Photo Credit: Hyundai Motorsport Round 6 of the 2016 World Rally Championship season on the Italian island of Sardinia was won by Hyundai Motorsport's Thierry Neuville, becoming the fifth driver in as many rallies to win a round of the WRC.
The Belgian was in dire need of a strong result after a string of disappointing rallies and results, and he delivered emphatically winning pretty much from start to finish after a rally long dual with Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala, claiming his first win on gravel in the World Rally Championship. Latvala, like Neuville, benefited from a lower starting position than many of his rivals and enjoyed a yo-yo battle with his Hyundai rival throughout Friday, but having to think of the manufactures championship unlike Neuville who was driving for the Hyundai N team, Latvala ultimately had to settle for second best. Sebastien Ogier was once again blighted by his road sweeping curse, with third realistically being the best result he could have taken from the weekend. However, the father to be once again still managed to increase his points lead as his nearest championship rivals all scored less than him. Dani Sordo yet again took fourth position for the fourth consecutive time in 2016, after what was a partially disappointing weekend for the Spaniard who never troubled the front runners for pace whilst his team mate grabbed his second WRC win. However, his great consistency has rewarded him with second in the championship after six rallies, but this could be a disadvantage for him when the WRC heads to Poland. Estonian Ott Tanak bounced back from his Portuguese disappointment to finish fifth overall and top Fiesta despite shredding a front left tyre earlier in the weekend. Eric Camilli continued to impress, with a third consecutive strong result in Sardinia with sixth place, setting top times including a maiden stage win on Sunday. Henning Solberg finished as the top privateer in seventh, while the WRC2 podium of Teemu Suninen, Jan Kopecky and Karl Kruuda completed the top 10. You may have noticed several of this year's championship's front runners have not yet been mentioned, and that's because they suffered calamities on the Mediterranean island. Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg were both in the thick of the battle in the first half of the rally, battling Sebastien Ogier for third place, with at one point just three seconds separating the trio. However neither Norwegian managed to make it through Saturday, with Mikkelsen clipping a rock he simply couldn't avoid and Ostberg brushing a gate on the inside of a right hander, damaging his car beyond repair even for Rally2. It was disappointing for both drivers, but for Ostberg in particular as he finally looked to be back on the pace. Hayden Paddon was reduced to tears in Sardinia, but they weren't tears of joy. After a mistake led to the Argentina winner's i20 going up in flames in Portugal, the team did a mammoth job to build Hayden a new car. However, Paddon misjudged a left hander on one of the small tarmac sections at the very end of one of Friday's tests, clouted the rear right of his Hyundai and rolled down a bank. The New Zealander has to bounce back in Poland. Kevin Abbring meanwhile suffered various car issues throughout the weekend, but when his 2015 spec Hyundai i20 WRC was in full working order, it was going quickly. Like Camilli, he too took his maiden WRC stage victory at the weekend, actually denying Camilli of his chance on Saturday before Eric finally got it done the following day. Abbring also secured an impressive second place on the event closing Power Stage. The WRC heads to Poland for round 7 of the championship at the end of June. Will we witness an unprecedented sixth different winner in six rallies?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
WRCArticles covering the World Rally Championship Archives
January 2018
Categories |