Junior WRC
Türkkan resists Carlberg’s charge to lead Junior WRC into final day
Ali Türkkan will take a 30.5sec lead into the final day of Croatia Rally after withstanding a fierce comeback from Calle Carlberg during a dramatic Saturday in the FIA Junior WRC.
The Turkish driver seized top spot on the morning’s longest stage after Friday leader Carlberg lost more than 90 seconds with tyre damage on SS11. Craig Rahill ended the leg third, 2min 16.6sec from the front, while Gil Membrado, Kerem Kazaz and Raúl Hernández completed the top six after Leevi Lassila’s challenge unravelled with suspension damage in the afternoon.
Carlberg had begun the day in control and struck back strongly after Türkkan won the opener. The Swede set the pace on SS10, but his rally took a major turn on SS11 when he damaged a tyre and chose not to stop. The time loss dropped him from the lead to third and handed the initiative to Türkkan.
Rahill was the other big winner on that test. Just as he had on Friday, the Irishman came alive on the longest stage of the loop to claim his second stage win of the season, moving up to second overall behind Türkkan at midday.
From there, the afternoon became a straight duel between Türkkan and Carlberg. The latter responded emphatically, winning every remaining stage to power past Rahill and chip away at Türkkan’s advantage, reaching the overnight halt 30.5sec adrift of his rival.
© WRC
Rahill could not quite stay with the leading pair through the afternoon, but third overall still marked another strong day on only his second FIA Junior WRC outing.
Membrado recovered to fourth after his own puncture earlier in the day, moving back ahead of Kazaz on SS14. Kazaz, meanwhile, struggled for confidence on the hard compound Hankook tyre during the morning loop before switching compounds in search of better feeling, while Hernández occupied sixth.
Lassila was left with the biggest frustration. After a more competitive and confident start to the day, the Finn suffered suspension damage following an incident on SS14 and retired.
Sunday’s final leg includes four stages totalling almost 60 competitive kilometres before the rally finishes in the coastal town of Opatija.
Türkkan also led the WRC3 category, for which Carlberg and Rahill are not registered, by more than three minutes from Membrado. Kazaz holds third.
