Thierry Neuville won the Akropolis rally. Ott Tänak, who drove second, reduced Kalle Rovanperä’s World Championship points lead.
Tomi Tuominen,
Matti Lehtisaari
14:17•Updated 16:06
Hyundai drivers celebrate a triple victory in the World Rally Championship in Greece. Belgian Thierry Neuville drove to victory, the Estonian Ott Tänak finished second and the Spaniard Dani Sordo third.
The battle for victory in the rally was practically resolved already on Sunday morning, when the Hyundai drivers received instructions to ensure the team’s triple win. However, Hyundai did not tactic Tänak to win, although they could have done so.
In any case, Tänak narrowed down significantly Kalle Rovanperän lead in the overall standings of the World Series. Rovanperä’s lead over Tänaki was 72 points before Greece. Now Rovanperä’s lead is only 53 points.
Rovanperä was left with no points in the overall competition of the Rally of Greece, but finished second in the Power Stage and thus gained four points. Tänak was the fastest on the Power Stage. The points were good, when Rovanperä’s Akropolis rally was a complete mess.
– Really important points. The point difference doesn’t look as bad as it could have looked, Rovanperä commented to Urheilu.
There are still three races left in the World Championship. The next battle will be held at the turn of September-October in New Zealand. Rovanperä will celebrate the world championship if he gets eight points more than Tänak.
– It is difficult to open the road again when we drive the first day on that rut. But hopefully we can give the car such a shock that we will be able to race with Tänak, Rovanperä predicts.
Toyota has a black World Rally
Toyota’s weekend turned into a complete disaster. Japanese Takamoto Katsuta was the only Toyota driver to reach the top ten. Katsuta’s speed was enough for sixth place.
Rovanperä fell out of the top fight already on Friday, when he suffered from his starting position and the unsuccessful adjustments of his car. The final nail came on Saturday morning, when Rovanperä hit a tree and wrecked his car.
Video: Rovanperä’s dramatic moments on Saturday
Technical problems ruined Lapland’s competition
Esapekka Lappi was tied for second place until technical woes marred his race on Saturday. Problems with the car’s gas supply forced Lapland to stop. Lapland returned to the fight on Sunday, even though it had sunk far from the top.
– Already in the shakedown, we saw that our ride was not enough at all. But we were somehow able to grind along until we stopped on Saturday, Lappi said.
Toyota’s misfortunes continued on Sunday morning. Elfyn Evans chased fourth place but retired with turbo failure.
– Not catastrophic, but a bad weekend. Our performance was not good, and we still had technical problems. Yes, there was something to learn from this, Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala admitted.
The only Finnish winner of the World Cup Rally was Emil Lindholm. Lindholm, driving a Skoda, was number one in the Rally2 class.
RESULTS OF THE AKROPOLIS RALLY
1. Thierry Neuville Hyundai 3.34.52.0
2. Ott Tänak Hyundai + 15.0
3. Dani Sordo Hyundai + 1.49.7
4. Pierre-Louis Loubet Ford + 3.42,2
5. Craig Breen Ford + 4.09.0
6. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota + 6.21,1
7. Emil Lindholm Skoda + 7.46,6
8. Nikolai Grjaz’s Skoda + 8.22,7
9. Alexandros Tsouloftas Volksw. +10.53.8
10. Eyvind Brynildsen’s Skoda +10.56,7
WORLD SERIES SITUATION (10/13)
1. Kalle Rovanperä FIN Toyota 207
2. Ott Tänak EST Hyundai 154
3. Thierry Neuville BEL Hyundai 131
4. Elfyn Evans WAL Toyota 116
5. Takamoto Katsuta JPN Toyota 100
SITUATION OF MANUFACTURERS
1. Toyota 404
2. Hyundai 341
3. Ford 214
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Rovanperä in shock on the Power Stage, team manager Latvala comments on Toyota’s collapse – follows the World Rally Championship
Kalle Rovanperä collapsed dramatically – “This weekend went pretty far under the bench”