ROSSEL TOPS WRC2 CONTEST

On a weekend when there was plenty of discussion regarding the merits of Rally2 potentially being the future pathway for the World Rally Championship, WRC2 showcased the entertainment it can deliver courtesy of a three-way victory fight that ended in a final-stage showdown.

Citroen driver and local favourite Yohan Rossel snatched the win in the most dramatic of circumstances thanks to a blistering run up the famous Col de Turini final stage.

The Frenchman had started the final day in third behind Skoda driver Pepe Lopez and 6.9s adrift of Citroen team-mate and leader Nikolay Gryazin. The trio had been locked in a rally-long fight since Thursday.

Lopez grabbed the lead at the end of Thursday, but after stage two the lead swapped eight times between the Spaniard and Gryazin. Gryazin took a 0.2s advantage into Sunday’s three stages but this was where Rossel, who held third for the majority of the rally, came to the fore.

A stunning victory on the penultimate stage lifted Rossel to second, 0.9s behind Lopez, to set up a final-stage showdown. Rossel ensured that there was a homegrown winner for the crowd to cheer by beating Lopez to the tune of 4.9s to snatch a remarkable victory.

“It’s crazy,” said Rossel. “My tyres were completely dead. It’s an incredible feeling.”

The defeated Lopez added: “It’s a pity not to win this rally because we fought a lot, but it is what it is. We did our best.”

Gryazin was left to settle for third, 11.4s behind the second-placed Fabia but ahead of Hyundai driver Nicolas Ciamin. Sami Pajari, driving the new Toyota GR Yaris

Rally2 on its WRC debut, came home in fifth. The Finn showed flashes of speed driving Rally2’s latest contender.

Pajari led fellow Toyota drivers Stephane Lefebvre and Jan Solans. Oliver Solberg won four of Friday’s six stages before a double puncture on Saturday ended the Skoda ace’s hopes.