WRC Sardinia: Neuville extends lead with first win of 2023 in sight
Thierry Neuville extended his Rally Sardinia lead on Sunday morning as the Hyundai driver closed in on his and the team’s first World Rally Championship victory of the season.
Despite holding a healthy 36.4s overnight lead, Neuville elected to push while the majority of his rivals opted to preserve their cars and tyres.
Heading into the final two stages of the rally, the Belgian opened up a 43.0s lead over Hyundai team-mate Esapekka Lappi, while championship leader Kalle Rovanpera maintained a lonely third, 2m11.2s adrift.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans cemented fourth ahead of Hyundai’s Dani Sordo, who completed the Rally1 field.
Conditions were at least dry for the opening stage of the day albeit held under ominous overcast skies.
The stage was won by M-Sport’s Ott Tanak, who rejoined the rally after his team was successful in fixing the electrical issue triggered by a water splash that put him out of podium contention on Saturday.
Tanak used the stage as a glorified test session to prepare for the visit to Kenya later this month.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo by: M-Sport
Not wishing to cruise through Sunday’s four stages, Neuville pushed to trail Tanak by 4.3s as the rally leader and Evans set identical stage times.
"Just a clean drive through, just to keep the lead and get through the stages. With every stage start there's less mileage to go until the victory,” said Neuville.
The majority of the Rally1 field elected to preserve their machinery for the upcoming Power Stage including Rovanpera and his returning Toyota team-mates Takamoto Katsuta and Sebastien Ogier, the latter rejoining after crashing out of the lead yesterday on stage 15.
"We are just getting it through safely and trying to save tyres for the afternoon and the rain,” said Rovanpera.
Tanak offered a glimpse of his potential Power Stage pace by winning the first pass through the test, which hosted stage 17.
The M-Sport driver was 2.3s faster than Katsuta, with Ogier 5.4s adrift in third. Rally leader Neuville again elected not to back off to clock a time only 8.4s shy of Tanak.
It was enough to further extend his overall advantage over Lappi. While the pair cemented a 1-2 at the front for Hyundai, the third car driven by Sordo developed a misfire, resulting in the Spaniard dropping 43.9s.
Sordo continued to hold fifth overall with a 1m22.2s margin over sixth-placed Adrien Fourmaux, who held a 22.1s WRC2 class lead.
A second pass through the pair of morning stages will conclude the rally.
Ogier attributes WRC Sardinia crash to muddy boot slipping off brake pedal
Ogier attributes WRC Sardinia crash to muddy boot slipping off brake pedal Ogier attributes WRC Sardinia crash to muddy boot slipping off brake pedal
WRC Sardinia: Neuville heads Hyundai 1-2 after Ogier crashes out
WRC Sardinia: Neuville heads Hyundai 1-2 after Ogier crashes out WRC Sardinia: Neuville heads Hyundai 1-2 after Ogier crashes out
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
Leclerc to start Spanish GP from pitlane as Ferrari replaces rear end
Leclerc to start Spanish GP from pitlane as Ferrari replaces rear end Leclerc to start Spanish GP from pitlane as Ferrari replaces rear end
Jakarta E-Prix: Gunther ends drought to give Maserati MSG first win
Jakarta E-Prix: Gunther ends drought to give Maserati MSG first win Jakarta E-Prix: Gunther ends drought to give Maserati MSG first win
Hickman’s 2023 Isle of Man TT “not going to plan” with Superbike “kicking me out”
Hickman’s 2023 Isle of Man TT “not going to plan” with Superbike “kicking me out” Hickman’s 2023 Isle of Man TT “not going to plan” with Superbike “kicking me out”
F3 Barcelona: Alonso protege Marti dominates for feature race win at home
F3 Barcelona: Alonso protege Marti dominates for feature race win at home F3 Barcelona: Alonso protege Marti dominates for feature race win at home
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough
How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough How Evans ended his WRC drought in sombre Croatia breakthrough
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.