Toyota is on course for a five -way success at Rallye Finland. Because the Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux had to bury their hopes for victory on Saturday after tire damage. Before the final day, Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä leads with a lead of 36 seconds.
On Saturday the driver was the driver that had to be beaten. The exams took place between moisture and drought in changing conditions. Rovanperä showed an almost perfect morning and won three of the four exams.
He missed a perfect loop because he had a creeping flat foot in WP13 (Päijälä 1) at the back right. Heavy rain started before the afternoon, making the first test extremely slippery.
Rovanperä said that the conditions were the worst that he had ever experienced in Finland, but was able to expand his lead overall in WP15 (Parkkola 2) to Neuville to almost 15 seconds. Fourmaux was at the third place.
In the next exam (WP16, Vättilä 2) everything went wrong for the Hyundai duo. Both Neuville and Fourmaux suffered tire damage at the right – and that in dry conditions. Both decided against changing tires.
Plattfoot frustration in the far north
Neuville lost 1: 38.2 minutes, Fourmaux even 1: 48.8 minutes. In this way, they slipped from places in two and three to positions six and seven. Both Neuville and Fourmaux were frustrated and could not explain the cause.
“It wasn’t even an impact, flat foot number 13 or 14 this year,” the reigning world champion is annoyed. Fourmaux adds: “I don’t know what it was. I have to check the video. I no longer have a replacement tire. The rally has run.”
Rovanperä also won the scores 17 and 18 and thus expanded his lead over his pursuers to 36.1 seconds. “A fairly big day for the team,” says the Finn about the five -time leadership of Toyota.
He himself chases his first home win: “I just try to keep the good pace. Obviously there is no reason to take risks or take something crazy – I just tried to drive quickly and take the feeling for tomorrow.”
“The Hyundais will probably be very fast tomorrow, as will my teammates, who get a big duel. We will try to get points and have a good day.”
Because in the duel for second place, Takamoto Katsuta was able to keep the eight -time world champion Sebastien Ogier behind, although the Frenchman was continuously closer to the afternoon. The distance between the two teammates is still 6.8 seconds.
Finland rally: the other pursuers
Elfyn Evans (Toyota) took the opportunity in the extremely wet WP15 and pulled past Toyota junior Sami Pajari, who did not feel comfortable in these conditions. Evans then benefited from the tire damage of the two Hyundai.
The Welsh ended the day with his Yaris fourth with 44.4 seconds behind – but only 1.5 seconds behind Ogiers. Pajari is fifth in fifth place at a minute behind. This makes the way for a possible five -axis victory of Toyota.
A disappointed Neuville completed the day as the sixth (+1: 54.7 minutes) before Fourmaux (+2: 23.7). WM leader Ott Tänak (Hyundai) also suffered tire damage in the front left in WP17. He continues his chase after a five-minute penalty.
Josh Mcerlean was the best M-Sport-Ford pilot in eighth place ahead of teammate Gregoire Munster. Martin’s Sesks initially led the team-internal fight at M-Sport, but had to stop briefly in WP15 to clean a fogged windshield.
On Sunday there are only two exams on the program: the famous and very fast Ouninpohja route over 23.98 kilometers is driven twice and decides the rally.