Rally Argentina 2019
The first pass will conclude with the 6km Fernet Branca super special. The first duel is expected from 16:26 p.m.
Ott Tänak (Toyota) hit very hard in the 33,65km Cuchilla Nevada – Characato, the longest special stage of the Rally Argentina. With a time of 19'45''8, the Estonian took more than 6 seconds from Thierry Neuville (Hyundai).
Sébastien Ogier (Citroën) lost more than half a minute after losing his power steering, probably following an impact against a stone. The six-time WRC champion finished behind Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), Dani Sordo (Hyundai), Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai), Kris Meeke (Toyota) and Teemu Suninen (M-Sport).
Thierry Neuville only maintains a lead of 5”2 over Ott Tänak. Kris Meeke took 3rd place against Sébastien Ogier for a little over 3 seconds ahead. Andreas Mikkelsen follows just over 3 seconds behind, still ahead of Dani Sordo, Jari-Matti Latvala and Teemu Suninen.
Neuville did well being closest to Tänak but still lost 6s to the Toyota driver. The Belgian only maintains the lead by 5″2 over the Estonian. “I drove hard. We know that Ott is in front. He darts as soon as he attacks. »
Ogier lost his power steering in the special, probably following a collision with a stone on the course. He still has to compete in a 6km super special before benefiting from assistance.
Ogier loses 36s in the special! It's the slowest on arrival. The Citroën driver slipped to 4th place, more than 3 seconds behind Meeke.
Contact against a stone for Ogier who suffers in this special. The Citroën driver is more than 17 seconds behind Tänak on the course.
Incredible time from Tänak who signs the temporary scratch with 9″4 ahead of his teammate Latvala. His time should not be beaten, as Neuville and Ogier cannot keep up with the pace.
Meeke only set the 4th fastest time, around ten seconds behind his teammate Latvala and more than 5 seconds behind Mikkelsen. The Northern Irishman only retained his 4th position by 6″9 over the Hyundai driver.
Meeke was trapped in the same place as his teammate Latvala, hitting the same stone. The Finn suffered a puncture following this error.
Mikkelsen failed 3s behind his teammate Sordo and almost 5s behind Latvala's provisional scratch. The Norwegian maintains his 5th position with a dozen seconds ahead of Sordo.
Latvala suffered a puncture at the very end of the special. “It happened 5km from the finish after hitting a stone. I must have only lost about 2 seconds. »
Sordo ranks less than 2s from Latvala and protects his 6th place well.
Ogier is now more than 6s behind Tänak in the 3rd split. Neuville is on the Estonian's pace at the first intermediate.
Latvala improves the time previously achieved by Suninen by more than 24 seconds. The Toyota driver is 7th.
Ogier continues to lose time, 4 seconds behind Tänak in the 2nd sector.
Tänak attacks very hard, pushing his opponents back around 5s from the 2nd split!
Slight exit from Latvala who hit an embankment in a left turn. The Toyota driver seems able to maintain a strong pace.
Ogier is behind at the start of the special, already almost 2 seconds behind Tänak. He's one of the slowest in the first split.
Suninen finished with a time of 20'19″4 which should be quickly beaten. The M-Sport driver is now in 8th place after the retirement of his teammate Evans.
Tänak is already ahead in the first partial with 4 tenths ahead of Meeke.