Tyre carnage as Evans increases his lead
The re-run of Arganil was all about the conservation of worn tyres for several drivers, although Breen lost his hybrid battery power for the entire special.
Tänak and Greensmith completed the stage with rear punctures, but another flat for Ogier forced the Frenchman to pull over and retire without a second spare available in the Toyota.
Despite being first on the road, Rovanperä set the fastest time on a stage where Evans was second quickest and increased his overall advantage to seven seconds. Tyre issues cost Suninen his WRC2 lead and series leader Mikkelsen hit the front for the first time.
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“All good.”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“I have no tyres any more on the front. I took it very steady in here. We have two soft ones for the last one and we should be good for the last one.”
Car 42. BREEN/NAGLE
“I have no hybrid for all the stage. I am not quite sure what is wrong. It is not so easy.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
Finished the stage with a rear left puncture.
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“I try to push and recover the time. The middle of the stage was really rough. Hopefully this experience will help for the future.”
Car 44. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
Tyre off a rear rim for the Briton. “Honestly I don’t know. I think we were unlucky with one sharp rock. It’s a bit frustrating.”
Car 1. OGIER/VEILLAS
Stopped with another puncture and the Frenchman does not have another spare wheel.
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
“Probably not the perfect stage. The car was working well. I was a bit too careful and a bit too smooth.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
“I am happy to get my four wheels on the car. There are rocks everywhere. I am scared to get a puncture. I don’t have a spade wheel. We are still there and things are happening.”
Car 7. LOUBET/LANDAIS
“We try to survive first. It was very rohgh. I push a bit less than the previous one. It was very easy to have a puncture there.
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“I worry about the tyres We don’t have a lot left. The stage was a little but slippery. I think it was a good option (two spares).
Car 20. MIKKELSEN/ERIKSEN
The new leader of WRC2.
Car 21. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
Lost his WRC2 lead and trails by 40.9 seconds.