SS19: Trouble
for Sordo

Stage data: SS19, Haguenau 1 (5.74 kilometres)

Stage description:
By Citroen Junior World Rally Team co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul: “This used to be the Power Stage. It’s a bit faster than the Mulhouse town stage but there are still lots of barriers to avoid. If you take a big risk in this stage you can have a big problem, you have to be clever.”

How the action unfolded:
Dani Sordo’s bid for fourth place on Rallye de France Alsace is over after the powersteering failed on his Prodrive MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

The Spaniard was in fifth overall, 3.6s behind Thierry Neuville, starting the Haguenau stage but has now slipped down the order after going 49.6s slower than stage winner Neuville through the street test.

“The powersteering is broken in the stage,” said Sordo. “Before the stage it felt strange, really heavy but in the startline it was completely gone. I try to fix it but I don’t know if I can continue [with no service].”

Rally leader Sebastien Loeb completed his hometown stage 5.0s down on Neuville as he continues to adopt a cautious approach in his factory Citroen. Mads Ostberg has moved ahead of Sordo into fifth place as a result of the MINI driver’s delay.