Carlberg moves to front of Junior WRC field in Portugal

Calle Carlberg successfully navigated a challenging Friday at the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, moving from third place into the overall lead of the Junior WRC category. After implementing overnight adjustments to his Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo, Carlberg dominated the morning loop by securing three consecutive stage wins, effectively erasing his initial 13.6-second deficit to overnight leader Ali Türkkan.

While Türkkan faced grip issues throughout the day, he managed to stay within striking distance by winning the second pass of Lousã, ending the day 7.3 seconds behind Carlberg. Gil Membrado sits in third, maintaining pressure on the leaders, while Raúl Hernández and Kerem Kazaz round out the top five. The day was marked by setbacks for others, with Craig Rahill forced to retire due to suspension damage, while Leevi Lassila struggled through technical issues and minor contact.

In the broader WRC3 classification, Matteo Fontana moved into the lead during the final stage of the day, edging ahead of Türkkan by 4.2 seconds. Competitors now prepare for a demanding Saturday schedule consisting of eight stages across the Felgueiras, Cabeceiras de Basto, Amarante, and Paredes sections, followed by the Lousada super special.