Meeke keeps control of RACC, Hyundai loses big

Kris Meeke (Citroën) can hope to achieve a second victory this season at the Rally of Catalonia. The Northern Irishman remains in the lead on the evening of the second stage with 13 seconds on Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport) who found his rhythm by achieving three consecutive scratches.

The Championship leader remains in battle with his teammate Ott Tänak for second place, the Estonian only 1”5 behind. Both M-Sport drivers took advantage of drivers' misfortunes Hyundai with the double retirement of Dani Sordo and Andreas Mikkelsen in SS12. The Spaniard who occupied second place and the Norwegian, sixth, hit the same stone and broke their direction. The Scandinavian even tore off a wheel. Ott Tänak was also trapped on this difficulty but the Estonian was able to continue without major damage.

Mikkelsen and Sordo with broken steering in SS12 #WRC @RallyRACC pic.twitter.com/tQUHqaQHyV

— WRC (@OfficialWRC) 7th October, 2017

With this disappointment for Hyundai Motorsport, M-Sport is moving a little closer to the Manufacturers' title. If the positions remained as they were, Malcolm Wilson's structure would only be three points short of winning the coronation.

Juho Hänninen (Toyota) is lying in wait in fourth place ahead Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) who easily overtook Mads Ostberg (M-Sport) but who was still more than 19 seconds behind the Finn. Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) follows in seventh place ahead of the Norwegian who received a 20-second penalty for clocking in two minutes late at the start of a SS. Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën) is eighth ahead of Elfyn Evans (M-Sport) and Éric Camilli (Ford), first driver in an R5.

The Frenchman at the wheel of the Fiesta R5 is ahead of Teemu Suninen (Ford), still leader of WRC 2 ahead of Jan Kopecky (Skoda). Benito Guerra Jr (Skoda) now completes the category podium.

Nil Solans secured the JWRC title in the second stage which included bonus points. The recent WRC 3 champion benefited from the retirement of his rival Nicolas Ciamin who was leading the category before going off the road which damaged his suspension this afternoon. The Spaniard occupies the lead with a lead of 41 seconds over Terry Folb.

The final stage of the Rally de Catalunya will begin tomorrow from 7 a.m. The event remains to be followed live with our live text.