Sebastien Ogier has regained the lead in Rally Italy Sardinia after facing challenges from Adrien Fourmaux, whose victory bid in the World Rally Championship fell short.
Ogier increased his lead to 7.4s over Fourmaux following a strong performance in the morning’s first test on Saturday, but an unfortunate incident on stage 8 caused him to lose time.
Fourmaux encountered a rock that was not in his pace notes, leading to a front-right puncture that forced him to change the wheel during the stage. This allowed Ogier to catch up, although visibility was hampered by dust.
After an appeal and a calculated nominal time adjustment, Ogier reclaimed the lead from Ott Tanak, who had initially benefited from the situation.
Kalle Rovanpera moved into third place after Fourmaux’s mishap, showcasing improved performance with overnight set-up changes. The rally continued with challenges for other drivers, such as Tanak’s tire issue and Pajari’s consistent performance.
Overall, the competition in Rally Italy Sardinia remained intense as drivers faced various obstacles and strategic decisions throughout the stages.
