Latest news with #KalleRovanpera
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Evans' WRC lead cut as Ogier secures Italy record
Elfyn Evans won two of the first three rallies this season in Sweden and Kenya [Getty Images] Elfyn Evans' World Rally Championship lead has been cut further, as Sebastien Ogier made it back-to-back wins with victory at Rally Italia Sardegna. Welshman Evans finished fourth, more than five minutes behind Toyota team-mate Ogier who became the most successful driver in the Italian event's history with a fifth success. Advertisement The French eight-time world champion has cut his series deficit to Evans from 30 points to 19, with another GR Yaris Rally1 driver, Kalle Rovanpera, a further one point back. Rovanpera was fourth in the baking heat of Sardinia, behind Hyundai's Ott Tanak - who finished runner-up to maintain his own championship challenge. All six of this season's rallies so far have been won by Toyota. Ogier's victory was his third of the season and came 12 months after losing out to Tanak by 0.2 seconds following a heartbreaking final-stage puncture in this event. He also had a scare on Sunday's finale, when an overshoot in the final kilometres slashed his lead over the Estonian from 17.2s to 7.9s. Advertisement "In the ruts, I just couldn't turn the car," said Ogier. "There was no speed at all, so I didn't try to force it and hit it, I preferred to stop and reverse. "Yeah, not ideal, still, it was enough to win." Evans once again found the gravel roads tough on the opening day, as he did in Portugal last month. He never challenged for overall victory and also lost time on the top three when he punctured on Saturday's stage 11, though ironically he gained a place to fourth with Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari taking even longer over a wheel change. Josh McErlean's Rally Italia was over almost before it started. He was one of six drivers caught out by the newly introduced Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda loop, ripping the entire rear-left corner off his M-Sport Ford Puma on stage two. Advertisement The Northern Irish driver was forced to retire with suspension damage before restarting, out of contention, on Saturday and finishing 11th in class. He remains 10th overall. The drivers face similar conditions in round seven of the 14-event series, with more gravel stages in Acropolis Rally Greece from 26 to 29 June. Rally Italia Sardegna result 1. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 3 hours 34 minutes 25.5 seconds 2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +7.9secs 3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, +50.5secs 4. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +5min 05.7secs 5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +7min Advertisement Selected 11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +57min 10.1secs FIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings 1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 133 points 2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 114 3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 113 4. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 108 5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 83 6. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 63 Selected 10. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 12 12. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 8
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Evans' WRC lead cut as Ogier secures Italy record
Elfyn Evans' World Rally Championship lead has been cut further, as Sebastien Ogier made it back-to-back wins with victory at Rally Italia Evans finished fourth, over five minutes behind Toyota team-mate Ogier who became the most successful driver in the Italian event's history with a fifth French eight-time world champion has cut his series deficit on the current leader from 30 points to 19, with another GR Yaris Rally1 driver, Kalle Rovanpera, a further one point was fourth in the baking heat of Sardinia, behind Hyundai's Ott Tanak who finished runner-up to maintain his own championship six of this season's rallies so far have been won by Toyota. Ogier's victory was his third of the season and came 12 months after losing out to Tanak by 0.2 seconds following a heart-breaking final-stage puncture in this also had a scare on Sunday's finale, when an overshoot in the final kilometres saw this year's lead over the Estonian slashed from 17.2s to 7.9s."In the ruts, I just couldn't turn the car," said Ogier."There was no speed at all, so I didn't try to force it and hit it, I preferred to stop and reverse. "Yeah, not ideal, still, it was enough to win."Evans once again found the gravel roads tough on the opening day, as he did in Portugal last never challenged for overall victory and also lost time on the top three when he punctured on Saturday's stage 11, though ironically he gained a place to fourth with Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari taking even longer over a wheel McErlean's Rally Italia was over almost before it started. He was one of six drivers caught out by the newly-introduced Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda loop, ripping the entire rear-left corner off his M-Sport Ford Puma on stage two. The Northern Irish driver was forced to retire with suspension damage before restarting, out of contention, on Saturday and finishing 11th in remains 10th drivers face similar conditions in round seven of the 14-event series with more gravel stages in Acropolis Rally Greece from 26 to 29 June. Rally Italia Sardegna result 1. