According to teammate Sordo, Ogier in Toyota chases
ALGHERO. The Rally Italia Sardegna begins with an absolute domination of Ott Tanak. The Estonian driver of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team at the wheel of the i20 WRC sailed by Martin Jarveoja, won all four tests held in the morning of the first stage of the Italian race of the FIA World Rally Championship, organized by the Automobile Club of Italy with the support of the Sardinia Region.
Behind him, in comeback, the Spaniard Dani Sordo, also on the Hyundai i20 WRC, who after the first test has definitely raised the pace, managing to climb several positions to finish second. Third provisional place for Sebastien Ogier, the French world champion of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT at the wheel of the Yaris WRC, aware of the difficulties of starting first on Sardinian soil.
Belgian Thierry Neuville, in the i20 WRC, settles into fourth position after a difficult start. Fifth was the Japanese Takamoto Katsuta, increasingly familiar with his Toyota Yaris WRC. On the other hand, Teemu Suninen pays the first time with the Ford Fiesta WRC, sidelined, while Kalle Rovanpera stopped on the fourth special due to damage to the front right suspension of the Toyota Yaris WRC. In WRC 2 the Norwegian Mads Otsberg is in command, who with the Citroen C3 of the TRT World Rally Team won three of the four races.
The third time was won by the other Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen on Skoda Fabia EVO, the Toksport driver then overturned on the SS 4 and lost precious time. Partial classification: 1 Tanak (Hyundai) in 44’27 «4; 2 Sordo (Hyundai) +16 »9; 3 Ogier (Toyota) at + 18 «7; 4 Neuville (Hyundai) at 35.1; 5 Katsuta (Toyota) at 40 «3. (HANDLE).