Mikkelsen, leader of the Rally Poland and Tänak abandons… after colliding with a deer!
The Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai i20) is the leader of the Rally Poland, seventh round of the World Championship, once the seven stages of the second day have been completed this Friday, after which he leads the Finn Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota GR Yaris) by just under two seconds and in which the Estonian Ott Tänak, the best in the Thursday’s stretch, he had to abandon right at the start of the day after hitting a deer.
Mikkelsen, 35 years old and who has three World Cup victories (Spain 2015 and Poland and Australia in 2016, with a Volkswagen Polo)took first place by winning the opening section this Friday, in which Tänak, world champion in 2019 and who was the first leader on Thursday, tHe had to give up when he collided with a deer that crossed his path shortly after the start of the special.
Taking advantage of his delayed position at the start of the stages, the Norwegian remained in the lead until the fourth stage of the day, in which he was momentarily relieved by Rovanperä, world champion for the last two years and who is competing in this rally. to urgently replace the Frenchman Sébastien Ogier, injured in previous reconnaissance.
After giving up just over 14 seconds in that section, Mikkelsen regained control in the next and was able to maintain it until the end of the day.
The Oslo pilot will start the day this Saturday with an advantage of 1.8 seconds over Rovanperä, 2.0 over the British Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris), third in the World Cup tied on points with Tänak; 7.5 over the Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux (Ford Puma), and 7.7 over the 24-year-old Latvian Mrti Sesks, the Frenchman’s teammate and who is competing in his first test in the top category.
Rovanperä set the best time in two stages, despite not having ideal preparation before the race.
The World Championship leader, Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) is seventh, just under half a minute (29.8). He accused the fact that he was the one in charge of opening the trail.
“I’m happy with my day,” said Mikkelsen, who last led a World Cup rally in Turkey in 2019.
This Saturday the rally continues with the dispute of another seven special stages on the fast dirt tracks of northern Poland.
Classification
1 A. Mikkelsen T. Eriksen Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid 59:43.7
2 K. Rovanperä J. Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid +1.8
3 E. Evans S. Martin Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid +2.0
4 A. Fourmaux A. Coria Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid +7.5
5 M. Sesks R. Francis Ford Puma Rally1 +7.7
6 G. Munster L. Louka Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid +21.3
7 T. Neuville M. Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid +29.8
8 T. Katsuta A. Johnston Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid +32.3
9 S. Pajari E. Mälkönen Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +2:15.6
10 K. Kajetanowicz M. Szczepaniak koda Fabia RS +2:24.5
