RallyRACC 2022: Victory for Sébastien Ogier - Benjamin Veillas (Toyota Yaris Hybrid)

23/10/2022

PortAventura World, Salou (Tarragona), 23-10-2022 - The French team formed by Sébastien Ogier - Benjamin Veillas (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid) conquered the overall victory in the 57 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España 2022, penultimate round of the FIA World Championship that has taken place during the weekend in Salou, PortAventura World and the Costa Daurada. 8-times World Champion Ogier's triumph is the fourth of the 38-year-old French driver in the Spanish race.

The other two podium places were for Thierry Neuville - Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid) and Kalle Rovanperä - Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid), recently proclaimed 2022 World Champions. Thierry Neuville was the winner of the last two editions of the RallyRACC. Dani Sordo - Cándido Carrera (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid) finished fifth, behind their teammates Tänak-Järveoja.

The teams that took the final podium have been those who actually dominated the entire race, especially Sébastien Ogier - Benjamin Veillas (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid), a duo that closed each of the days in first position and that has gathered added 8 fastest times in total. Also Thierry Neuville - Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid) and Kalle Rovanperä - Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid) were in the lead at some point during the stages, distributing the rest of the fastest times, 4 for Neuville and Rovanperä, to which must be added 2 for Dani Sordo - Candido Carrera (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid) and 1, tied with Neuville, for Ott Tänak.

Today everything has been similar to what has happened in the previous two days. Sordo-Carrera added their second fastest time in Pratdip-1, a section in which Neuville-Wydaeghe got more than 3" closer to Ogier-Veillas. The Belgian duo achieved the scratch in Riudecanyes-1 and the French won in Pratdip-2, leaving the rally almost decided with just the Wolf Power Stage left, with an advantage of 15 "8 for the leading Ogier over Neuville and more than 32 "7 over Rovanperä. Riudecanyes-2, the final stage, saw the Sébastien Ogier of the best days, winning the stage and rounding off a great victory.

The 57th RallyRACC included 19 timed stages and 293.8 competitive km, although one of them was cancelled due to the road being blocked by an accident. The good features of the roads in the area were combined with slippery sectors and even occasional rain, concocting a rather difficult rally in which there have been some off-road excursions.

In the WRC2 category, the final winner was the duo of Teemu Suninen - Mikko Markkula (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), followed by Yohan Rossel - Arnaud Dunand (Citroën C3 Rally2) and Nikolay Gryazin - Konstantin Aleksandrov (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), with the ninth place for the Spanish Jan Solans - Rodrigo Sanjuán (Citroën C3 Rally2). In WRC3 the first position was for Lauri Joona - Mikael Korhonen (Ford Fiesta Rally3). Finally, in RGT the winners were Emmanuel Guigou - Jules Escartefigue (Alpine A110).

The RallyRACC 2022 ends after receiving 107 cars at the start, 90 at the end and a large number of spectators following the rally. It is an important sporting success that exceeded expectations and will go down in history as one of the most remarkable editions.

In addition to the Salou City Council and PortAventura World theme park, the event had the collaboration of several institutions like the Diputació de Tarragona, the Patronat de Turisme de la Costa Daurada, the Patronat de Turisme de Salou and the Secretaria General de l'Esport de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

Final overall classification of the 57 RallyRACC
1. Sébastien Ogier/Benjamin Veillas (F) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid, 2h.44'43"9
2. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (B) Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, +16"4
3. Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid, +34"5
4. Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (EST) Hyundai i20 N Rally Hybrid, +44"0
5. Dani Sordo/Cándido Carrera (E) Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, +1'16"5
6. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (GB) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid, +1'51"1
7. Takamoto Katsuta (JPN)/Aaron Johnston (IRL) Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid, 2'19"1
8. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (F) Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, +2'38"4
9. Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (IRL) Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, +2'43"0
10. Pierre-Louis Loubet/Vicent Landais (F) Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, +3'25"1