After SS7: Hänninen into third with stage win
Juho Hänninen has claimed his second stage victory on Sata Rallye Açores. The Intercontinental Rally Challenge leader was 2.5s faster than Kris Meeke over the rerun of the 7.90-kilometre Batalha Golfe stage to move into third place overall ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen.
Bruno Magalhães continues to lead outright despite being momentarily distracted by spectators trying to slow him down on the stage, which the Portuguese driver said had cost him valuable seconds.
After SS8: Stage victory boosts Meeke
Kris Meeke has claimed his first stage win of Sata Rallye Açores as he continues his recovery from the puncture and spin that wrecked his chances of a repeat victory on the Atlantic archipelago earlier today.
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion is now 41.3s behind overall leader Bruno Magalhães, whose advantage over second-placed Jan Kopecký has been trimmed to 8.8s.
After SS9: Magalhães extends Azores lead
Bruno Magalhães has underlined his dominance of Sata Rallye Açores by winning the repeat of the spectacular Sete Cidades stage to extend his lead over Jan Kopecký to 13.3s.
He was 0.1s faster than fellow Peugeot 207 driver Kris Meeke, who has leapfrogged Andreas Mikkelsen into fourth overall.
Crews are now returning to service in Ponta Delgada. There are three stages remaining before the overnight halt.
Overall standings after SS9:
| Pos. | Team | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Magalhaes Bruno / Magalhaes Carlos | Peugeot 207 S2000 | 1h08m00.7s |
| 02 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +13.3s |
| 03 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +17.1s |
| 04 | Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +41.4s |
| 05 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +41.8s |
| 06 | Sousa Bernardo / Silva Nuno | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +1m47.3s |
| 07 | Pascoal Vítor / Castro Mário | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +2m53.1s |
| 08 | Moura Ricardo / Eiró Sancho | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +2m56.2s |
| 09 | Peres Pedro / Ferreira Tiago | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +4m01.8s |
| 10 | Vale Pedro / Medeiros Rui | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | +5m30.9s |
| 11 | Silva Sérgio / Leal Paulo | Subaru Impreza STI | +5m50.5s |
| 12 | Torres Rui / Martins Marco | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +7m53.3s |
| 13 | Carmo Ricardo / Reis Justino | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +8m11.5s |
| 14 | Maciel Paulo / Gouveia Filipe | Citroën Saxo VTS | +8m37.4s |
| 15 | Rego Paulo / Carreiro Abel | Subaru Impreza STI | +9m00.1s |