Marmaris (Turkey) (AFP)
Finland's Esapekka Lappi (Citroën) led the Rally of Turkey, 11th in 14 of the World Rally Championship (WRC), in mid-day Friday, after a first loop of three stages (ES2-ES4).
Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Citroën) was 4th at 15 sec 1/10, Estonian Ott Tänak (Toyota) 6th at 21 sec 6/10 and Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) 7th at 30 sec 2/10.
Tänak, leader of the drivers' classification, is 33 points ahead of Neuville and 40 points ahead of Ogier.
Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai), second at 9 sec, and Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), third at 13 sec, completed the provisional podium.
A second run on the same loop of three stages (ES5-ES7) is scheduled for the afternoon.
The rocky and brittle tracks, the temperatures exceeding 30 degrees and the slow average speed, which pose cooling problems, pose a significant constraint on the mechanics, making the Turkish sleeve a test of endurance rather than velocity.
© 2019 AFP