The next special, Los Gigantes – Cantera El Condor (38,68 km), must start in 10′.

Solid leader of the Rally Argentina, Elfyn Evans (Ford) set the best time in the first special of the second stage in South America. The M-Sport driver sets the benchmark time between Tanti and Villa Bustos in 11'00"2, and is ahead of the Hyundai i0 of Thierry Neuville by 8"20 and the Citroën C2 of Kris Meeke by 1"3.

Despite a puncture, after contact with an embankment, Neuville took advantage of this SS to take second place in the general classification after hydraulic problems with the Ford Fiesta of Mads Ostberg, second at the start of the stage, and who conceded 8″6 on Evans on this SS10. The Norwegian also lost part of his rear spoiler.

Neuville, 1'01"5 behind Evans, is now ahead of Ostberg by 2"8. Sébastien Ogier (Ford), forced to slow down to avoid a dog on the road, and almost spinning in a water passage, retains his fourth place in the rally standings, but sees Ott Tänak (Ford) return to 1″5.

Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) remains sixth ahead of Hayden Paddon (Hyundai), Lorenzo Bertelli (Ford), Juho Hänninen (Toyota) and Pontus Tidemand (Skoda), author of the best time in WRC-2, and still well ahead of the category.

Note that Craig Breen (Citroën), whose gearbox had been changed after his problems yesterday in SS4 and his retirement, was unable to leave the Villa Carlos Paz service park, an oil leak having been detected on his C3. Citroën has confirmed the Irishman's retirement for today.

Evans admits to being cautious at the start “seeing the weak grip. After that, speed and engagement were better. I could also have gone faster in certain areas. »

Kris Meeke, although ahead of Evans in the first part, did not manage to maintain the pace, and failed in third position in the special, 2″1 behind Evans.

Elfyn Evans is the fastest before the arrival of Kris Meeke (Citroën). The M-Sport driver set a time of 11'00″2, eight tenths ahead of Thierry Neuville.

11'01″0 for Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), who is ahead of Ott Tänak by 1″9. However, the Belgian driver did not have the easiest special stage.

“It wasn't really a good stage for me,” explains Ogier. I had to brake to avoid a dog on the road, then almost spun into a ford. Just bad luck. »

In the internal struggle at M-Sport, Sébastien Ogier did not beat Tänak's time, failing 3″1 behind his Estonian teammate. Ogier, however, retains fourth place overall with a 1″5 lead.

“We stalled on the starting line, I don’t understand,” explains Tänak. Not a good way to start an ES like this. I attacked more than usual. »

It's Ott Tänak's turn (Ford) to take the best time. The Estonian was ahead of Latvala in the second part. 11'02″9 for the M-Sport driver, who pushes Latvala back to 21″4 overall.

Jari-Matti Latvala improves on Hayden Paddon's previous benchmark. The Toyota driver, the fastest so far while awaiting the arrival of Ott Tänak (Ford), also starting at a high pace, finished in 11'05″7, 2″8 ahead of Paddon.

“We are going to be patient,” confesses Paddon. There is nothing we can do to catch the drivers in front. We're checking the notes, trying out some set-up changes for Portugal, maybe we'll push harder this afternoon. »

Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) took the provisional best time in 11'08″5.

Lorenzo Bertelli takes his Ford Fiesta to the finish with the third and final provisional time in 11'49″3.

Juho Hänninen (Toyota) concedes 2″8 on Dani Sordo. “A very enjoyable stage but it was difficult to see in some places with the sun. » The Toyota driver was slowed down yesterday at the start of the day by engine power problems.

" It was hard. The start of the ES was very narrow with lots of ridges and lots of gravel. The end was faster. We can't do much more today. We're just trying to keep pushing and get to the end. » explains Sordo.