Frenchman Sebastien Ogier sealed victory on Rally de Portugal at the Algarve Stadium super special, collecting his maiden rally win at World Championship level and underlining his position as one of the sport’s hottest properties.
The 26-year-old Citroen Junior Team driver held his own in a thrilling final day scrap with six-time World Champion - and fellow C4 WRC driver - Sebastien Loeb, which concluded on the all-tarmac head-to-head stage.
Loeb, the 2010 championship leader, finished the rally second, 7.9 seconds behind Ogier, while his Citroen Total team-mate Dani Sordo was third, 1min 10sec further back, to complete an all-Citroen podium.
After his shock last stage retirement from Rally New Zealand earlier this month, Petter Solberg had another eleventh hour disaster in Portugal. The Norwegian was fourth in his privately entered C4 WRC but lost the position after driving into a barrier on the Super Special.
Ford Focus RS WRC driver Hirvonen moved ahead into fourth, 14.4sec adrift of Sordo, with Solberg rounding off the top five 3.7sec further back.
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sébastien OGIER | Citroën C4 WRC | 3h51m16.1s |
| 02 | Sébastien LOEB | Citroën C4 WRC | +7.9s |
| 03 | Dani SORDO | Citroën C4 WRC | +1m17.6s |
| 04 | Mikko HIRVONEN | Ford Focus WRC | +1m32.0s |
| 05 | Petter SOLBERG | Citroën C4 WRC | +1m35.7s |
| 06 | Matthew WILSON | Ford Focus WRC | +7m10.1s |
| 07 | Mads OSTBERG | Subaru Impreza WRC | +7m28.3s |
| 08 | Federico VILLAGRA | Ford Focus WRC | +10m36.1s |
| 09 | Khalid AL QASSIMI | Ford Focus WRC | +10m55.8s |
| 10 | Kimi RAIKKONEN | Citroën C4 WRC | +11m34.3s |
| 11 | Jari KETOMAA | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +16m20.0s |
| 12 | Xavier PONS | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +19m52.2s |
| 13 | Michal KOSCIUSZKO | Skoda Fabia S2000 | +21m47.4s |
| 14 | Armindo ARAÚJO | Mitsubishi Lancer Gr.N | +22m40.7s |
| 15 | Bernardo SOUSA | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +25m41.3s |