Citroen’s new recruit Mikko Hirvonen inherited the lead in the Rally of Portugal on Friday after Ford duo Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg spun off in treacherous conditions. After the second day’s first three special stages Hirvonen improved from his third place overnight to top the overall standings. The Finn’s closest pursuer is Russia’s Evgeny Novikov who is over 36 seconds back with Norwegian Mads Ostberg (41s) in third. Overnight leader Latvala left the road and ended up in a ditch towards the end of the fifth stage with former world champion Solberg, who had briefly held the lead, suffering the same fate in the sixth stage.
