Evans Toyota leads Tanak's Hyundai in Croatia
Elfyn Evans Toyota Yaris currently leads Ott Tanak's M-Sport Puma by 12.5 seconds on Rally Croatia with Esapekka Lappi flying the flag for Hyundai in second a further 38 seconds in arrears, before Loubet's M-Sport Puma followed by the Toyota's of Ogier and Katsuta, who are all well over a minute behind. The Estonian M-Sport driver is currently flying and taking lumps of time out of Evans's lead.
Former rally leader Thierry Neuville had clipped a rock earlier today with the rear of his Hyundai i20 and the ensuing accident meant the car was too badly damaged to continue. Sebastien Ogier incurred a one-minute penalty when the Toyota crew failed to secure their safety harnesses correctly after changing a broken wheel, a problem that also affected fellow Toyota driver and current rally champion Kalle Rovanpera.
Six stages remain, 2 today and four Sunday including the Power Stage finale before the finish in Zagreb.
22nd April, 2023