Kreim leads the running order at ERC Azores Airlines Rallye

Local hero Ricardo Moura earned the right of first selection thanks to winning the earlier Qualifying Stage, and unsurprisingly chose to start in 15th place, aiming to take advantage of those ahead sweeping the gravel roads clean for him.

From there, the next 14 fastest drivers opted to start in reverse order, with second quickest Alexey Lukyanuk opting to start 14th aboard his Russian Performance Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5, behind third quickest Fredrik Åhlin 13th on the road.

Road sweeping duties therefore befall José Pedro Fontes and Hermann Neubauer, who will follow Kreim in second and third starting positions.

Azores Airlines Rally’s mascot Percy got in on the action, attempting to steal the glory of first driver running on the road for himself. Noticing the full reverse order pattern, he broke onto the stage ahead of Łukasz Habaj, though unsurprisingly wasn’t allowed to keep the place Kreim would eventually take.