Belgian Thierry Neuville and Estonian Ott Tanak were yesterday to battle into the final day of the Rally of Poland after leading the way on Saturday.
Hyundai’s Neuville won three of the day’s specials — SS14, SS15, SS18 — to lead Ford Fiesta’s Tanak by 3.1 seconds, with New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon third in a Hyundai at 25.5 seconds.
“Will I be able to hold off Tanak tomorrow? We’ll see,” said Neuville of an unpredictable rain-hit race with the sixth stage canceled due to dangerous conditions.
Photo: AFP
“We don’t have a big time advantage so we can’t take it easy Sunday. Victory is still open and I know that Ott will be chasing right behind us,” the Belgian said.
After the rain of Friday, the sun came out, but it was not the end of problems for the drivers as the rally headed north toward the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
The 29-year-old Neuville — winner in France and Argentina this year — sustained a puncture in SS16 allowing Tanak to grab a lead of 15 seconds.
However, Tanak then lost his right wing and had to navigate the following two specials at reduced speed, allowing Neuville to recapture the advantage after SS18.
Four-time defending world champion Sebastien Ogier slipped to 1min 32 seconds behind Neuville in fourth place.
Ogier, whose world championship lead is under threat from Neuville, damaged his Ford Fiesta as early as the day’s second special SS12, losing more than 30 seconds as he skidded off the road.
Handicapped by the damage to his car he lost further time.
Jari-Matti Latvala also suffered during SS16. The Finn was third and less than 15 seconds off the leader when his Toyota pulled up with mechanical problems.
“We are very disappointed, but this is part of the rally and we have to accept it,” Latvala later said on Twitter.
Neuville and Tanak were to battle four stages for victory yesterday.
Tanak is looking to make it two wins in a row after claiming his maiden victory in Sardinia last time out.
However, he remains wary after a puncture in slippery and muddy conditions on the penultimate stage last year cost him victory.
“Anything is possible,” the Estonian said.
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