First change: Last change:
AUCKLAND (AFP) – Estonian Ott Tänak (Hyundai) overtook championship leader Finnish Kalle Rowanpere (Finnish Kalle Rowanpere) at the New Zealand Rally, round 11 of the World Championship (WRC), after a highly controversial second day this Friday. 4th), may be crowned champion on Sunday.
Tänak led three Toyota drivers; British elfin Evans (2/10 of a second), Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (6 seconds and 7/10), and Rowanbere (7 seconds and 2/10), who won two places.
Eight-time world champion and semi-retired Sebastien Ogier, who wrote a superb fifth stage, briefly led the rally but lost time when he tore off part of his rear wing when he hit a branch. Five places up from day one and still on the podium.
Leading after the second and third stages, Ireland’s Craig Breen (Ford) went off the road in fifth, losing 18 minutes before retiring with mechanical failure.
–Rally New Zealand Provisional Classification:
1. Ott Tänak – Martin Järveoja (EST/Hyundai) in 1:36:48.6
2. Elfin Evans – Scott Martin (GBR/Toyota) +0.2
3. Sebastien Ogier – Benjamin Veillas (FRA/Toyota) +6.7
4. Kalle Rowanbera – Jon Haltunen (FIN/Toyota) +7.2
5. Gus Greensmith – Jonas Anderson (GBR-SWE/M-Sport Ford) +43.8
6. Thierry Neuville – Martijn Wiedeke (BEL/Hyundai) +45.6
7. Oliver Solberg – Elliot Edmondson (SWE-GBR/Hyundai) +1:28.3
8. Takamoto Katsuda – Aaron Johnston (JPN-IRL/Toyota) +1:42.
9. Hayden Baden – John Kennard (NZL/Hyundai/WRC2) +5:07.
10. Lorenzo Bertelli – Lorenzo Granai (ITA/Ford) +5:41.4
© 2022 AFP
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