WRC Rally Italy
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That just about does it for our live coverage of WRC Rally Italy, but there's sure to be some news stories to keep an eye on today and in the coming days.
We leave you with our comprehensive report. Join us for the Grand Prix from Canada later, and for Rally Poland at the end of the month. Ciao.
We leave you with our comprehensive report. Join us for the Grand Prix from Canada later, and for Rally Poland at the end of the month. Ciao.
Checkered flag
So, lets have a run down of the order.
SS19 powerstage:
1 Lappi 5m10.5s (five championship points)
2 Sordo +0.4s (four championship points)
3 Ogier +1.3s (three championship points)
4 Neuville +1.9s (two championship points)
5 Latvala +2.3s (one championship point)
6 Breen +5.8s
Event overall
1 Tanak
2 Latvala +12.3s
3 Neuville +1m07.7s
4 Lappi +2m12.9s
5 Ogier +3m25s
6 Hanninen +3m38s
SS19 powerstage:
1 Lappi 5m10.5s (five championship points)
2 Sordo +0.4s (four championship points)
3 Ogier +1.3s (three championship points)
4 Neuville +1.9s (two championship points)
5 Latvala +2.3s (one championship point)
6 Breen +5.8s
Event overall
1 Tanak
2 Latvala +12.3s
3 Neuville +1m07.7s
4 Lappi +2m12.9s
5 Ogier +3m25s
6 Hanninen +3m38s
Quote
Tanak is delighted, but matter of fact as always.
"What can I say, it feels good," he says. "It was a really difficult weekend. This team has been great building a new car. Martin has done a mega job this year and it feels like everything is coming together.
"What can I say happy days!"
When asked if that's the first of many, he says: "Yeah for sure. It's coming together. It looks like we have a strong team all around us and in the car too."
What next for Tanak then?
"I'm going home to have some good time with my little kids and wife. I really miss them."
Great stuff.
"What can I say, it feels good," he says. "It was a really difficult weekend. This team has been great building a new car. Martin has done a mega job this year and it feels like everything is coming together.
"What can I say happy days!"
When asked if that's the first of many, he says: "Yeah for sure. It's coming together. It looks like we have a strong team all around us and in the car too."
What next for Tanak then?
"I'm going home to have some good time with my little kids and wife. I really miss them."
Great stuff.
He's eighth on the powerstage, but who cares!
The final gap to Latvala is just 12.3s after that typical Sunday afternoon drive from Tanak in that stage.
There's an Estonian flag aloft and he and co-driver Martin Jarveoja are on the roof!
The final gap to Latvala is just 12.3s after that typical Sunday afternoon drive from Tanak in that stage.
There's an Estonian flag aloft and he and co-driver Martin Jarveoja are on the roof!
Checkered flag
OTT TANAK WINS RALLY ITALY.
It's the Estonian's first WRC win.
It's the Estonian's first WRC win.
This is the definition of nail-biting.
Stopwatch
Tanak is over six seconds down at split one but that's to be expected. He just needs to bring this home.
Quote
He probably would have won the stage had he not ran wide there.
He's furious and yanks on his belts in the car.
Still, that's second overall on the rally.
"It all went wrong in the hairpin," he says. "I'm really disappointed because the car wouldn't turn-in."
He's inconsolable.
He's furious and yanks on his belts in the car.
Still, that's second overall on the rally.
"It all went wrong in the hairpin," he says. "I'm really disappointed because the car wouldn't turn-in."
He's inconsolable.
Stopwatch
He can only manage fifth quickest, 2.3s off Lappi.
All eyes switch to rally leader, OTT TANAK.
All eyes switch to rally leader, OTT TANAK.
Latvala has run wide and lost a couple of seconds, he won't be winning the stage.
Tanak starts the stage.
Quote
Neuville is philosophical on an even he should have really won.
"I think we got a small issue with the car and we probably lost a win," he says. "I think Nicolas and I have done a great performance this weekend."
"I think we got a small issue with the car and we probably lost a win," he says. "I think Nicolas and I have done a great performance this weekend."
Jari-Matti Latvala is our penultimate driver into the stage.
Stopwatch
Crikey. He was favourite for powerstage points before the stage, and he manages just fourth.
He's 0.6s slower than Ogier, so no points taken away.
He's 0.6s slower than Ogier, so no points taken away.
