Tanak leads RallyFinland by an extended margin after Saturday morning, but rain has brought WRC points leader and wet weather specialist Rovanpera into play Full report:
Tanak increased an overnight 3.8s advantage over Lappi into a 9.5s lead at the end of a wet Saturday morning loop of gravel stages.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville made the most of mistakes from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta and M-Sport’s Craig Breen to rise to fifth, as the Irishman retired for the second rally in a row after sustaining damage on Stage 12. The rain intensified for the next test, which suited Rovanpera given the Finn has been the class of the field this year when conditions become slippery. The Finn duly delivered his first stage win of the rally, which put him ahead of Evans into third overall.
Stage 12 proved to be a disastrous one for Breen, who crashed out of the rally while occupying fifth position. The Irishman misjudged a crest, resulting in his Puma hitting a grass bank littered with rocks that ripped the right rear wheel from his car and ended his day prematurely. However, Rovanpera was still 1.7s faster than Lappi while Evans was third fastest. Tanak was fourth quickest after a surviving a small moment that cost him 1.6s to Lappi.
“It was a good stage with no real moments,” said Tanak. “I was in a very good rhythm and it was all we could do.”
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