Ogier back in the race after win
Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier (France) has powered his way back into contention to claim a sixth title as the exciting three-way battle for the 2018 World Rally Championship heads towards its last two events.
Ogier defeated a strong Toyota challenge at a muddy WRC Wales Rally GB last weekend, climbing from fifth place after gearbox issues during the opening leg in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta to take a 10.6secs victory over Toyota’s JariMatti Latvala (Finland).
It was Ogier’s fourth victory of the season but his first since the Tour de Corse in April.
Hyundai’s championship leader Thierry Neuville (Belgium) lost time in a ditch on day two and finished back in fifth place while Toyota’s Ott Tanak (Estonia) was forced to retire with radiator damage while holding a commanding lead.
Ogier’s win puts him just seven points behind Neuville ahead of the remaining events in Spain and Australia while Tanak is now 21 points behind in the title race.
Tanak won five of the opening day stages to build a 28.8secs lead over Neuville. He pushed the advantage out to more than 40secs early on Saturday and appeared to be en route to a fourth consecutive win of the season when a broken sump guard resulted in a damaged radiator.
With Tanak’s demise Ogier regained the rally lead during the second day and held an advantage of just 4.4secs over Latvala at the end of the demanding 15-hour run through central Wales.
An early charge put Latvala into a narrow lead on Sunday morning but Ogier responded and his spectacular pace on the two runs through the tarmac Great OrmeLlandudno Julien Ingrassia (left) and Sebastien Ogier celebrate their fifth victory in WRC Wales Rally GB. stage proved decisive in his narrow win.
Ogier’s win and third fastest time on the Power Stage earned him 28 points in Wales while Neuville’s fifth placing and fourth on the Power Stage gained 12 points. Tanak returned for the Sunday stages and salvaged 4pts from second fastest time in the Power Stage.
Neuville retains the lead of the Driver’s title standings with 189pts from Ogier on 182 and Tanak with Sebastien Ogier on his way to victory in his Ford Fiesta WRC.