Kris Meeke close to victory in Finland

Given the pace displayed, certainly helped by a favorable position on the road, by Chris Meeke in Finland, we say that the Briton could take on the role of outsider in 2017, if the future Citroën C3 proves to be at the level of its rivals.

After having become comfortable at the end of the first loop of specials this morning, the Abu Dhabi Racing driver managed his advantage in the afternoon, starting with a new scratch in Ouninpohja. If his lead over Jari-Matti Latvala peaked at 42″3 at the end of the eighteenth special, Meeke eased off slightly in the last two stages, to maintain a 41″ margin over the Volkswagen Finn before the four specials. Sunday.

Behind the master duo of this 2016 edition, the fight for the podium remains wide open between Craig Breen (DS3) and Ott Tänak (Ford). L’Estonien a entamé sa remontée après une nouvelle crevaison dans la matinée, et s’est débarrassé de Andreas Mikkelsen (Volkswagen), Mads Ostberg (Ford) et des Hyundai de Hayden Paddon et Thierry Neuville to be in fourth position this evening, 11″5 behind Breen.

Neuville and Paddon, 5th and 6th, are separated by 2″7 and are ahead of Ostberg, Mikkelsen and the official Skoda Fabia of Esapekka Lappi entered in WRC-2. The top 10 is completed by Teemu Suninen (Skoda).

In WRC-2 precisely, Lappi once again set the pace throughout the day and is 46″9 ahead of his Finnish compatriot Suninen. Pontus Tidemand (Skoda) remains firmly in his third place, ahead of the first Ford Fiesta R1 of Elfyn Evans by more than 10'5”. Quentin Gilbert (DS3 R5) and Yoann Bonato (DS3 R5) are classified 7th and 10th in the category. In the Junior WRC, Ole Christian Veiby dominates ahead of Simone Tempestini, ranked at 18″3.

The final stage will begin tomorrow morning at 7:28 a.m. and will again be followed live on our website.

Ranking Rally Finland