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| Mikko Hirvonen extending its lead from increasingly |
The penultimate day of the Sardinia Rally is over and Mikko Hirvonen was able to extend his lead over the chasing Evgeny Novikov and Ott Tanak continues. The Citroen driver is with a total time of 3:10:51,7 hours now comfortable with 1:28,2 minutes on top. Finns separated from his first victory with the French team, only the examination Gallura, which is run through with their 8.24 kilometers on Sunday twice.
"It was a long day and I had to be really careful," concluded Hirvonen together on Saturday. Everything went well and now he had the time on Sunday to make a wide berth to all rocks. "It's not over yet, but it looks good and we have to do tomorrow really no pressure." Accordingly, he will no longer be on the final power stage everything. "I need those points are not, so I'll just try to reach the end of the rally," said Hirvonen.
Evgeny Novikov is in Sardinia before his second podium finish in the WRC, and it also wants to tackle loose. "Before the rally, I already knew that it is a very difficult event and you do not have to do the whole time pressure," said the Russian. His teammate Tanak experienced a difficult day because his car felt like a hot rod of the group N. "I felt every stone," said the Estonian, who wants to hold at all costs his first podium.
Östberg feels fighting spirit
The battle between Chris Atkinson and Mads Ostberg to fourth place before the final day also seems settled. The Ford driver got away on the afternoon with two personal bests and a place in the top-3 continues from Atkinson and is now 46.1 seconds in front. "It's a good result, so I'm happy to be back in fourth place to be," enthused Östberg, but the squints slightly on the podium. "A small part of me wants to continue to apply pressure, but we need these points for the championship." To the last podium place, and thus his fellow Ott Tanak yet to begin, but he would have to make up for one and a half minutes.
Between the two duelists Östberg and Atkinson could even go again Sebastien Ogier, which was due to problems at the Australian Mini. On the seventh and eighth without changes are the second VW driver Andreas Mikkelsen and Ford man Martin Prokop.
In the rear of the field to Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg work slowly up again. While the latter on Saturday morning back in the top-10 started and is currently in ninth place, Latvala is ranked at the 15th Rank one. Ford driver Karl Kruuda that closes it behind Solberg, the top-10, was not surprised that the pilot plant it cashed. "It was logical that he would be pushed in front of me," said Kruuda clarified.
Result after the second leg:
- Mikko Hirvonen, Citroen 3:10:51.7
- Evgeny Novikov, M-Sport Ford +1:28,2
- Ott Tanak, M-Sport Ford +2:20,6
- Mads Ostberg, Ford +3:48,3
- Sebastien Ogier, Skoda Fabia +4:30,5
- Chris Atkinson, mini +4:34,4
- Andreas Mikkelsen Skoda Fabia +6:06,2
- Martin Prokop, Czech Ford +9:18,9
- Petter Solberg, Ford +10:15,0
- Karl Kruuda, Ford +10:56,6
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