P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hyundai WRC part-timer Andreas Mikkelsen (above) found himself leading an FIA World Rally Championship round for the first time since 2019, heading Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera by just 1.8s after Frida…
Andreas Mikkelsen, the part-timer for Hyundai in the WRC, took the lead in a FIA World Rally Championship round for the first time since 2019, holding a narrow 1.8-second advantage over Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera at the end of Friday’s opening leg of Rally Poland. The top five drivers were separated by just 7.7 seconds after a fast-paced day on gravel roads with high temperatures. Mikkelsen excelled on an event he has previously won, setting the pace and building a lead before facing strong competition from Toyota drivers Rovanpera and Evans. Despite facing intense competition, Mikkelsen expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged the need to make adjustments for the following day. Rovanpera, who was not initially planning to compete in this event, delivered an impressive drive and narrowly edged out his Toyota teammate Evans, demonstrating his adaptability and skill on the challenging rally course. Overall, the competition was fierce with notable performances from various drivers like Martins Sesks, who made a promising Rally1 debut, and Adrien Fourmaux, who showcased strong driving in a more powerful Ford Puma Rally1 vehicle.
