The Toyota star maintained his grip on the lead during Saturday’s rough gravel stages. While Ogier extended his advantage over Ott Tänak in the morning, the Hyundai driver responded well in the afternoon and closed the gap again.
Ogier ends Saturday 11.1 seconds ahead of Tänak, setting the stage for a thrilling battle for victory on Sunday’s four stages. The Frenchman edged Tänak by 0.4 seconds on the day’s final test.
“All under control,” Ogier reported.
“There’s still Sunday to go, so it’s not over yet,” Tänak responded, admitting he wasn’t completely happy with his car during the day.
Saturday’s stages delivered drama yet again. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux dropped out of contention in the morning with a puncture and off-road moment, before ultimately crashing out for good in the afternoon.
Toyota drivers Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Takamoto Katsuta all had to change tyres during the rough afternoon loop. Only Ogier, Tänak, and Kalle Rovanperä have managed to avoid major problems so far.
Rovanperä holds a solid third place, 55.5 seconds off Ogier’s lead. With valuable points up for grabs for Sunday’s leg classification and the Power Stage, the Finn may still go on the attack.
“The afternoon stages were really rough. Since the gap behind is big, I just drove smart. I can’t close the gap to the front by pace, so I just tried to survive. We had a clever day today. Tomorrow we have to try to push a bit more,” Rovanperä said at the final stage of the day.
Evans and Pajari lie fourth and fifth, but both trail the leader by close to five minutes. Despite his puncture, championship leader Evans is on course for a decent haul of points from the Mediterranean island.
Nikolay Gryazin is sixth overall in his Rally2-spec Škoda, ahead of Katsuta. Gryazin is not competing for WRC2 points in Sardinia.
The WRC2 class is currently led by Finland’s Emil Lindholm, who holds a margin of over a minute to fellow countryman Lauri Joona. Lindholm sits ninth overall, with Joona in tenth.
Rally Sardinia concludes on Sunday with four final stages.
Rally Sardinia standings after SS12/16:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 2:32:38.9 |
| 2. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +11.1 |
| 3. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +55.5 |
| 4. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +4:33.3 |
| 5. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +4:56.3 |
| 6. | Nikolay Gryazin | Skoda | +5:59.6 |
| 7. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +6:11.4 |
| 8. | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +6:19.5 |
| 9. | Emil Lindholm | Skoda | +6:36.6 |
| 10. | Lauri Joona | Skoda | +7:48.1 |
Rally Sardinia itinerary (CET):
Thursday 5.6.
14.01 Shakedown: Olbia Cabu Abbas (2,19 km)
Friday 6.6.
10.01 SS1: Arzachena 1 (13,97 km)
11.16 SS2: Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda 1 (18,43 km)
12.31 SS3: Sa Conchedda 1 (27,95 km)
15.05 Service (40 min)
16.31 SS4: Arzachena 2 (13,97 km)
17.46 SS5: Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda 2 (18,43 km)
19.01 SS6: Sa Conchedda 2 (27,95 km)
Saturday 7.6.
10.05 SS7: Coiluna - Loelle 1 (21,18 km)
11.16 SS8: Lerno - Su Filigosu 1 (24,34 km)
12.31 SS9: Tula - Erula 1 (15,28 km)
14.20 Service (40 min)
16.05 SS10: Coiluna - Loelle 2 (21,18 km)
17.16 SS11: Lerno - Su Filigosu 2 (24,34 km)
18.31 SS12: Tula - Erula 2 (15,28 km)
Sunday 8.6.
08.25 SS13: San Giacomo - Plebi 1 (25,19 km)
09.35 SS14: Porto San Paolo 1 (13,70 km)
11.50 SS15: San Giacomo - Plebi 2 (25,19 km)
13.30 Service (15 min)
14.15 SS16: Porto San Paolo 2 (13,70 km) *Power Stage
