Rally Poland: Sebastien Ogier extends lead despite road position
Sebastien Ogier confounded his World Rally Championship rivals' expectations again by inching away in the Rally Poland lead while running first on the road on Saturday morning
For the first time all season, there were no Rally 2 runners on day two to clean the road ahead of WRC leader Ogier.
With Andreas Mikkelsen only 2.1 seconds behind Ogier overnight, the champion was in a vulnerable position.
But despite in theory being disadvantaged, Ogier won two of the morning's four stages.
Mikkelsen initially complained that he was losing time due to poor visibility as dust from cars ahead hung in the air.
Organisers increased the gaps between cars from two to three minutes in response, but still Mikkelsen could not get on terms with Ogier.
By the end of the morning, the Frenchman was 7.2s clear in the lead.
Ott Tanak won the loop's other two stages in the M-Sport Ford, and he would've had a hat-trick but for a spin early on the Mazury opener.
He recovered to move one tenth of a second ahead of the muted Jari-Matti Latvala's VW for third heading for service.
Robert Kubica also spun on the first stage, but the home driver continues in seventh place behind the Hyundais of Hayden Paddon and Thierry Neuville.
Both Paddon and Neuville got among the VWs on stage pace at times. They are now 12.2s apart.
Kris Meeke remains eighth, while his Citroen team-mate Mads Ostberg is at least pulling away from Dani Sordo's Hyundai in ninth.
Outside the top 10, Elfyn Evans became the event's first World Rally Car retirement with a broken water pump on his M-Sport Ford.
Hyundai's fourth driver Kevin Abbring had to remove much of his car's front bodywork to prevent overheating after sustaining damage on an SS12 jump and then went off the road on the next stage, dropping him to 16th overall.
Esapekka Lappi continues to dominate WRC2 in the new Skoda, and he is only 34s behind 11th-placed Martin Prokop's WRC Ford.
RALLY STANDINGS
-
Previous article
Rally Poland: Ogier leads after brake problems halt Tanak's charge
Next article
WRC Rally Poland: Sebastien Ogier fends off Andreas Mikkelsen
Rally Belgium: Sunday Afternoon Highlights
Vodafone Rally de Portugal Friday afternoon recap
Croatia Rally SS5-SS8
WRC Croatia Rally 2021 Teaser
Does Neuville have a point with his Rally1 rant?
OPINION: Thierry Neuville's diatribe against the upcoming Rally1-spec machines that will usher in the World Rally Championship's new hybrid era was remarkable in an era where drivers are usually reticent to air their views in public. But are the Belgian's concerns about speed, safety and cost entirely valid?
How the WRC's new flying Finn reached new heights in the Greek mountains
After Kalle Rovanpera’s historic feat at Rally Estonia, the Finn scaled new heights at the Rally of the Gods with a commanding victory. And this time Toyota’s young star demonstrated why the future is bright with his devastating speed and consistency at the Acropolis Rally
The WRC drivers that came of age at the Acropolis Rally
Five drivers have won first time out at the Rally Acropolis, transcending the tough dirt and gravel Greek roads to cement a place in rallying folklore. Here are three of the first-time winners' tales
Understanding Suninen’s sudden WRC exit gamble
From being considered a likely contender to drive the next-generation M-Sport Ford Puma in 2022, Teemu Suninen's abrupt exit has created plenty of questions. The Finn's bid to become his country's next World Rally Championship winner won't be furthered by being sidelined, but there may be reason behind the decision
Could Spa’s cameo offer the WRC a new avenue to exploit?
OPINION: The Ypres Rally featured a cameo from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in its final stage, giving WRC teams the chance to experience its iconic corners in rallying machinery. It proved to be an engaging addition to the rally, and could perhaps serve as an example for other events to visit famous circuits
How Hyundai's home hero delivered overdue WRC success in Belgium
With limited recent fortune and pressure starting to mount, Hyundai needed a big result at the Ypres Rally. All the key components came together in Belgium to see home hero Thierry Neuville lead a manufacturer 1-2 and kickstart its World Rally Championship challenge
The new car that can resurrect Ford's WRC winning pedigree
M-Sport has become the first to unveil its new-for-2022 hybrid World Rally Championship challenger, the Puma Rally1. Ford has upped its support in a bid for glory, but can the new machine roll back the years and return the Blue Oval to the top of the WRC tree?
The rookie WRC driver aiming to continue Loeb and Ogier's legacies
French drivers have dominated the World Rally Championship across the past two decades; Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier have racked up the titles in commanding fashion. With Ogier calling it a day on full-time WRC competition from next year, France will pin its long-term hopes on rookie Adrien Fourmaux, who looks to have a bright future.
