Rally Championship for the Stobart M-Sport Ford team...
and now eighth-placed Conrad Rautenbach
Conrad Rautenbach
Conrad Rautenbach is a rally driver from Zimbabwe who competed in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën Junior Team along with his co-driver Daniel Barritt...
both retired on the penultimate stage.
The early leader Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland...
had a big crash on the fourth stage, rolling his Ford Focus WRC
Ford Focus WRC
The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification...
17 times over a distance of 150 metres. Marcus Grönholm
Marcus Grönholm
Marcus "Bosse" Grönholm is a Finnish former rally driver. Driving for Peugeot, he won the World Rally Championship in 2000 and 2002. After Peugeot withdrew from the World Rally Championship, Grönholm moved to Ford for the 2006 season and placed second in the drivers' world championship, losing the...
, who came out of retirement to contest the rally in a Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
-prepared Subaru Impreza WRC, crashed out from fourth place on stage eight.
Results
| Pos. | Driver | Co-driver | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WRC | ||||||
| 1 |  Sébastien LoebSébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
 Daniel ElenaDaniel Elena Daniel Elena is a Monegasque rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Loeb. Between them, the pair have won the World Rally Championship eight times, and currently compete with the Citroën DS3 WRC... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 The Citroën C4 is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën since autumn 2004. The C4 was designed to be the successor to the Citroën Xsara. It is mechanically similar to the Peugeot 308, which was launched in 2007. A revised version with new front end, reverse light and dashboard... |
3:53:13.1 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2 |  Mikko HirvonenMikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen is a Finnish sports commentator and journalist who works who works for Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE. He commentates sports events, mainly football matches, for both radio and television. He regularly commentatos football for the Jalkapallokierros program in Radio Suomi... |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 3:53:37.4 | 24.3 | 8 |
| 3 |  Dani SordoDani Sordo Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team... |
Marc Marti |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 The Citroën C4 is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën since autumn 2004. The C4 was designed to be the successor to the Citroën Xsara. It is mechanically similar to the Peugeot 308, which was launched in 2007. A revised version with new front end, reverse light and dashboard... |
3:54:58.5 | 1:45.4 | 6 |
| 4 |  Petter SolbergPetter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
Phil Mills Phil Mills Phil Mills is a Welsh rally racing co-driver. He was winner of the 2003 World Rally Championship , as co-driver to Petter Solberg.... |
Citroën Xsara WRC Citroën Xsara The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306.... |
3:55:57.7 | 2:44.6 | 5 |
| 5 | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
Cato Menkerud Cato Menkerud Cato Menkerud is a rally co-driver. He started as a co-driver in 1992 for his father Helge Menkerud. In addition to Henning Solberg, he has co-driven for Petter Solberg, Birger Gundersen, Thomas Kolberg, Alexander Foss and Henrik Lundgaard... |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 3:58:59.4 | 5:46.3 | 4 |
| 6 | Mads Østberg Mads Østberg Mads Østberg is a Norwegian rally driver. His co-driver is Jonas Andersson.Østberg competed in his first rally in 2004. His first World Rally Championship event was the 2006 Swedish Rally, in which he finished 31st in his Subaru Impreza WRC... |
Ole Kristian Unnerud |
Subaru Impreza WRC 08 | 3:59:33.9 | 6:20.8 | 3 |
| 7 |  Federico VillagraFederico Villagra Federico Villagra is an Argentine rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team... |
Jose Diaz |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 4:06:12.6 | 12:59.5 | 2 |
| 8 |  Khalid al-QassimiKhalid al-Qassimi Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal bin Sultan Al Qassimi is a rally driver from the United Arab Emirates. He won the FIA's Middle East Rally Championship in 2004 and currently competes in the World Rally Championship... |
Michael Orr | Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 4:11:24.8 | 18:21.7 | 1 |
| JWRC | ||||||
| 1 |  Michal Kosciuszko |
Maciek Szczepaniak |
Suzuki Swift S1600 Suzuki Swift The Suzuki Swift is a subcompact car produced by Suzuki in Japan since 2000. Prior to this, the "Swift" nameplate had been applied to the Suzuki Cultus in export markets such as Australasia, Europe, India and North America.- Predecessor :... |
