Junior WRC
Membrado withstands Lassila pressure to retain Finland lead
Gil Membrado will carry an 8.9sec FIA Junior WRC lead over home favourite Leevi Lassila into the final day of Secto Rally Finland after successfully navigating a shortened Saturday programme.
Membrado began the day 18.3sec ahead but struggled to immediately adapt to Saturday’s faster, more traditional Finnish roads. He was slowest of the five remaining crews on the opening Parkkola test, allowing Lassila to cut the gap to 11.5sec.
The Spaniard soon settled into a better rhythm, however, and limited further losses on Päijälä and Västilä to reach the end of the morning loop with a 16.3sec advantage.
Lassila remained Membrado’s closest challenger throughout the day but was not entirely comfortable on the harder surfaces. The Finn reported excessive sliding and admitted that a lack of trust in the car had occasionally left him too cautious.
Behind the leading pair, Calle Carlberg began an impressive recovery from the puncture which had cost him more than one minute on Friday.
The Swede finished just 0.4sec behind Ali Türkkan on Parkkola before winning both Päijälä and Västilä. Those victories reduced his deficit to third-placed Kerem Kazaz from 26.3sec at the start of Saturday to only 9.9sec by the end of the morning.
Türkkan also demonstrated strong pace despite his large overall deficit. He won Parkkola but suffered a front-left puncture on Päijälä, losing 52.4sec and falling almost seven minutes behind Membrado.
With SS14 cancelled, crews returned to service after only three morning stages. The second loop was also shortened when SS17 was cancelled, leaving Parkkola, Päijälä and Leustu to decide Saturday’s final order.
Türkkan dominated the afternoon, winning all three remaining stages. His pace brought little reward in the overall classification following Friday’s time loss, but the additional stage-win points could prove valuable in the championship fight.
Lassila began the afternoon by taking 2.0sec from Membrado on Parkkola, reducing the lead to 14.3sec. Membrado responded on Päijälä, where he gained 1.5sec back and restored the margin to 15.8sec.
The Finn then mounted one final charge on Leustu. He finished just 0.3sec behind stage winner Türkkan and took 6.9sec from Membrado, cutting the overnight gap to 8.9sec.
Carlberg’s consistent afternoon brought him closer to Kazaz before the podium positions changed on the final stage. Kazaz lost more than one minute on Leustu, allowing Carlberg to move into third overall.
Carlberg ends Saturday 48.0sec behind Membrado, with Kazaz now fourth at 1min 55.5sec. Türkkan remains fifth, 6min 25.5sec from the lead.
Sunday features two passes of the 30.02km Himos–Jämsä stage, leaving more than 60 competitive kilometres for Lassila to overhaul Membrado and for Carlberg to protect his newly acquired podium position.
