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Gilbert closes on a fifth Junior WRC win
Quentin Gilbert was on course to secure his fifth FIA Junior WRC victory in six rounds after a dramatic penultimate leg of Spain’s RallyRACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada on Saturday.
The Frenchman had his overnight lead wiped out before today’s action even began when he incurred a 30sec penalty after clocking out of service late this morning with a starter motor problem. That allowed Simone Tempestini into top spot.
Gilbert’s hopes of victory looked even more distant when he dropped two minutes in the second stage changing a puncture. However, Tempestini conceded 3min 30sec with a similar problem two tests later and Gilbert was back in front.
He ended the day 1min 29.3sec ahead of Terry Folb, who overcame braking and power steering problems, with Tempestini a further 55.4sec back in third. All three are driving Citroen’s DS 3 R3-MAX cars.
Mohammed Al Mutawaa, Pierre-Louis Loubet and Federico Della Casa completed the top six, although Loubet had engine problems this morning and Della Casa stopped in the final stage.
Having already secured the Junior WRC title, Gilbert also has his sights set on lifting the WRC 3 crown and heads that category in Spain also.
