WRC
Neuville crashes out of Rally Italia Sardegna
Thierry Neuville’s Rally Italia Sardegna victory challenge came to a dramatic end on Saturday afternoon.
The Hyundai driver went off on SS11, handing Oliver Solberg a commanding rally lead but delivering a timely boost to championship leader Elfyn Evans.
Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe started the 24.14km Lerno – Sa Conchedda – Monti di Alà test just 2.7sec behind Solberg after the Swede had overhauled them during Saturday's opening loop. Their fight ended abruptly, however, when the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 went off near the beginning of the stage and was unable to continue.
The incident transformed both the rally classification and the complexion of the three-way title fight.
Solberg, who was third-fastest through the stage, suddenly found himself 36.6sec clear at the head of the field. Sébastien Ogier climbed to second after claiming his first stage win of the rally with a time 1.7sec quicker than Adrien Fourmaux, who moved into the final podium position, 55.7sec behind Solberg.
But while Neuville’s exit gave Solberg significantly more breathing space in his pursuit of victory, it also played into Evans’ hands in the championship battle.
Sami Pajari and Evans were each promoted one position to fourth and fifth respectively. Evans had arrived at the afternoon loop holding a provisional four-point championship advantage over Solberg, but his move into fifth increased that virtual margin to six points. Pajari also gained ground by climbing to fourth.
Evans sits 2min 12.6sec behind rally leader Solberg, with Pajari 1min 20.1sec adrift in fourth. Fourmaux, meanwhile, is now Hyundai’s leading representative in third.
The championship picture remains far from settled. Two stages remain on Saturday before Sunday’s decisive final leg, where a further 10 bonus points are available across Super Sunday and the Wolf Power Stage.
