Lappi launches early attack with Italy shakedown win

Just six-tenths of a second split the pair of i20 N drivers after three runs of the Loiri Porto San Paolo warm-up test near Olbia, with Finn Lappi setting the pace on his final run through the 2.87km stage.

Lappi is hunting down his third-consecutive podium finish this week at a rally which his team has won on four of the past five occasions. His eyes are on the skies as the prospect of wet weather, which already hit the pre-event recce, poses a potential obstacle during the four-day fixture.  

“I think the stages are looking okay,” he said. “There are some softer sections and some harder ones, but for sure the weather will play a big role this weekend. We are targeting the podium as always.”

Dani Sordo, also driving a Hyundai, was quickest out of the blocks but saw his time eclipsed by four-time Italy winner Sébastien Ogier on the next run. Unable to go any faster again, Toyota part-timer Ogier ended the session six-tenths down on Neuville in third.

“There are a lot of new sections this year and a challenging weekend ahead with long stages as well,” he enthused. “We haven't done stages like this for a long while so it should be interesting.”

Matching Ogier’s pace was his fellow Frenchman Pierre-Louis Loubet in an M-Sport Ford Puma, while Sordo and Kalle Rovanperä placed fifth and sixth respectively. Takamoto Katsuta, Ott Tänak, Elfyn Evans and WRC2 star Adrien Fourmaux completed the leaderboard.