Rally Ypres: Ott Tänak triumphs, Neuville takes 3 more points in Power Stage

The 34-year-old Tänak started the final day as leader and did not relinquish his first place in the last four special stages. He won by 5 seconds ahead of Welshman Elfyn Evans (Toyota). The Finn Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) completed the podium at 1:41.6.

For the 2019 world champion, it is the 17th WRC victory, the third this season after his victories in Sardinia and Finland.

Thierry Neuville was in the lead on Saturday when he went off the track in the penultimate stage of the day and had to retire. Finally he finished Sunday at 19:50.5 from Tänak. World Cup leader Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) crashed in the second stage of the day on Friday. The Finn did win the closing Power Stage on Sunday, ahead of Evans and Neuville. The Oostkantonner took three more points. In the World Cup standings, Rovanperä is 72 points ahead of Tänak with 203 points. Evans (116 pts) climbs over Neuville (106 pts) into third.

The next World Cup round is the Acropolis Rally, scheduled for September 8-11 in Greece.