Rally Finland 2021
07h
“I put my balls on the table. » It is with this polished language that Craig Breen (Hyundai) analyzed the seventh special stage of the 2021 Rally Finland. If the Irishman missed the scratch time by a breath (0”2) to the benefit of Elfyn Evans ( Toyota), Hyundai's luxury freelancer increased his lead over his teammate and direct rival Ott Tänak (4''0) this Saturday morning.
In the Toyota fight, official representative Kalle Rovanperä took the advantage over the returning Esapekka Lappi to move up to fourth place. Sébastien Ogier preserves his seventh place and Adrien Fourmaux remains 10th.
Ranking of the special:
General classification :
07h
In WRC2, Oliver Solberg (Hyundai) is reported to have stopped after 3 km in the special!
07h
Rally leader Craig Breen (Hyundai) misses the scratch time by only two tenths, but increases his overall lead over Ott Tänak to 4″! “I put my balls on the table” the Irishman has just declared. We understand the metaphor.
07h
Ott Tänak loses ground on Elfyn Evans (1″4). The Estonian is only 1″9 ahead of the Toyota overall. »We will continue to attack even if I am not 100% confident in the car. »
07h
Great performance from Elfyn Evans! The Welshman sets the best time by 3″2 over Kalle Rovanperä, who is now more than 6″ behind overall. “I don't feel completely comfortable but the sensations are better compared to Friday. »
07h
Kalle Rovanperä overtakes the returning Esapekka Lappi in the general classification by 1″6 after an average time from the Finnish private driver! “I did my best, but the terrain is too slippery for me. I don't have enough confidence to attack more. I don’t think I can change that in the following stages,” explains Esapekka Lappi.
07h
No miracle for Kalle Rovanperä who lost a second to Thierry Neuville at the finish. “I'm not very happy with the Toyota. I can't get the best feeling while driving. »
07h
It’s Thierry Neuville’s turn to beat Sébastien Ogier’s time by 5″8! “I had a good SS, but the pace is very high here. I gave the best of myself. » The Belgian is now ahead of the Frenchman by 8″1 overall.
07h
Ogier sets the best time with a 7″ lead over Takamoto Katsuta.
07h
The big guys are coming. After 10 km, Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) regains 5″ on Sébastien Ogier (Toyota).
07h
Katsuta: “It’s fun to drive on this stage. The grip is greater than yesterday. » The Japanese finished faster than Adrien Fourmaux.
07h
Fourmaux at the finish: “I don't want to take too many risks during this first pass in order to preserve myself for the second loop. There is not a lot of sweeping to do because the ground is very compact. »
07h
Tenth in the general classification, Adrien Fourmaux (Ford) leads the way this morning.
07h
If you weren't with us yesterday, don't panic, discover the summary of the first stage below!
If the day seemed to smile on Ott Tänak, it ultimately smiled on his teammate Craig Breen. In contact with the Estonian, leader since SS2, throughout Friday, the Irishman from Hyundai took advantage of his partner's difficulties to strike a big blow during SS6, the final of the day for the side of Finland.
Then in the lead with a 1" lead over Craig Breen, Ott Tänak lost big in this SS5 contested practically in absolute darkness. Damaged, the 6 world champion was never able to find the very good rhythm that he had been able to show throughout this first day. Sixth at the finish, the Estonian dropped 2019 seconds on Elfyn Evans, author of the scratch. A situation which suited the Waterford native’s business.
His teammate and main rival of the day in difficulty, the Irishman took the opportunity to go on the attack and thus secure a good 3rd place, 3 from the best mark on SS7. Enough to take control of the Rally Finland and thus spend a rather quiet night before the big day on Saturday.
Second in the starting order, Elfyn Evans limits the damage this Friday since he is 3rd at the last score just 6 behind Craig Breen, making him the best Toyota driver of the day ahead of Kalle Rovanperä (1th), Sébastien Ogier (5th) and Takamoto Katsuta (7th).
Present on a round of the world championship for the first time since Monza in 2020, Esapekka Lappi made a strong impression. Entered aboard a Yaris WRC, the local was able to stand up to the big names and thus achieve a good 4th place overall for his first day of competition. In the rankings, he only lost 6 to Craig Breen. Which bodes well for a very good weekend for the Finn.
On the M-Sport side, the day was terrible. Their Ford Fiesta very limited and without testing, Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux were unable to do anything. Systematically in the bottom ranks of the category, the Briton and the Tricolor finished this Friday in 9th and 10th positions.
In WRC2, less than 6 seconds separate the leading men with Mads Østberg in control ahead of Teemu Suninen (+4“9) and Nikolay Gryazin (+5“4).
07h
Hello early risers! Welcome to this page to follow the long second stage of the 2021 Rally Finland. Here is the program for this day:
- SS7 – 7:16 a.m.: Kakaristo-Hassi 1 (18,17 km)
- SS8 – 08:14: Päijälä 1 (22,61 km)
- SS9 – 9:38 a.m.: Arvaja 1 (13,49 km)
- SS10 – 10:28 a.m.: Patajoki 1 (20,55)
- SS11 – 14:16 a.m.: Kakaristo-Hassi 2 (18,17 km)
- SS12 – 15:14: Päijälä 2 (22,61 km)
- SS13 – 16:38 a.m.: Arvaja 2 (13,49 km)
- SS14 – 17:28 p.m.: Patajoki 2 (20,55 km)
- SS15 – 19:00 p.m.: Harju 2 (2,31 km)
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