WRC
Ogier heads Toyota top-five sweep after disrupted Canarias morning
Sébastien Ogier led a Toyota top five lockout after a shortened Friday morning at Rally Islas Canarias, where one stage cancellation did little to slow the Japanese manufacturer’s early dominance.
The nine-time world champion was fastest on both completed mountain stages to open a 5.9sec advantage over team-mate Sami Pajari, with Elfyn Evans just 0.1sec further back in third.
Oliver Solberg completed the loop fourth overall, 6.5sec from the lead, while Thursday night leader Takamoto Katsuta slipped to fifth in his GR Yaris Rally1.
Friday began with the 13.13km Valleseco - Artenara test, where Ogier edged Solberg by 0.5sec to move into the rally lead. He then stretched his advantage on Mogán - La Aldea, beating Evans by 4.2sec on the 21.70km stage.
Even after his second stage win, Ogier admitted there was still room to improve aboard his GR Yaris Rally1.
“The corners are pretty good with the Toyota,” he said. “I’m not happy with the car in here to be honest, or maybe the tyre. There was a bit of understeer.”
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The morning’s second scheduled stage, Tejeda - San Mateo, was cancelled before crews could tackle it, seeing them instead redirected to SS4
Hyundai endured a tougher morning, with Dani Sordo the best of its i20 N Rally1 runners in sixth overall on his first WRC appearance of the season, 19.2sec from the lead. Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville followed in seventh and eighth, already more than 26sec adrift.
Neuville was particularly frustrated after struggling to trust the front of his car through Mogán - La Aldea.
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“The Toyotas are really using the racing line and I can’t,” said the Belgian. “I lost the confidence in the last four kilometres. I couldn’t trust the front of the car.”
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean held ninth overall after a steady start, while team-mate Jon Armstrong lost time on SS4 when he ran down an escape road and dropped to 11th.
Yohan Rossel completed the overall top 10 and led WRC2 after a strong run through Mogán - La Aldea. The Lancia driver was 10.1sec faster than brother Léo Rossel on the stage to pull 10.4sec clear in the category.
