P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It was a brutal day in Sardinia – thrilling, but brutal. Overnight leader Sebastian Ogier elected to take just one spare tyre, a strategy that backfired almost immediately in Saturday’s first stage when he developed a slow puncture, leaving the eight-time WRC Champion to nurse his tyres over the three increasingly rough stages before hitting […]
Sebastian Ogier, the overnight leader, opted to carry just one spare tyre, which proved to be a risky move as he encountered a slow puncture on Saturday’s first stage. Ott Tanak’s Hyundai i20N claimed the fastest time in that crucial stage, allowing him to take the overall lead by a mere 0.1 seconds. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville, the championship leader, surged into third position, 35 seconds behind the lead but comfortably ahead of Elfyn Evans. Ogier fought back in the following stage, reclaiming the lead by 2.2 seconds. Despite facing tire concerns in stage seven, Tanak regained the lead by 2.2 seconds. Ogier dominated with a fresh set of Pirelli rubber, securing a 17.1-second lead heading into the final day. Neuville’s mishap in stage eight forced him out of the rally, while Katsuta’s transmission issues ended his impressive third-place run. Dani Sordo moved up to third, with Evans close behind in fourth, aiming to capitalize on Neuville’s misfortune. Sami Pajari widened his WRC2 lead significantly, but Rossel’s remarkable comeback from 15th to second showcased outstanding driving skills, gaining almost 1 minute and 20 seconds on Pajari and claiming victory in every stage.
