Toyota locks out high 5 after Hyundai punctures


Toyota is heading in the right direction for a Rally Finland top-five lockout after Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux witnessed their World Rally Championship victory hopes vanish following punctures.

Kalle Rovanpera benefited from the drama that hit his nearest rivals Neuville and Fourmaux, who have been sitting second and third respectively within the rally, to open up a 36.1s lead over Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta.

Rovanpera had been the motive force to beat throughout Saturday’s phases, which have been held in changeable moist and dry circumstances. The Finn, looking for a maiden WRC win on house soil, loved an virtually good Saturday morning, profitable three of the 4 phases. Rovanpera solely missed out on a clear sweep when he suffered a right-rear gradual puncture in stage 13.

Heavy rain fell earlier than the beginning of the afternoon loop, rendering the primary stage extremely slippery. Rovanpera declared the circumstances the worst he’d skilled in Finland however managed to extend his lead by 0.2s over Neuville in stage 15 (Parkkola 2, 15.51km).

The battle for the victory was turned on its head when Neuville and Fourmaux suffered front-right punctures within the subsequent take a look at (Vastila 2, 18.94km), which was held in dry circumstances. Regardless of each Hyundai drivers electing in opposition to stopping to alter wheels, Neuville dropped 1m38.2s whereas Fourmaux misplaced 1m48.8s because the pair plummeted to sixth and seventh respectively.

Each Neuville and Fourmaux minimize annoyed figures and have been unable to clarify the tyre failures.

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Staff, Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai World Rally Staff

Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool

“It wasn’t even an affect, puncture quantity 13 or 14 this 12 months,” mentioned Neuville.

Fourmaux added: “There isn’t any motivation anymore. I don’t know what it’s. I have to test on the video. I’ve no spare wheel anymore. The rally is over so we simply have to preserve the positions.”

Rovanpera claimed victory in phases 17 and 18 to additional lengthen his benefit over a quartet of Toyota team-mates.

Katsuta managed to carry off his eight-time world champion team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who had been closing the hole to the Japanese driver throughout the afternoon.

Elfyn Evans leapfrogged Sami Pajari within the treacherously moist stage 15 because the latter didn’t really feel snug pushing within the circumstances. Evans then benefited from the punctures suffered by Neuville and Fourmaux to finish the day in fourth – 44.4s adrift, just one.5s behind Ogier.

A disenchanted Neuville ended the day in sixth, 1m54.7s off the general lead, forward of Fourmaux who’s 2m23.7s behind chief Rovanpera. Staff-mate and championship chief Ott Tanak additionally picked up a front-left puncture in stage 17, which dented his restoration from a five-minute penalty following a collision with a scrutineer on Friday.

Learn Additionally:

Josh McErlean emerged because the main M-Sport-Ford driver in eighth forward of the sister Ford Puma piloted by Gregoire Munster.

Martins Sesks had been main the M-Sport runner till he was pressured to cease briefly to clear a foggy windscreen in stage 15. Co-driver Renars Francis tried to maintain the display clear by strapping a material to his ft whereas delivering pacenotes.

Two passes by way of the well-known Ouninpohja stage will determine the rally on Sunday.

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