Azores - Ricardo Moura leader at home

In very complicated weather conditions, Ricardo Moura leads the Azores Rally after the first loop of the day.

Published on 17/09/2021 à 15:05

⁰ View comments)

Ricardo Moura is leader of the classification after winning two special stages out of three. ©FIAERC

Le Rally d'Azores started this Friday morning with three long special stages. With a length of 24,03 km, the first was won by Ricardo Moura (17'09) ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen (+5″9) and Žáková Jindřiška (+12″8). On a very slippery course where the fog significantly reduced the visibility of the drivers, five retirements, including that of Norbert Herczig, 5th in the championship, victim of an accident, were noted by the race direction.

Meanwhile, SS2 has started. Watch it live on Facebook or Youtube.https://t.co/3XwblRCSiJ #FIAERC #AzoresRally pic.twitter.com/QHgcoY4qos

— European Rally Championship (@FIAERC) September 17, 2021

Returning after his withdrawal from the Barum Rally (Czech Republic) last August, Alexey Lukyanuk won the second special of the day (21,89 km), with a time of 18'26"5, thus ahead of the leader and local Ricardo Moura (+14″5) and Dani Sordo (+15″6). The Portuguese driver, in great form during the morning, scored his second scratch in the Azores during the last SS of this loop (12'05″1) and confirms his good performance. Having rolled over in the third special, Yoann Bonato caused the cancellation of the latter forcing the marshals to give a fixed time to the crews who were unable to complete their passage.

Not quite the outcome Yoann and Benjamin were hoping for 😥
But most importantly, they are both OK.#FIAERC #AzoresRally pic.twitter.com/jxiXfv1ngy

— European Rally Championship (@FIAERC) September 17, 2021

We went out in SS3 but we are doing well with Benjamin 👍🏻 We were 6th in the general classification. #ERC #CHLSportAuto #C3Rally2 #citroenracing #IGOL #MichelinMotorsport pic.twitter.com/QFH2JWGB0Q

— yoann bonato (@yoannbonato) September 17, 2021

In the general classification after this first loop, Ricardo Moura is in the lead in the Azores ahead of the two Spanish drivers Dani Sordo (+27″8) and Efrén Llarena (+39″5). The championship leader, Andreas Mikkelsen, is in fourth position, 46″2 behind the Portuguese. The Norwegian notably encountered a problem with his windshield wipers during SS2 which cost him no less than 50 seconds.