The championship leader started the day third overall, 13.6sec behind overnight leader Ali Türkkan, but immediately found a better feeling in his Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo after overnight set-up changes.

Carlberg won the opening three stages of the day - Mortágua, Arganil and Lousã - to turn that deficit into a 12.8sec advantage by the end of the morning loop. He then added another stage win on the final Mortágua pass to complete Friday 7.3sec clear of Türkkan, with Gil Membrado third, 14.7sec from the lead.

Türkkan had made the strongest start on Thursday but struggled to find grip during the opening loop and was unsure whether tyres or set-up were the main cause. He dropped behind Carlberg on SS6, but kept himself firmly in the fight with victory on Lousã 2 and second-fastest time on the final stage.

Membrado also remained in contention throughout the day. The Spaniard had targeted Türkkan after the morning loop, when just 1.0sec separated them, and he responded after the cancelled SS7 by winning Góis - the first stage win of his JWRC campaign. He ended Friday third overall, 7.4sec behind Türkkan.

Raúl Hernández finished the day fourth, 46.9sec off the lead, after a steady Friday in which he grew more confident and settled in the car. Kerem Kazaz held fifth, 1min 33.9sec behind Carlberg, having driven cautiously while managing braking issues.

Leevi Lassila was sixth after a difficult morning. The Finn ran wide into a tree on SS4, damaging the rear driver-side door and smashing a window, before also spinning on the same stage. He reached the end of the day 2min 01.7sec from the lead.

Craig Rahill’s day unravelled on Arganil 1 after a heavy landing over a jump led to front-left suspension damage. The Irishman attempted to continue, but dropped out of contention after going OTL.

Saturday brings another long gravel challenge, with two passes each of Felgueiras, Cabeceiras de Basto, Amarante and Paredes before the Lousada super special.