IRC – Robert Consani takes the Yalta podium

Leader at the end of the first stage, Yuriy Protasov could approach the second stage of the Prime Yalta Rally with optimism even if the local driver was in the middle of a battle with the Ford Fiesta S2000 of Yagiz Avci for the lead of the event. The Ukrainian's hopes were quickly dashed, however, when a puncture caused him to lose the lead before damaged suspension forced him to retire. His Turkish rival then had a comfortable lead over his pursuers, especially since the podium places were hotly contested.

Laszlo Vizin was hoping for a second place following the retirement of Yuriy Protasov, but the Skoda Fabia S2000 driver was caught one stage from the finish by the Renault Mégane RS by Robert Consani which only has two drive wheels. The Frenchman thus takes second place in the general classification with a lead of 26 seconds over the Hungarian and thus wins the Production Cup and the 2WD Cup. Mykola Chmykh (Subaru Impreza Sti) and Vlad Cosma (Citroën C2 R2 Max) complete the top five, taking advantage of the significant delay of Marco Tempestini's Subaru Impreza Sti R4 in the last special. The Prime Yalta Rally did not have a very extensive entry list since only 25 participants competed for victory.

Discover the report from the Prime Yalta Rally in the next issue of AUTOhebdo, available from Tuesday in digital version for iPad, PC and Mac, and from Wednesday on newsstands.