Jari-Matti Latvala at the helm in Poland

Four specials were on the menu for the first real morning of the Rally from poland, and Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) took the lead in the peloton WRC. If the Belgian driver had struck first in SS2, thus seizing control of the race to the detriment of the leader from the day before Elfyn Evans (Ford), Jari-Matti Latvala responded in the following two sectors, on tracks always wet, and with a grip that is very difficult for competitors to grasp.

Having taken the lead in the race, the Finn from Toyota Gazoo Racing left Neuville only the scratch in SS5, returning to the service park with a 4″ lead over the resident of the Korean team.

Derrière les deux meilleurs performers actuels en Pologne, les Ford Fiesta WRC du Team M-Sport restent dans le match puisque Ott Tänak, who stalled at the start of SS5, followed in third position 5″ behind Latvala, when Sébastien Ogier, who opened the road, is in fourth position at 7″3.

Citroën in pain

Behind the leading quartet, the gaps are already significant since the Hyundai i20s of Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo (the New Zealander having passed the Spaniard after SS5), follow at 43″6 and 45″7. The Toyota Yaris of Juho Hänninen and the Ford Fiesta of Teemu Suninen, debuting in the premier category this weekend, climbed to 7th and 8th positions ahead of Elfyn Evans (Ford) and Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën).

The Frenchman is the only driver of the chevron brand not to have experienced any major problems this morning, since Craig Breen was quickly eliminated from the race for first places after a transmission problem on his C3, when Andreas Mikkelsen made a mistake in SS5, hitting a stump. The Norwegian aims to return to service with a damaged left-rear suspension.

Same problem for Esapekka Lappi (Toyota), despite having made a good start to the event, who was reported stopped in SS4 after 17km, with damage to a wheel and suspension. The Finn should leave tomorrow.

Car # 12 @EsapekkaLappi suffered suspension damage after a big cut on SS4. He is done for today, but trying to be back tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VQcOEAmHDn

— TGR_WRC (@TGR_WRC) June 30, 2017

Valeriy Gorban (Mini) took the lead in WRC Trophy, while in WRC-2, Ole Christian Veiby (Skoda Fabia R5) has a 7″1 lead over Pontus Tidemand (Skoda Fabia R5). Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta R5) is third by more than 22″ and is ahead of Quentin Gilbert, fourth by 1’27”. Note that Pierre-Louis Loubet (Ford Fiesta R5), who does not appear in the WRC-2 ranking, delivered a very good performance by finishing the morning ahead of Quentin Gilbert in the general classification.

SS6 will start at 13:45 p.m. and will be followed live with our live text on our website.

Ranking Rally Poland