Thursday's stage was the longest of the “XVI Rally de Portugal Histórico”, starting and finishing in Viseu, but with the competitors heading north, to the Douro and Trás-os-Montes regions.
After the city of Viriato, the teams competed in “specials” in places of rare natural beauty, such as Armamar, Régua, Montalegre (with spectacular images in the International Circuit of Montalegre), Senhora da Graça, Marão, Vila Real, and Lamego before returning to Viseu. The French Christophe Berteloot, whose Porsche 911 SC is navigated by Gengoux Baptiste, maintained the lead that he took on Wednesday, after his compatriot Christophe Baillet was late in passing through Porto da Balsa (Pampilhosa da Serra). Berteloot finished the long journey to Viseu ahead of the belgians Yves Deflandre and Jennifer Hugo (Porsche 911), who are getting closer and closer to the first place. The Portuguese Luís Cavaco and João Serôdio are also in good shape and manage, for now, to counter the Porsche's dominance, placing the Ford Escort in third place, ahead of another 911, from the Philippe Fuchey / Christophe Hayez duo.
On Friday, the competitors leave Viseu for the decisive stage of this “XVI Rally de Portugal Histórico”, which will end at the gardens of the Estoril Casino in the early hours of Saturday morning.