Adrien Fourmaux leads Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville, after a dramatic Friday afternoon headlined by a suspected engine issue for World Rally Championship title contender Ott Tanak.
Fourmaux inherited the rally lead after Tanak hit trouble in stage six to end the day with a one second lead over Neuville, who launched an impressive fightback after a frustrating morning. Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier climbed to third [+2.3s], while championship leader Elfyn Evans dropped from the rally lead to fifth, 13.1s adrift.
“I can only be pleased because I think it is the first time we are leading a rally at the end of the first day so it is positive for us but it is a shame for Ott,” said Fourmaux.
“It is a shame for the team as it would be nice to be 1-2-3 tonight but tomorrow is going to be a different day, so let’s see.”
Damp conditions favoured those at the top of the road order in the morning, but in the afternoon the conditions were flipped as Chile’s gravel stages dried out. That meant those at the front were heavily affected by loose gravel.
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
Evans took 0.5s advantage into the afternoon loop, but his time in the lead was short-lived. The Welshman dropped 8.9s in stage four while Tanak posted the third fastest time. It was enough to vault Tanak into the lead by 6.9s over Evans.
Evans continued to lose time sweeping the road in stage five, and subsequently dropped behind the trio of Hyiundais to fourth overall. Tanak delivered a stunning drive to win the stage by 0.6s from Fourmaux and move into a 9.7s lead over his team-mate, with Neuville 4.4s behind in third.
Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team
Photo by: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
However, Tanak’s impressive run ended abruptly when his i20 N suffered a likely engine issue after a 3G impact, 5.6km into the 23.32km San Rosendo 2 stage. The Estonian was forced to pull over to the side of the road, handing Fourmaux the lead.
“We don’t have too much information but he [Ott] called on the radio to say it was an engine failure. We have no data so we will have to wait for the car to come back to service and analyse what happened,” said Hyundai technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison.
“We will try to get him out tomorrow as he only lost one stage and many things can still happen and on Sunday there are points to be given. The weather [forecasted rain] will maybe help us a bit.”
Tanak’s demise created a thrilling battle for the lead as Forumaux just hung onto the advantage from Neuville, who enjoyed a much stronger showing after handling and transmission issues in the morning led him to label his car a “nightmare”. The Belgian, who was 14.5s adrift after the morning loop, revealed the car underwent a transition and damper change in midday service.
“It was a way better afternoon but still far from good honestly, The road conditions are cleaning and when it is a clean line I somehow drive the car, but when it is loose there is no trust there,” said Neuville.
“A very challenging day but it ended on a positive note. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened to Ott but I saw the car parked on the side, it is very unfortunate for him.”
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
After admitting that he went the wrong direction on set up for the morning loop, Ogier bounced back in the afternoon. The eight-time world champion posted a blistering time to win stage six, to end Friday only 2.3s away from the lead.
Evans labelled the afternoon a “big struggle” but was able to hold fifth behind Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari, who picked up a fastest time in stage four.
Takamoto Katsuta found speed in the afternoon to complete the loop in sixth [+41.0s], ahead of M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster who enjoyed much stronger showing in his Ford Puma. Two-time world championKalle Rovanperä held eighth after losing more than a minute when he knocked a tyre off the rim in stage three while leading after winning the opening two stages.
Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
The top 10 was rounded out by WRC2 leader Oliver Solberg and M-Sport’s Josh McEelean, who lost time to a spin in stage one and a left rear puncture in stage six. Solberg’s WRC title hopes were boosted by the retirements of rivals Yohan Rossel [engine oil leak] and Gus Greensmith [engine].
However, Nikolay Gryazin remains in title contention, 10.4s behind Solberg.
Six stages comprising 139.20km await the crews on Saturday.
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