Sordo extends his lead after SS3

A run through the 18.82km of the famous Arganil special completed the opening loop. Dry conditions prevailed and a frustrated Ogier stopped the clocks in 12min 09.7sec and continued to haemorrhage time to his rivals. Neuville beat the World Champion by 10.9 to increase the gap to 21 seconds.  

Tänak pipped the Belgian by nine-tenths of a second, as Fourmaux tied with Evans and Sordo continued his flying pace to extend his lead over Tänak after the loop to 6.7 seconds. Greensmith dropped 51.2 seconds to the stage winner after sustaining a rear-left puncture and wheel damage and plummeted down the leader board to ninth after a useful start. Hyundai again claimed the top three stage times. 

WRC2 title contender Østberg stopped for 90 seconds after 4.4km into the stage to change a puncture and his delay also hampered Suninen, who lost time in the dust behind the Norwegian. Lappi duly set the fastest time in WRC2 to lead Gryazin by 2.7 seconds after the morning’s loop.