Andreas Mikkelsen is refusing to give up on his bid to win Sata Rallye Açores by going fastest on the Grupo Marques spectator superspecial at the wheel of his ŠKODA UK Motorsport. The Norwegian’s performance means he has trimmed Juho Hänninen’s overall lead to 10.9s with two stages of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier remaining.
Ricardo Moura, the leader of the IRC Production Cup category, impressed with the fourth fastest time in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer. The multiple Azorean champion was 1.1s slower than ŠKODA Sweden driver Patrik Sandell, who was third fastest.
Crews are now heading back to service in Ponta Delgada. Stage 16, Graminhais, gets underway at 15:26hrs local time.
Overall positions after SS15
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 1h44m09.9s |
| 2 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +10.9s |
| 3 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m19.9s |
| 4 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3m13.7s |
| 5 | Sandell Patrik / Parmander Staffan | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +4m24.8s |
| 6 | Moura Ricardo / Eiró Sancho | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +4m46.4s |
| 7 | Lopes Vítor / Magalhăes Hugo | Subaru Impreza Sti | +7m29.3s |
| 8 | Pascoal Vítor / Ramalho Luis | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | +9m04.0s |
| 9 | Silva Sérgio / Cordeiro Nelson | Subaru Impreza Sti | +10m23.3s |
| 10 | Maciel Paulo / Gouveira Filipe | Citroën Saxo VTS | +13m29.3s |
| 11 | Raoux Jean-Michel / Mazotti Francis | Renault Clio R3 | +15m04.1s |
| 12 | Nutahara Fumio / Ichino Hakaru | Subaru Impreza R4 | +15m22.1s |
| 13 | Costa Carlos / Nunes Fernando | Citroën C2 R2 | +17m16.6s |
| 14 | Paula José / Ribeiro Miguel | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +24m24.0s |
| 15 | Carmo Ricardo / Diniz Jorge | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +24m47.4s |