Tänak ends the morning in the lead by opening a Hyundai hat-trick

For the team Hyundai Motorsport, waking up at dawn was worth the effort. On a Rally of Estonia shortened over two stages, the warm-up on Saturday morning was essential. Andrea Adamo's men negotiated it perfectly by monopolizing the virtual podium.

The outgoing world champion Ott Tänak, associated with Martin Järveoja seemed a cut above on the five stages of the morning. Two stage victories and good management allowed the public favorites to return to the service park in the lead.

Despite scratchy weather, Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul do not play direct pursuers. This role falls to Craig Breen and Paul Nagle, more regular despite their backward position in the starting order.

Hyundai's order to march quietly is, however, only a pretense. Toyota a perdu Kalle Rovanperä alors que le débutant de 19 ans avait claqué le scratch en ES2, prenant par la même occasion la tete d’une manche WRC for the first time in his career.

Unfortunately, a puncture to the right rear tire would cost him half a minute. Same incident for Elfyn Evans-Scott Martin (Toyota) a few stages later, but the Welsh driver was able to limit the damage. Alone Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia escaped without mechanical problems for the Japanese manufacturer.

The third manufacturer in the running, Ford M-Sport, drinks the cup. Slower in long sectors at full load, the Fiesta did not perform a miracle. Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm stuck out their tongues before getting lost in unsuccessful adjustments.

For their debut aboard the Hyundai i20 WRC, Pierre-Louis Loubet and Vincent Landais are cautious with 10th place overall. The Corsican driver made a mistake in SS6 but did not damage his car.

In WRC 2, Adrien fourmaux and Renaud Jamoul (Ford) took advantage of the puncture of Mads Ostberg-Torstein Eriksen (Citroën) to take command before slipping back behind the Norwegians, but also Gryazin-Aleksandrov (Hyundai) and Tidemand-Barth (Skoda).

ES6 ranking:

General classification :