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 3 hours 34 minutes 25.5 seconds2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +7.9secs3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, +50.5secs4. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +5min 05.7secs5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +7min Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +57min 10.1secs FIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings 1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 133 points2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 1143. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 1134. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 1085. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 836. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 63Selected10. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 1212. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 8
Reuters
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Ogier edges Tanak to claim fifth Sardinia crown as Toyota charge into title fight
June 8 (Reuters) - Sebastien Ogier clinched a record fifth Rally Italia Sardegna victory on Sunday, fending off Hyundai's Ott Tanak by just 7.9 seconds after a tense final stage in Sardinia. The French Toyota driver, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, completed the 16-stage event in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 24.5 seconds to secure the team's third win of the 2025 season. Toyota's eight-times world champion Ogier was beaten by Tanak last year, who seized victory by a whisker. Hyundai's Tanak pushed hard in the final Wolf Power Stage but fell short, while Kalle Rovanpera completed a double podium for Toyota in third, 50.5 seconds behind Ogier. Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta rounded out a strong showing for Toyota, taking fourth and fifth respectively.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Ogier, Tanak take Sardinia battle of champions into final day
June 7 (Reuters) - Sebastien Ogier will be determined to avoid more Rally Italy heartache when he and Ott Tanak, who seized victory by a whisker last year, again duel in Sunday's final stages in Sardinia. Toyota's eight-times world champion ended Saturday's penultimate leg 11.1 seconds clear of his Hyundai rival with four stages and a total of 77.7km remaining before the finish of the Olbia-based event. Last year the Frenchman had a 17.1-second lead at the same point but ended up losing by 0.2 seconds to the Estonian 2019 champion after a puncture in the final stage -- the joint closest finish in world rally championship history. Ogier started Saturday with a 2.1-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux but the Hyundai driver rolled out on the day's fifth of six stages over rocky and dusty roads in the north of the Mediterranean island. "It's been a long day," said Ogier, who won three of the stages. "The afternoon was rough. But I'm happy so far. Good race management." Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera moved up to third but 55.5 seconds off the lead, with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans fourth and Sami Pajari fifth -- four Toyotas in the top five. Hyundai's world champion Thierry Neuville retired on Friday after hitting an earth bank and was 26th overall after returning on Saturday. Evans led Rovanpera by 30 points going into the season's sixth round, with Ogier third and Tanak fourth.
CNA
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Rallying-Ogier, Tanak take Sardinia battle of champions into final day
Sebastien Ogier will be determined to avoid more Rally Italy heartache when he and Ott Tanak, who seized victory by a whisker last year, again duel in Sunday's final stages in Sardinia. Toyota's eight-times world champion ended Saturday's penultimate leg 11.1 seconds clear of his Hyundai rival with four stages and a total of 77.7km remaining before the finish of the Olbia-based event. Last year the Frenchman had a 17.1-second lead at the same point but ended up losing by 0.2 seconds to the Estonian 2019 champion after a puncture in the final stage - the joint closest finish in world rally championship history. Ogier started Saturday with a 2.1-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux but the Hyundai driver rolled out on the day's fifth of six stages over rocky and dusty roads in the north of the Mediterranean island. "It's been a long day," said Ogier, who won three of the stages. "The afternoon was rough. But I'm happy so far. Good race management." Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera moved up to third but 55.5 seconds off the lead, with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans fourth and Sami Pajari fifth - four Toyotas in the top five. Hyundai's world champion Thierry Neuville retired on Friday after hitting an earth bank and was 26th overall after returning on Saturday. Evans led Rovanpera by 30 points going into the season's sixth round, with Ogier third and Tanak fourth.
