Photo Credit: Volkswagen Motorsport It's blindingly fast, sculpted for the brave and extremely picturesque, meaning the WRC can only be heading for one place: Rally Poland.
After 6 rounds of the world's most demanding motorsport, the 2016 WRC season has seen five different winners in three different cars but has one clear championship leader in 2013, 14 and 15 Champion Sebastien Ogier. However, the new father has not won a round of the World Championship since February, so is eager to finally reach that top step of the podium once again, but will for what must feel like the hundredth time be sweeping the loose gravel off the stages for his ensuing competitors. His team mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen will be equally motivated to book end the first half of the season with a win. Latvala still has a decent road position and came close to victory last time out in Sardinia, while Mikkelsen will be desperate to become the 6th different winner of the season and win the rally he has finished second on for the past two years. Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon head the challenge for Hyundai, both on contrasting form. Neuville proved his doubters wrong and reminded everybody with what he could do with a controlled and impressive victory last time out in Sardinia, whilst Paddon, after winning Rally Argentina in sensational fashion, has retired from the last two events so needs a strong result. However, he loves fast, flowing stages so could be one to watch. Fellow Hyundai driver Dani Sordo has been a model of consistency in 2016 and subsequently finds himself second in the chmapionship after six rallies. He will be disadvantaged by his road position but hopeful to be a little closer to the pace of the front runners. M-Sport drivers Mads Ostberg and Eric Camilli are both hungry for success too, with Ostberg seemingly getting on top of the gearbox gremlins that have hampered him on the gravel rounds this year while Camilli is on the back of his most impressive WRC event to date in Sardinia where he took his first stage wins. DMACK's Ott Tanak will also be one to watch after finishing third on the Polish round of the championship in 2015, where he certainly had the pace to win. The Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team are back after missing Sardinia, and the Citroen DS3's will be driven by promising talents Stephane Lefebvre and Craig Breen. The rally gets underway this weekend, and is certain to be a thriller.
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WRCArticles covering the World Rally Championship Archives
January 2018
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