After a morning marked by Sébastien Ogier’s puncture, the second loop this Friday at the Rally Chile was dominated by the French, while Ott Tänalk took the lead from Elfyn Evans.
The Pulperia special had been canceled at the start of the day after the first three had passed, but this time the spectators kept their cool and all the competitors were able to complete it at racing speed. It should also be noted that the authorities will readjust the fixed times allocated to drivers who were unable to set competitive times in SS1 on the basis of the times achieved during this SS4.
With the evaporation of the humidity in the morning, even more dust is raised as the Rally1s pass by. Not enough to make the task easier for opener Thierry Neuville, who only set the sixth time, 13″9 behind an Ogier clearly in attack mode to try to get back into the match after his morning problem, the eight-time WRC champion pushing back all competition to half a dozen seconds or more The Frenchman beat Ott Tänak by 5.9 and Elfyn Evans by 10.5.
Second in the rally before the start of this special, Kalle Rovanperä paid for an error on the course: although his small exit took place at a fairly low speed, the double world champion still lost more than 15 seconds on Ogier and especially five on leader Evans. Definitely difficult special for the Finnish contingent since Esapekka Lappi for his part suffered a delamination at the right rear and concluded the special 27 seconds from the best mark.
As during the morning, the short special of 13.34 km making up the menu of SS5 was the scene of a tight hierarchy, the first eight remaining in 6″5, with a new scratch time for Ogier. On the other hand, , Neuville continued to endure his position as opener, at the wheel of a Hyundai whose handling he struggled to understand, relegated to being ten seconds behind the mark achieved by the Toyota. Compared to Evans who was further behind, Tänak took the lead in the rally.
Unfortunately, Fourmaux was six minutes late at the start of this SS5 due to an alternator problem, during the repair of which the crew damaged a pipe, therefore causing a hydraulic pressure alert. He therefore received, as the regulations provide, a time penalty of one minute. Too bad for the Frenchman who also had a very good special, with the second time only 0.2″ behind his compatriot’s mark.
Fourmaux signs his 10th career scratch
Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo de: Red Bull Content Pool
The day ended with the bravery piece of San Rosendo, on a course damaged by the multiple passages in the morning. These 23.32 km were definitely not kind to Ogier who was not able to express his full potential during this SS6, the fault of a very early problem with the hybrid system. Despite everything, he set the second fastest time in the special.
It was at Fourmaux that the scratch returned, the M-Sport driver signing an excellent special and finishing the day at 1’01, which further accentuates the regrets in the face of the problems before the previous special and the penalty suffered. accordingly. By setting the third fastest time, Evans made up time on Tänak, reducing the gap to 0.4″ before the two days remaining in this rally, while Rovanperä far from being dropped but clearly not in the lead. Ease remains a threat at 7″1.
Fourth in the special, the very serious Pajari is in contention for the podium, or even better, just 9″3 from the lead, just like Grégoire Munster, who is 10″7 seconds behind for what is his best day so far of the season, despite a small puncture for the Luxembourger in the last kilometers of this SS6.
Neuville ended the day more than 30 seconds behind his teammate and rival for the title, before a day which should be a little more lenient for him this Saturday.
During the night, however, the commissioners revised the fixed time allocation for the first special, returning the lead of the rally to Elfyn Evans by three seconds ahead of Ott Tänak.
Rally Chile – Ranking after SS6
VIDEO – Rally Chile: Friday morning summary
