Rovanperä seals win and Power Stage success; Rossel wins WRC2
The leader board and the minor positions would be decided in front of the crowds at Fafe. Suninen and Rossel were the first two drivers into the special, but the Finn’s hopes of winning WRC2 were shattered when he left the road on a right-hander near the start of the stage and beached the Hyundai off the track, his mistake handing Rossel a second successive WRC2 win.
Ogier laid down the gauntlet with a target time of 6min 35.208sec and that was beaten by Tának’s run of 6min 31.287sec. Neuville edged into the lead by 0.018 seconds and then a flying Sordo went even quicker and snatched third place from a distraught Katsuta. Rovanperä sealed his fifth WRC win with Power Stage success and extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“At the moment we are on a really good ride. Starting first here and being in the fight for the win like this was really nice. We had a lot of conditions and issues this weekend and everyone can be happy.”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“I gave iit everything. I had no aerodynamics and no front. A couple of times I lost the car. But we are here. We congratulate Toyota for their consistency and the organisers of the rally. They have done an amazing job. Also to the old stars for coming here to celebrate.”
Car 42. BREEN/NAGLE
Completed the stage with his ongoing brake issue and confirmed eighth overall. “It seems a problem with one of the calipers. It’s something that popped itself up yesterday evening. Disappointed.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“The previous stage we lost the splitter.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“Big congrats for Dani. I am so sorry for the team. I tried but obviously not enough. I am just not good Enough. I try to improve more. I have no words to be honest…”
Car 44. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
“We put ourselves in the position to fight but today was more of a high speed recce.”
Car 1. OGIER/VEILLAS
“Two times we are coming this year. We were also out of contention for the win in Monte. We did our best. It was a difficult weekend. We had a compromised hybrid for the last stage and the time will not be any good.”
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
“We definitely needed a result. Disappointed with the outcome of today Hats off to Kalle. He’s done a great job. From my side, it’s better than it has been and we should be able to build from here.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
“It is really good to be driving all the weekend. We can be happy, It was quite tough at the beginning. We had no issues with the car all weekend.”
Car 7. LOUBET/LANDAIS
“We are happy. We had an issue with the brake, like Craig, but not like the one he had. Thanks to the team. Now we go to Sardinia with a good road position and hopefully we can do some good things.”
Car 6. SORDO/CARRERA
“I gave my best. I look more at the times in the front. Taka deserve it, also we deserve it. We have not been so quick in the stages all weekend. If we finish third and fourth, it’s nice, but I want to be on the pace all the time.”
Car 21. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
Left the road very early into the stage and beached the i20 off the track, the mistake handing WRC2 victory to Rossel for the second successive rally.
Car 26. ROSSEL/SARREAUD
“It’s just a shame for him. It’s a victory for me. Honestly a second place is a good result. A win now. Thanks all my team. Two wins this season and a win on gravel. We have a lot of work for Sardinia. This is good for the championship.”