The Red Bull Rally Team did not have one of their luckiest days at the Portugal Rally today. Two punctures ruined Andreas Aigner’s hopes while a broken radiator dealt a severe blow to Bernardo Sousa’s. It is now highly unlikely that the unfortunate Red Bull drviers will be able to move back into the leading pack with one day of racing left (six more stages are scheduled from 9:40 am local time tomorrow).

It was all looking so good for Bernardo Sousa (POR) and Jorge Cavalho (POR). The local boy was eighth-placed in his Mitsubishi EVO IX after six stages but ruined his radiator by speeding through a wet patch and stumbled down to 13th in the process.

Bernardo Sousa: “That was a silly mistake to make and cost me the chance of a decent finish. I’m sorry for the team.”

More frustration could be found boiling up in Andreas Aigner’s Mitsubishi EVO IX. Two punctures (in special stages three and five) sent the Austrian driver deep down the overall classifications. One of the blowouts cost Aigner 3 minutes 41 seconds and the other close to three minutes as he ended the day in 17th spot.

Andreas Aigner: “Both of the punctures were in the front tyres which meant that we had to change mid-stage both times. There’s not much to race for anymore. We will concentrate tomorrow on getting to know the stages well so that we are well prepared when it comes to next year’s rally.”