The Hyundai driver, 2nd after SS1 on Thursday, dropped back to 7th position at the end of two of the three special stages on the morning programme on Friday, 32.2 seconds behind the leader, the Dane Andreas Mikkelsen, also a Hyundai driver.
SS3 was in fact canceled due to the poor positioning of spectators on the course.
Thierry Neuville complained about the handbrake, “blocking all four wheels”.
The surprising Latvian, Martin Sesks (Ford Puma) is 2nd at 7.4. The Welshman Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris), 3rd at 11.9, completes the provisional podium before the four new special stages of the afternoon.
The Estonian Ott Tanak, who set the best time the day before in SS1, was the victim of a road accident after hitting a deer which damaged the radiator of his Hyundai. He is out for the day.
Saturday’s day will also be punctuated by seven stages, this time four in the first, including a third passage through Mikolajki Arena, and three in the second. The Polish Rally will end on Sunday with four special stages including the traditional Power Stage to finish.
The Polish Rally is making its grand return to the world championship calendar, after seven years of absence. Thierry Neuville won the last edition in 2017.
The Saint-Vithois driver approaches this meeting with the hat of leader in the world championship.
Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) was forced to withdraw after a traffic accident while on reconnaissance. He is replaced by Finland’s Kalle Rovanperä, a double world champion, who is not competing in a full championship this season.
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