New Zealand – SS11: Rovanperä starts again with a vengeance

The crews took the start of the Kaipara Hills special for the second time today. 15,83 km at very high speed ending with a perilous and spectacular final downhill.

Après leurs sorties de route du matin, Elfyn Evans et Gus Greensmith étaient contraints de renoncer pour la suite de la journée en raison de dommages sur les arceaux de sécurité de leurs Rally1. Les trois pilotes de l’équipe Hyundai, Ott Tänak, Thierry Neuville and Oliver Solberg saw themselves penalized by 10 seconds following an infringement on the electrical energy deployed in their hybrid units in E 7. This fault having already led to a penalty after SS1 was immediately recognized by the team which took full responsibility.

As a result, Ott Tänak saw himself pushed back before this SS11 into 3rd position behind Seb Ogier a good distance from leader Kalle Rovanperä.

If the rain had disrupted the first pass in this special, offering Craig Breen the opportunity to score the scratch thanks to a good position at the start, all the crews were now on an equal footing with a completely wet track! illustration of these perilous conditions, Craig Breen signed a first mark in 10'03″6, 21 seconds slower than during his morning passage.

Nothing to scare Rovanperä who let go of the horses to set the best time in 9'47″3 and win the special ahead of Ogier at 5″0 and Neuville at 11″4. Ott Tänak completed the special at 17″9 in 6th position without looking for excuses. A bit of resignation in the face of Kalle's pace or a great weariness in the face of the accumulation of penalties?

SS11 ranking:

General Classification after SS11:

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