World champion Ogier storms to tournament lead

pulse 09:30 - 21 May 2017

French driver and co-driver, Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, steer their Ford Fiesta WRC in Amarante, northern Portugal, on May 20, 2017, during the SS12 stage of the Portugal WCR rally

Four-time world champion Sebastien Ogier stormed into the lead of the Rally of Portugal on Saturday, turning an overnight five-second deficit into a 16-second advantage ahead of the final day.

Ogier, behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta, held off a double Hyundai challenge from Thierry Neuville, who is 16.8sec off the lead, and Dani Sordo who is 51.3sec behind.

The French driver had been third overnight as M-Sport teammate Ott Tanak led Sordo by 4.6sec.

"I pushed more in the second stage than the first. I saved my tyres in the opener so I knew I could push more in the next one," said Ogier, who had led by more than 20 seconds midway through Saturday's action.