WRC3
Bruun in charge of WRC3 after Friday in Paraguay
Nataniel Bruun avoided the drama that struck many of his rivals on Friday at ueno Rally del Paraguay to build a commanding WRC3 lead.
The Bolivian claimed three stage wins in his Ford Fiesta Rally3 on the way to establishing a 58.9sec advantage over Frenchman Ghjuvanni Rossi.
Rossi could well have been leading overnight had he not incurred a 1min 10sec penalty for checking in late to SS4 after making repairs to his Fiesta on the road section following SS3.
The penalty initially dropped the 25-year-old from second to third behind Dean Mascarenhas, but by the completion of the day-ending Autódromo test he had regained the runner-up spot and opened a 45.4sec cushion over his Indian rival.
A penalty stood between Ghjuvanni Rossi and the overnight lead in WRC3
© At World
Eric Royère was the only other WRC3 competitor to complete Friday, the Frenchman ending the day 3min 37.9sec behind third-placed Mascarenhas.
Peruvian André Martínez suffered a broken subframe after striking a rock on SS2, forcing his early retirement. He completed his parc fermé check-in later in the day, however, indicating that a Saturday restart could be on the cards.
Indian veteran Dean Mascarenhas completed Friday in podium position
© At World
Countryman Eduardo Castro retired as early as SS1 with engine damage and will not restart, instead turning his attention to preparing the car for Rally Chile Bio Bío in two weeks’ time.
Naveen Pulligilla also failed to reach the overnight halt after the Indian crashed his Fiesta 28.1km into SS3.
