Lappi concludes the first stage of the Sardinia Rally in the lead just ahead of Ogier

Ranking Rally of Sardinia 2023 Stage 1:

• La première étape du Rallye de Sardaigne 2023 a fait des dégâts ce vendredi 2 juin. Ponctuée de deux passages dans la terrible spéciale de Monte Lerno (49,9 km !), la journée a permis à deux hommes de se mettre en évidence : Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) and Sébastien Ogier (Toyota).
• Both drivers performed as well as each other; proof is that the Finn is ahead of the eight-time world champion WRC French by only a tenth!
• « These are difficult conditions, frankly, Ogier said. Once again, I'm happy to be at the end. I didn't try to take too many risks, but to drive carefully. »
• « It was quite a tricky stage and we also had a puncture on the left rear, so it started to penalize me a bit, indique Lappi. But here we are, everything is fine and we are looking forward to tomorrow. »
• Pierre-Louis Loubet (M-Sport Ford) effectuait une belle première journée ; 3e du général le midi, le Corse a ensuite dévissé, la faute en premier lieu à un matériel défectueux (panne de sélecteur de boite de vitesses). Le Tricolore, reparti avec 3 minutes de pénalité, a fini l’étape dans le bas-côté suite à une sortie de route.
• In the hunting group, Ott Tänak (M-Sport Ford) suffered a water pump failure, Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) complained about his handbrake and Dani Sordo (Hyundai) lost 3 minutes following an accident.
• In WRC2, the advantage goes to the French Adrien fourmaux (M-Sport Ford). The Habs took advantage of the broken shock absorber of Oliver Solberg (Skoda) as well as the accident of Gus Greensmith (Skoda, co-driver injured in the back) to take the lead. In the final special of the day, he took the liberty of dropping Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda).
• The second stage of the Sardinia Rally will begin on Saturday from 8:05 a.m. The event will be followed in live text on AUTOhebdo.fr

ALSO READ > The program for the 2023 Sardinia Rally