Sordo/Martí (Hyundai) fend off Ogier/Ingrassia's (VW) attack

15/10/2016

The first loop of Saturday's tarmac day ended with Dani Sordo/Marc Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC) still in the first provisional position, but two consecutive fastest times by Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) reduced the difference by half and it is now 7''7 seconds. They seem the only ones able to fight for victory, as Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) are already 45''1 behind.

The day started with two consecutive fastest times at Vilaplana (6,28 km) and Alcover-Capafonts (19,93 km) by Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Volkswagen), who returned to the race after a suspension failure yesterday when the Finnish driver cut a corner. All the Hyundai cars had understeering problems and the Querol (21,26 km) and El Montmell (21,14 km) stages were dirtier than the first, which benefited Ogier. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroën) suffered a puncture at Alcover-Capafonts and lost more than three minutes, while a broken front transmission axe in Craig Breen/Scott Martin's Citroën cost them a 2'10'' penalty in one of the time control points.

This afternoon there will be a second pass through Alcover-Capafonts, Querol and El Montmell, and the day will finish with the Salou street stage (2,24 km), set along Salou's seafront.

Clasificación provisional Día 3 del 52 RallyRACC
1 - Daniel Sordo/Marc Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC), 1h57'46''2
2 - Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC), +7''7
3 - Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger (Volkswagen Polo R WRC), +45''1
4 - Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC), +55''5
5 - Hayden Paddon/John Kennard (Hyundai i20 WRC), +1'08''4