Skoda tames Russia

Juho Hanninen was motivated by the challenge, he did not miss his debut in Russia. With the absence of Peugeot 207 of Kris Meeke, Nicolas Vouilloz and Freddy Loix, the opportunity is too good to pass up. The Finn is therefore on target, having won the first four stages of the sixth round of the IRC championship. Hanninen even achieved a breakthrough, increasing his lead over his pursuers in each section.

From SS1, it was Anton Alen, on Grande Punto Super 2000, who experienced difficulties crossing a water sector, which complicated the proper functioning of his car. Franz Wittmann, on Mitsubishi, was also not very enthusiastic, following rear axle problems in SS2. The only driver to upset the Skoda Fabias in the first specials, Giandomenico Basso was unable to keep up the pace, suffering a puncture in SS3. As for Anton Alen, he finished the first stage as best he could, despite a worrying rise in water temperature.

The first “non-Skoda” driver to be able to worry the two Fabias is Guy Wilks, already relegated to more than 46 seconds behind Hanninen, while Basso and Alen are more than 1 seconds behind. This Friday, five special stages - after the cancellation of SS 20 - are on the program for a total of 5 km.