Finland – SS8: Lappi keeps the pressure on Tänak

Clearly, the two are no longer letting go of each other. After the best timeOtt Tänak during SS7, it was Esapekka Lappi's turn to dominate SS8 ahead of the Estonian. The Finn set a time of 7'10″4, 2″1 faster than the leader of the Rally from Finland. Overall, Lappi is only 6″2 behind Tänak, while a gap has formed between the leading duo and the rest of the peloton.

Behind the duel for first place, the battle for 3rd place also rages between Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä. The Welshman set the 4th fastest time in the special, losing 1″2 to his Finnish teammate and rival. From now on, the world vice-champion is only one second ahead of the championship leader. Another battle, that for 5th place between Craig Breen and Takamoto Katsuta to the advantage for the moment of the Irishman who maintains a margin of 6 tenths over the Japanese.

Derrière, grosse déception pour Jari Huttunen. Le rookie finlandais, qui réalisait jusqu’alors un rallye prudent mais solide à la 8e place au général, a été victime d’une panne mécanique dans la spéciale. Le pilote M-Sport a subi un problème de pression d’huile et sa voiture s’est arrêtée après 8 kilomètres. Huttunen a pu rallier l’arrivée à faible allure mais a perdu plus de 4 minutes dans l’histoire.

The classification of SS8: 

The general classification after SS8: