Croatia Rally 2022
16h
Having been in difficulty since the end of the morning on the second stage of the 2022 Croatia Rally, Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) provided a response to the return of Ott Tänak (Hyundai) on the 14th special stage contested on dry roads.
The leader of the World Rally Championship (WRC) increased his lead to 14”8 over his Estonian opponent. The afternoon is dominated in pure rhythm by Esapekka Lappi (Toyota), restarted under the Rally 2 rule following a collision with a rock on Friday. The Finn signs his third scratch time of the day.
The engine problems in Thierry Neuville's Hyundai i20 seem to have been forgotten as the Belgian took significant seconds from Craig Breen (M-Sport Ford). The Irishman feels Thierry Neuville's breath at his back because he only has a 5''9 margin in the fight for third position.
SS14 ranking:
Provisional general ranking:
16h
Kalle Rovanperä finished 1″8 seconds ahead of Ott Tänak! The Finn will be reassured with this time which allows him to have a margin of 14″8 at the head of the Croatia Rally. “I'm not 100%. »
16h
Ott Tänak sets the 3rd provisional time, 4″6 behind Esapekka Lappi. But the most important thing is to position yourself in relation to the leader Kalle Rovanperä, who is still in the special.
16h
Craig Breen lost his footing in this second loop of the day. The driver of the Ford Puma hybrid only has a 5″9 margin over Thierry Neuville! The Irishman is not comfortable. “I gave my best, I can’t do better than that. It's raining on the next stage. »
16h
The engine of Thierry Neuville's Hyundai i20 hybrid runs like clockwork. The Belgian sets the 2nd time, a couple of seconds behind Esapekka Lappi. “The engine problem comes and goes, sometimes I lose 60% of the power, it is not linked to the hybrid system and it worked on this ES. »
16h
Esapekka Lappi is on track to set a new scratch time. Indeed, Elfyn Evans rode 9″ slower than the Finn.
16h
No miracle for Takamoto Katsuta. The Japanese lost around fifteen seconds to his teammate Esapekka Lappi.
16h
The dynamic does not change for Pierre-Louis Loubet. The Frenchman, for his first start at the wheel of a Rally1 hybrid, lost 9″5 to Esapekka Lappi. “I think I was a little too careful in places. »
16h
Lappi: “The stage is now completely dry compared to this morning. I think I had a good time! »
16h
No time to breathe, time for the 14th special of the Croatian Rally: Jaškovo – Mali Modruš Potok 2 (10,10 km)! The road is dry from Esapekka Lappi.
