In WRC-2, Pontus Tidemand (Skoda Fabia R5) heads towards the scratch and takes 6″7 over Jan Kopecky (Skoda Fabia R5), who remains leader of the category before the final SS of the day with 14″8. advance on the Swede.

The next special will start at 18:40 p.m., with the third pass of the day in Wadern-Weiskirchen.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motorsport is busy on Dani Sordo's i20, which went off the road this morning.

Repairs on @DaniSordo's because in progress.  #WRC #ADACRally pic.twitter.com/kE569OGfgz

— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) August 18

Ott Tänak (Ford) took advantage of his best time in the seventh stage of the Rally Germany to regain control of the race from Andreas Mikkelsen (Citroën). At the end of the 18,35 km Grafschaft 2, Tänak was ahead of Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) by 3″2, Sébastien Ogier (Ford) by 3″3 and Mikkelsen by 5″4.

So much so that overall, the M-Sport driver now has a 4″ lead over the Norwegian from Citroën before the last special of the day. Sébastien Ogier remains in third position at 5″9, while Thierry Neuville remains fourth at 9″28. Elfyn Evans (Ford), Craig Breen (Citroën), Juho Hänninen (Toyota), Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) follow in the standings, since Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) did not leave the ES .

“I think we did a very good stage. I am very happy to be in this position at this stage of the rally. Tomorrow we will be in a better starting position. » comments Mikkelsen.

Andreas Mikkelsen (Citroën) concedes 5″4 to Ott Tänak and at the same time loses the lead of the Rally Germany. The Estonian takes control of the race with a 4″5 lead over Mikkelsen and 9″9 over Ogier.

Eighth provisional time for Kris Meeke (Citroën) in 11'37″4, 22″ behind Ott Tänak.

Juho Hänninen (Toyota) sets the sixth provisional time, 16″6 behind Tänak. “There was less stagnant water, it was a little better than the first pass. »

@EsapekkaLappi Problems, can't continue pic.twitter.com/yUN6WHBX7n

— Michel V. (@rockollector) August 18

Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) concedes another full 30″ on this SS7. 11'45″4 for the New Zealander.

Craig Breen slots his Citroën C3 between Latvala and Evans in 11'31″0, 15″6 behind Tänak, still provisional leader of this special.

Elfyn Evans is the least energetic on this SS7. 11'34″3 for the Briton from M-Sport, 18″9 behind his teammate Tänak. “I had no grip, and I struggled with braking. »

Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) lost 9″1 to Tänak at the end of this penultimate special. “The conditions are difficult. It's more about survival right now. »

Ott Tänak (Ford) is ahead of Neuville and Ogier on this SS7 in 11'15″4, 3″2 ahead of Neuville and 3″3 ahead of Ogier. “Very tricky. With a tire I've never used before, it takes time to get a feeling. But the feeling is good. Maybe I should have pushed more, but after the previous stage I wanted to have a clean run. »

A tenth behind Sébastien Ogier (Ford) on Neuville at the stopping point of this SS7. “Correct but it was tricky. With Thierry, we don't have the best choice of tire. Our soft compound does not work. »

“I was at my maximum,” admits Neuville. There was so much spinning and locking up under braking, several times we almost went out. I lack a lot of traction. »

11'18″6 for Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) at the finish of this penultimate ES of the day.

Ogier was ahead of Neuville in the first part of this special, but the Frenchman fell back behind the Belgian in the second part by six tenths.