New Zealand – Ott Tänak takes charge

Great return to New Zealand after 10 years of absence for this 11th round of the Championship WRC 2022. The start of SS1 was given under a heavy sky making the asphalt of the Auckland area slippery and tricky, especially with the Pirelli dirt tires required for the rest of the race. rally. The rain expected this weekend could also benefit Championship leader Kalle Rovanperä. The latter expected to be heavily handicapped by a position as opener which requires him to sweep the dusty New Zealand tracks. A wet track could put it on a relative equal footing with its competitors.

A bonus for caution for all drivers on this spectacle special, because with 2 “donut” zones, it was easy to lose a few seconds over the 1780 meters of this opening special. Kalle Rovanpera paid the price by losing a handful of seconds on the first of the two “roundabouts”.

.@OttTanak leads the way after SS1 🇳🇿#WRC | #WRCLive | #RallyNZ | @HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/NtqcSDB8kv

- World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) September 29, 2022

Ott Tänak signs the best mark in 1:45.8 in front Craig Breen et Thierry Neuville respectively at 9 and 16 tenths of a second. Sébastien Ogier for his big return to the World Championship signs the 8th time, 4,5 seconds behind the leader, perfectly tied on time with Oliver Solberg.

Upon arrival, Tänak was not particularly enthusiastic: “We will see what we can do. My head was spinning and I had no idea which way the road was going, it wasn't that fun actually! (The fight for the championship) is not in our hands, we can't do anything. »

In WRC2, local boy Hayden Paddon sets the best time ahead of the ultra versatile three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen.

Due to the 11-hour time difference with New Zealand, the start of SS2 will be at 21:33 p.m. French time.

The classification of SS1 – WRC : 

ALSO READ > The 2022 Rally New Zealand program