Trier (Germany) (AFP)
Estonian coach Ött Tänak (Toyota) confirmed his dominance on Saturday in the Rally of Germany, the 10th round of the WRC world championship, after a day marked by the punctures of Belgium's Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and French Sebastien Ogier. (Citroen).
On the demanding roads of Baumholder's military camp and his formidable armor plates (Panzerplatte) that make the Rally of Germany famous, Tänak had the last word.
"I had a good day, Thierry (Neuville) pushed me to my limits but I was able to control better in the Panzerplatte," said the Estonian, sketching a (rare) slight smile.
Tänak, currently leading the world championship ahead of Ogier and Neuville, has also benefited from the mishaps of his competitors to establish his domination and that of his team, which temporarily place three drivers on the podium.
Car Neuville, who has emerged as a potential winner so far, has had a bad day and can leave the final victory after being pushed back to one minute and thirty-five seconds.
While he was 5 seconds behind Tänak and had two "scratches" (best time) on Saturday, the Belgian punctured in the first of two specials played on the training tracks of the tanks, a surface that "constantly changes "as explained by the organizer WRC. He is now relegated to 5th place in the provisional standings.
Bad luck that also hit Sébastien Ogier.
If the specials played on the Panzerplatte usually smile at the "Sebastian", - 15 wins for Loeb, 9 for Ogier - the latter was struggling admitted "never (m) 'to be feeling so bad after running this special".
"The whole rally was disappointing, we did not need that bad luck on top of that," said the Frenchman, who finished 8th overall before Sunday's final day.
© 2019 AFP