[Auto] Thierry Neuville picks up the pace on Saturday morning of the RACC Rally

[[M]anuel]

Thierry Neuville has launched himself for the victory of the RACC Rally, oblivious to the battle for the drivers' title between Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans.
Looking at Hyundai's interests, the Cantabrian Dani Sordo has launched himself on the attack and is looking for podium positions.
Thierry Neuville remains hell-bent on winning the RACC Rally and keeping Hyundai in the fight for the WRC constructors 'title, even with a vibrant duel between Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier for the drivers' title behind. In fact, Neuville has achieved a new scratch hat trick by setting the best time in the three stages of Saturday morning and moving Evans to nine seconds. For his part, Dani Sordo has improved his level even more and the Cantabrian rider threatens Sébastien Ogier with assaulting the last step of the podium. Everything remains unchanged in WRC2 and WRC3.

He warned on Friday afternoon of the pace he could have and on Saturday morning he was able to confirm his level. At the moment when World Championship rallies are usually decided, Thierry Neuville has brought out his best version. The Belgian began with scratch in the SS7 to consolidate the leadership obtained by the minimum in the previous day. With the starting order being less decisive, as the leaders left after a good number of cars lifting the dirt from the ditches, Neuville managed to overtake Elfyn Evans by 1.7 seconds at the end of the first pass through 'Savallà' .

The Belgian driver repeated the best time in the SS8, even before an inspired Adrien Fourmaux who slipped second in the Ford Fiesta WRC. Toyota's men faltered on the stage, allowing the Belgian to gain a 6.7-second lead over Elfyn Evans. All in all, Neuville still had time to set the best time on the first pass through 'El Montmell', perhaps the most iconic stage of the rally. The Hyundai driver added another 2.3 seconds to his income at the head of the rally in a stage in which Dani Sordo was second and was launched in the hunt and capture of Sébastien Ogier.

With nine of the seventeen stages already contested, Thierry Neuville enjoys a nine-second lead over Elfyn Evans. In a second 'group', fighting for the last step of the podium, Sébastien Ogier surpasses Dani Sordo in just 0.2 seconds after the final 'rush' of the Spanish rider. Kalle Rovanperä is fifth, although the Finn is more than ever in no man's land against Adrien Fourmaux who has lost more than half a minute. All in all, the Frenchman is the best M-Sport rider in a comfortable fit, as Gus Greensmith has suffered a puncture to the left rear tire on the SS9.

 

link: https://www.motor.es/noticias/thierry-neuville-acelera-paso-matinal-sabado-rally-racc-202181944.html