Meeke Leads into Final Day in Finland
Kris Meeke continues on course for his second 2016 WRC win after nurturing his Rally Finland lead over Volkswagen's Jari-Matti Latvala on Saturday afternoon. Meeke took another couple of wins from the afternoon's four stages, thus extending his advantage by six seconds early on before Latvala retaliated slightly on the day's final two stages.
Behind Latvala, the main fight for position appears to be the one for third between the second PH Sport Citroen of Craig Breen and DMACK's Ott Tanak. Breen was placed in third just as the lunchtime service began, as officials gave him a nominal time for SS14 after he was forced to drive through the stage at a reduced pace thanks to an Eric Camilli off.
Tanak had started the loop in eighth after sustaining a puncture on the morning's penultimate stage, but picked his way through the order on the afternoon's first two stages despite feeling he had made a wrong decision by running on soft tyres.
Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon remained inseparable throughout the afternoon, despite falling away from the podium fight in fifth and sixth. The pair also have M-Sport's remaining WRC driver Mads Ostberg for close company, the Norwegian having hung in the fight in his Ford Fiesta. Andreas Mikkelsen had been involved in that battle for position but, as first man on the road following Sebastien Ogier's Friday crash, fell away from the leading group in the afternoon in eighth.
30th July, 2016