The title decision in the World Rally Championship has been postponed, but superstar Sebastien Ogier (Toyota) is finally out of the race after a self-inflicted ride on the 17th and penultimate special stage of the 302.51 kilometer Central European Rally (Czech Republic, Upper Austria, Bavaria). his ninth triumph. This would be special in that it would put him on a level with his legendary French compatriot Sebastien Loeb. Well, postponed doesn’t necessarily mean canceled.
A World Cup premiere for Hyundai
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) has by far the best chance of winning the cup. After a third place in the three-country event starting in Prague and finishing in Passau, he is heading to the season finale in Japan (22nd to 24th) with a lead of 25 points. November), where a maximum of 30 points are up for grabs.
The only one who can prevent the Belgian from winning his first championship is his brand colleague Ott Tänak. The Estonian won the second Central European Rally, which also took place in the Mühl- and Innviertel on Saturday with great public interest, with a seven-second lead over the Briton Elfyn Evans (Toyota). It was Tänak’s 21st WRC success – writing a piece of rally history. For the first time, a Hyundai driver will become world champion. That’s fixed.
Ogier, who had been leading for a long time, could have maintained the tension, but after a collision with a wooden pole, the heat was off. Tänak regretted the incident: “When you fight against a friend and then something like that happens, it’s difficult to find the right words. It’s nice to have brought the points home,” said the 37-year-old.
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Image: APA/AFP/KERSTIN JOENSSON
Source: Nachrichten
