Citroen team principal Yves Matton sure dust threats make running first best option

Mikko Hirvonen will open the road tomorrow evening, with World Rally Championship leader Sebastien Loeb directly behind him in the sister DS3 WRC.

Matton said: "We chose this place because we believe it will be the best place. We think there will be dust on the road tomorrow and if you go first on the road, this is the best way."

Matton admitted the Portuguese organisers' decision to water the stages does mean it's possible the dust problem won't be so bad, but the Belgian pointed out that inconsistent visibility could be even worse.

He added: "There are some possibilities there won't be so much dust, but to be in a good position you have to be able to guarantee that there is no dust at all, not sometimes nothing and then sometimes some dust there.

"If you have dust sometimes then it can take the confidence from the driver; you go into a corner and there is nothing and then you come out of the corner and it is there.

"The next time the driver goes to the corner, he is always thinking: 'Is there anything on the exit?' This is not a good way."

Only 17 of the 18 World Rally Cars will start the event, with Paulo Nobre withdrawing after crashing at this morning's qualifying stage.