Loeb goes off the road at the Tour de Corse, Ogier unwinds

The Tour de Corse has already offered its share of surprises while only two special stages have been contested.

The French event was marked by Sébastien’s exit from the road Loeb (Citroen). The nine-time champion of WRC seemed to be the only one able to keep up with the pace of Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport), mais l’Alsacien est sorti de la route en se faisant surprendre par es pneus froids, 400m après le départ de l’ES2. de Piedigriggio – Pont de Castirla. Sa C3 WRC a glissé en dehors d’un virage à gauche et l’Alsacien s’est retrouvé bloqué dans un fossé en tentant une marche arrière.

Despite the intervention of spectators, who even tried to pull the Citroën out using a rope, the crew with nine world titles had to give up in this stage.

#WRCLive #TourdeCorsica pic.twitter.com/NOl3cX5Xh7

— WRC (@OfficialWRC) April 6th

The 1km SS49 of La Porta – Valle di Rostino allowed Sébastien Ogier to distance himself from his pursuers by hitting a big blow. The Championship leader, for once in a favorable position as first on the road, took the scratch on the first two courses and already has a lead of more than 21 seconds over Kris Meeke (Citroën), his closest pursuer.

Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) complète le podium provisoire à deux secondes du pilote Citroën en précédant d’un écart similaire Ott Tänak (Toyota). Elfyn Evans (M-Sport) complète le Top 5 à une douzaine de secondes de l’Estonien. Dani Sordo (Hyundai) suit au sixième rang devant les Toyota Yaris WRC d’Esapekka Lappi et de Jari-Matti Latvala.

Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai) is only ninth, 53 seconds from the head of the race. The Norwegian lost time with a spin in the first stage and an exit on the second stage.

Bryan Bouffier (M-Sport) completes the Top 10, one second behind the third Hyundai i20 WRC. After a discreet start, the Frenchman set the fifth fastest time of SS2.

Jan Kopecky (Skoda) is battling with Yoann Bonato, at the wheel of the new Citroën C3 R5, for the lead in WRC 2. The Frenchman is 2″7 behind the Czech after the first pass. His compatriot Pierre-Louis Loubet (Hyundai) is more than half a minute behind the head of the category. Stéphane Lefebvre is more than a minute behind on the second mount at Les Chevrons.

Really happy with our departure! 2nd in SS1, 3rd in SS2! It is most encouraging. We're going to debrief with @CitroenRacing of this first loop and go back on the attack this afternoon! # WRC2 #TourdeCorsica #CitroënRacing #CHLSportAuto pic.twitter.com/S9pAkFqB56

— yoann bonato (@yoannbonato) April 6th

The crews benefit from half an hour of assistance before competing in a second pass of the special stages of the first stage of the Tour de Corse. The second passage should begin from 15:12 p.m.