Ott Tanak keeps his title hopes alive in WRC, after winning rally Germany, 9th round of the championship.
The Estonian won the four-day asphalt event by 39.2 sec in a Toyota Yaris. He repeats his 2017 success and securing a second consecutive win after triumphing in Finland 3 weeks ago.
Thierry Neuville extended his championship lead by inheriting an unexpected second place in a Hyundai i20. That came after Jari-Matti Latvala retired with hydraulic problems in his Yaris. Dani Sordo meanwhile stopped with engine damage after crashing his i20. Esapekka Lappi finished third.
Sebastien Ogier won the final live TV Power Stage to claim 5 bonus points in a Ford Fiesta.
Tänak took four points for second with Lappi scoring three in third in a Yaris. Craig Breen, driving a C3, and Neuville took two and one point respectively.
“This was definitely the hardest victory I have ever had. For the majority of the weekend it was a really close fight and I had to push so hard. On Friday in the vineyards I felt very comfortable with the car. On Saturday morning I did not feel so confident, but the team really improved the car in service, Tanak said.
Today I just needed to keep it clean. I am really happy for the whole team: we were really strong this weekend. We are moving in the right direction in the championship but I am still taking it event-by-event: Now my focus is on Turkey and trying to be as well prepared as possible.”
WRC standings after SS18 –
1. Tänak 3h 03m 36.9sec
2. Neuville +39.2sec
3. Lappi +1m 00.9sec
4. Ogier +1m 34.5sec
5. Suninen +2m 02.9sec
6. Mikkelsen +2m 13.8sec #WRC— WRC (@OfficialWRC) August 19, 2018
