P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sébastien Ogier delivered a near-perfect performance to lead Hyundai Motorsport rival Ott Tänak after Friday’s opening leg at Rally Italia Sardegna. Ogier capitalised on his more favourable road position to win two of the four stages in his Toyota GR Yaris, opening an early 4.5sec advantage over i20 N driver Tänak. The Frenchman’s only blot […]
Ogier took advantage of his better starting position to win two stages with his Toyota GR Yaris, building a 4.5-second lead over Tänak in the i20 N. Despite a cautious start in Sedini-Castelsardo, where he lost time conserving tires, Pirelli’s hard compound tires held up well in the hot and rocky conditions of Sardinia. Tänak, despite losing hybrid boost at times, secured second place, his best start of the season. Sordo claimed third after Adrien Fourmaux’s tire issue, with Katsuta finishing fourth for Toyota. Neuville and Evans faced difficulties, finishing fifth and sixth respectively after struggling with grip on the sandy roads. Pajari led the WRC2 category and overall 8th position, showcasing a strong performance throughout the rocky stages.
