SS13 – Mikkelsen takes first stage win

Volkswagen Motorsport II’s Andreas Mikkelsen powered through the opening stage of the afternoon and claimed the win. Despite the rough conditions and increasingly demanding course, Mikkelsen was able to power through the stage in 11:30.2s, some 6.6s faster than current champion and first on the road, Sebastien Ogier.

More stage success for Volkswagen came from Jari-Matti Latvala who claimed the second-fastest spot, finishing 0.9s behind Mikkelsen.

All wasn’t lost for Sebastien Ogier, who seemed to be somewhat concerned by his soft tyres. He was third fastest over the short but difficult stage, finishing with a time of 11:36.8s.

Other drivers didn’t fair so well though, with Sheik Khalid Al Qassimi cutting a corner too deep in his Citroen DS3 WRC, pulling off a wheel in the process.

In WRC2, Pontus Tidemand maintained his impressive pace behind the wheel of the Skoda Fabia R5, winning the stage in his class with a time of 12:09.3s. Though Scott Pedder wasn’t far behind, completing just 0.9s slower. Nicholas Fuchs, also in a Fabia R5, was third fastest in WRC2, finishing 8s behind Pedder.