4:22:38.6 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2 |  Kevin Abbring |
Erwin Mombaerts |
Renault Clio R3 Renault Clio The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation... |
4:28:45.1 | 6:06.5 | 8 |
| 3 | Hans Weijs Jr. |
 Bjorn Degandt |
Citroën C2 S1600 Citroën C2 The Citroën C2 is a supermini-class car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën since autumn of 2003, replacing the Citroën Saxo, it was built at the Aulnay plant on the outskirts of Paris. A different model, based on the Peugeot 206, is sold in China as the C2... |
4:32:01.3 | 9:22.7 | 6 |
| 4 |  Luca Griotti |
Corrado Bonato |
Renault Clio R3 Renault Clio The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation... |
4:37:48.7 | 15:10.9 | 5 |
| 5 | Alessandro Bettega |
Simone Scattolin |
Renault Clio R3 Renault Clio The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation... |
4:49:23.1 | 26:44.5 | 4 |
| 6 | Simone Bertolotti |
Luca Celestini |
Suzuki Swift S1600 Suzuki Swift The Suzuki Swift is a subcompact car produced by Suzuki in Japan since 2000. Prior to this, the "Swift" nameplate had been applied to the Suzuki Cultus in export markets such as Australasia, Europe, India and North America.- Predecessor :... |
5:04:38.9 | 42:00.3 | 3 |
| PWRC | ||||||
| 1 |  Armindo Araujo |
Miguel Ramalho |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 4:15:31.6 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2 |  Martin Prokop |
Jan Tománek |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 4:16:38.7 | 1:07.1 | 8 |
| 3 | Eyvind Brynildsen |
Denis Giraudet |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 4:16:44.7 | 1:13.1 | 6 |
| 4 |  Nasser Al-AttiyahNasser Al-Attiyah Nasser Salih Nasser Abdullah Al-Attiyah is a Qatari rally driver and sport shooter. He participates in the Production World Rally Championship , which he won in 2006, and the Dakar Rally, which he won in 2011... |
Giovanni Bernacchini |
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
4:26:09.2 | 10:37.6 | 5 |
| 5 |  Mark Tapper |
Jeff Rudd |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | 4:41:21.2 | 25:49.6 | 4 |
| 6 | Gianluca Linari |
Andrea Cecchi |
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
4:43:39.3 | 28:07.7 | 3 |
| 7 |  Gaurav Singh Gill |
David Senior | Subaru Impreza WRX STi Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
4:46:25.3 | 30:53.7 | 2 |
| 8 | Martin Semerád |
Bohuslav Ceplecha |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | 5:00:32.7 | 45:01.1 | 1 |
Special stages
| Day | Stage | Time (WEST) | Name | Length | Winner | Time | Rally leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2-3 APR) |
SS1 | 16:50 | Estadio Algarve 1 | 2.21 km | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
2:09.6 | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
| SS2 | 10:15 | Ourique 1 | 23.42 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
14:26.9 | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
|
| SS3 | 11:12 | Silves 1 | 21.54 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
12:11.6 | ||
| SS4 | 11:55 | Malhao 1 | 22.04 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
14:10.8 | Daniel Sordo |
|
| SS5 | 15:00 | Ourique 2 | 23.42 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
14:27.3 | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
|
| SS6 | 15:57 | Silves 2 | 21.54 km | Daniel Sordo |
12:09.8 | ||
| SS7 | 16:40 | Malhao 2 | 22.04 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
14:06.6 | ||
| 2 (4 APR) |
SS8 | 09:55 | Santa Clara 1 | 22.61 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
13:52.3 | |
| SS9 | 10:30 | Almodovar 1 | 27.18 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
17:14.6 | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
|
| SS10 | 11:40 | Vascao 1 | 22.8 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
14:47.2 | ||
| SS11 | 14:50 | Santa Clara 2 | 22.61 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
13:50.0 | ||
| SS12 | 15:25 | Almodovar 2 | 27.18 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
17:20.3 | ||
| SS13 | 16:35 | Vascao 2 | 22.8 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
14:40.6 | ||
| 3 (5 APR) |
SS14 | 07:50 | Loule 1 | 22.65 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
15:46.6 | |
| SS15 | 08:45 | S. Bras Alportel 1 | 16.23 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
11:40.1 | ||
| SS16 | 11:16 | Loule 2 | 22.65 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
15:34.9 | ||
| SS17 | 12:11 | S. Bras Alportel 2 | 16.23 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
11:36.0 | ||
| SS18 | 14:00 | Estadio Algarve 2 | 2.21 km | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
2:08.8 | ||