The WRC Rally in the Czech Republic got off to an exciting start, with Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville taking the lead after the first day of racing. Neuville currently holds a 1.2-second advantage over M-Sport’s Ott Tanak, setting the stage for an intense battle in the coming days. The rally began with a super special stage held around a racecourse in Prague, where Tanak initially claimed the top spot. However, Neuville bounced back in the second super special stage of the day, held in darkness at Klatovy, outperforming Tanak by 2.2 seconds and catapulting himself into the rally lead.
Despite his impressive performance on the first day, Ott Tanak faced challenges in generating sufficient temperature in his soft tyres. This issue affected his overall speed and grip on the track, but he still managed to clock a time faster than the rest of the Rally1 field. Tanak will need to find a solution to this problem in order to challenge Neuville for the top spot in the upcoming stages.
Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion, faced difficulties finding the right feel for his GR Yaris, resulting in a time drop of 6.1 seconds. This setback forced him to settle for third place overall, just a tenth of a second ahead of his teammate Kalle Rovanpera, the current championship leader. Rovanpera’s strong performance on the second super special stage allowed him to climb from fifth to fourth place overall, putting him in a favorable position to challenge for the podium.
Lappi’s Penalty and Suninen’s Solid Start
Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi had a challenging start to the rally due to a 10-second penalty for jumping the start in the first stage. This setback pushed him down to ninth place overall, but he still has the opportunity to make up for lost time in the upcoming stages. On the other hand, Hyundai’s Teemu Suninen had a positive start, securing sixth place on the second super special stage. This solid performance places him in a competitive position as the rally moves forward.
Title contender Elfyn Evans experienced a setback during the second super special stage, losing 7.8 seconds after overshooting at a junction. This mistake could have significant implications for his championship hopes, as he now needs to outscore teammate Kalle Rovanpera to keep the title fight alive until the final round in Japan. Evans will start Saturday’s stages 10.7 seconds behind the rally leader, sitting in eighth place overall.
WRC2 Battle Intensifies
In the battle for the WRC2 title, Toksport Skoda’s Gus Greensmith had a strong start, finishing third in class on the second stage. He managed to gain an advantage over his rival and teammate Andreas Mikkelsen as he aims to secure the WRC2 championship. The competition in this category promises to be intense in the remaining stages of the Czech Republic rally.
The opening stages of the WRC Rally in the Czech Republic have set the stage for a thrilling competition. Thierry Neuville’s impressive performance and the challenges faced by his rivals create an atmosphere of excitement and uncertainty. With the rally only just beginning, there is still much to be decided, making it a must-watch event for motorsport enthusiasts.
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