Neuville just needs a decent time to secure a spot on the podium, but he'll want a powerstage win to take more points off series leader Ogier.
Stopwatch
Neuville is the closest to Sordo at the first split so far, just 0.7s slower.
Quote
Massive grin on the Finn's face as pictures show the Toyota service park applauding.
"There's more pretty fast drivers to come," says Lappi. "I gave everything. Maximum. Lets say I learned a lot in Portugal and the same amount here."
Neuville is into the stage.
"There's more pretty fast drivers to come," says Lappi. "I gave everything. Maximum. Lets say I learned a lot in Portugal and the same amount here."
Neuville is into the stage.
Stopwatch
LAPPI GOES QUICKEST!
How did he do that? He was a fair way off Sordo on the splits!
That guarantees him fourth overall. What a performance.
How did he do that? He was a fair way off Sordo on the splits!
That guarantees him fourth overall. What a performance.
Lappi is 1.3s slower than Sordo at split one, the closest person to him so far.
Lappi is well into the stage. He's won five stages on his second WRC event, including one where he had no second gear.
Stopwatch
In the end, it's comfortable, Ogier takes fifth by over 13s.
Hanninen is 19.7s slower than Sordo.
Hanninen is 19.7s slower than Sordo.
Obviously, getting excited about fifth for Ogier may seem odd, but it will mean Ogier loses just two positions to Neuville and three to Latvala, which is major for his championship assault.
This is why he's great. In adversity, he maximises the points he scores.
This is why he's great. In adversity, he maximises the points he scores.
Stopwatch
HANNINEN IS SEVEN SECONDS DOWN ON OGIER AT SPLIT ONE!
That would be enough for Ogier to steal fifth overall from the Finn.
That would be enough for Ogier to steal fifth overall from the Finn.
Quote
It doesn't look like Ostberg's dust caused Ogier any issues.
"It's not the best weekend for the championship but what can we do?" says Ogier.
On his team-mate Tanak, he says: "I hope he holds it, he's had great performances so far this season and it would be great for the team."
"It's not the best weekend for the championship but what can we do?" says Ogier.
On his team-mate Tanak, he says: "I hope he holds it, he's had great performances so far this season and it would be great for the team."
Stopwatch
Ogier arrives and he's 0.9s SLOWER than Sordo!
Will that be enough for Ogier to jump Hanninen? The Finn is in the stage.
Will that be enough for Ogier to jump Hanninen? The Finn is in the stage.
Stopwatch
Ogier is 1.8s down on Sordo at the first split. Has the Frenchman made a mistake or is this a brilliant time from Ogier?
Ostberg held up Latvala in his dust after a puncture yesterday. Surely he won't threaten Ogier's chances here?
Ogier has started the stage.
There's four minutes between cars, but this could leave dust hanging for Seb Ogier who's next up.
Remember Ogier is trying to take fifth from Hanninen on this stage.
Remember Ogier is trying to take fifth from Hanninen on this stage.
He hadn't used second gear this morning for gearbox issues, but this is much more serious. The rear right wheel is pointing inwards and that will be doing heavy damage to the car.
Crash
Mads Ostberg's rear-right wheel is broken.
Quote
Mikkelsen is giving nothing away about future outings.
"We tried to go on a good speed all morning so our tyres were probably really bad ones," says Mikkelsen. "So far it's this event, lets see what comes in the future."
"We tried to go on a good speed all morning so our tyres were probably really bad ones," says Mikkelsen. "So far it's this event, lets see what comes in the future."
Ford Fiesta privateer Mads Ostberg is into the stage now.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen drops 15.2s to Sordo's benchmark.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is over seven seconds slower than Sordo at the first split.
Quote
Sordo is happy enough with that one.
"It wasn't so bad." says Sordo. "It was really difficult but it was fun."
"It wasn't so bad." says Sordo. "It was really difficult but it was fun."
Stopwatch
He's also very quick! Sordo goes quickest by 5.4s over Breen and only 0.9s slower than his benchmark through this stage this morning.
Despite Sordo's problems, he's running ninth. He's not finished outside of the top eight since Rally Poland last year, so almost a year, when his engine went. He's a very consistent driver.
Sordo has started the stage, and won this test this morning. Can he repeat the feat?
Stopwatch
Al Rajhi completes and drops 32.2s to Breen. That's not bad, given he's in a 2016 WRC car.
By: Matt Beer
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