RallyRACC day 3: Ogier-Ingrassia (VW) take over

15/10/2016

The RACC requests spectators to collaborate in the last day of the rally, as capacity crowds are expected

Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen) made the best of their tarmac experience in a thrilling third day at the 52 RallyRACC, and demoted Dani Sordo/Marc Martí (Hyundai) by 5.8 seconds in the overall standings. Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger (Volkswagen) crashed out, and their retirement paves the way for Ogier to claim the world championship in Catalunya. He is a single point away from being crowned for the fourth consecutive year. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai) are his single threat, but only if they collect the maximum number of points available in the three remaining rounds (including the Spanish rally).

The first loop of Saturday's tarmac day ended with Dani Sordo/Marc Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC) still in the provisional lead. However, but two consecutive scratch times by Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) halved the gap between them down to 7''7 seconds after the first four special stages of the day. They seem the only ones able to fight for victory, as Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) were 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. The Querol (21.26 km) and El Montmell (21.14 km) stages were dirtier in the second pass, and that benefited Ogier, as he was opening the stages. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroën) suffered a puncture at Alcover-Capafonts and lost more than three minutes, while a broken front driveshaft in Craig Breen/Scott Martin's Citroën cost them a 2'10'' penalty in one of the time control points.

Nothing changed in the re-run of Alcover-Capafonts, Querol and El Montmell. As temperature rose, spectators filled up the roadsides to witness the fantastic duel between Dani Sordo and Sébastien Ogier. The Frenchman clocked the fastest time in all three stages, before heading back to Salou to complete the day with a short 2.24 km street stage. Ogier closed the gap on Sordo stage by stage, until he climbed to the top of the provisional standings. Andreas Mikkelsen relinquished his third place after rolling out of the leg in the first afternoon stage. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC) struggled to resist Hayden Paddon/John Kennard (Hyundai i20 WRC) attacks. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroën DS3 WRC) were a far fifth after being plagued by a collection of incidents which, by the way, did not prevent them from claiming the fastest time in Salou's special. In a long and demanding day on the Catalan tarmac, Ogier bettered Dani Sordo's time by 4.1 s and he currently leads the rally by a handsome 5.8 seconds. With hardly any possibilities to challenge for victory, Thierry Neuville is now third (+1:03.9s), and will have to hold off his Hyundai team mate, Hayden Paddon, as the Kiwi is tailing him by as little as 16 seconds. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5) leads the WRC2 series and Fabio Andolfi/Manuel Fenoli (Peugeot 208 R2) is ahead in the WRC3 championship.

Sunday will close this world championship round with two repeated stages in Pratdip (19.30 km) and Duesaigües (12.10 km). This year's power stage will be Duesaigües' second pass, and extra points (3, 2 and 1) will be afforded to the top three men to boost their positions in the overall standings. In the fourth and final leg of Rally Catalunya, 62.80 out of a total of 321.08 kilometers will be timed.

Provisional classification at the end of Day 3, 52 RallyRACC
1 - Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC), 2h.35'128
2 - Daniel Sordo/Marc Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC), + 5''8
3 - Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC), + 1'03''9
4 - Hayden Paddon/John Kennard (Hyundai i20 WRC), + 1'20''0
5 - Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroën DS3 WRC), + 1'57''9
6 - Mads Østberg/Ola Fløene (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), + 2'35''7
7 - Ott Tänak/Raigo Mölder (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), + 4'24''7
8 - Keving Abbring/Sebastian Marshall (Hyundai i20 WRC), + 6'22''7
9 - Martin Prokop/Jan Tománek (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), + 7'13''3
10 - Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (Skoda Fabia R5, 1º WRC2), + 7'41''6