If Ogier successfully completes the final special stage later this afternoon, he will become the most successful driver of all time on the Mediterranean island. Hyundai’s Ott Tänak set the fastest time on the penultimate stage, beating Ogier by 2.5 seconds, but the Frenchman still holds a lead of 17.2 seconds.
“It’s never easy. The conditions are harsh. This was a clean run, no pushing,” summed up Ogier.
“It’s really tight at the moment. On the Power Stage we’ll definitely be going flat out,” Tänak replied.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä remains third in the rally. Rovanperä is also third in the Super Sunday standings. Ogier leads the Sunday times by 6.1 seconds ahead of Tänak, with Rovanperä trailing by 13.3 seconds.
“It’s going pretty well. The conditions are really harsh and tyre wear is high. I tried to drive calmly and consistently,” said Rovanperä.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans remains in fourth place. His team-mate Takamoto Katsuta holds fifth position ahead of Oliver Solberg, who is driving a Rally2 car. Sami Pajari once again lost several minutes due to damage to the rear left of his car. However, many of the smaller class drivers also ran into problems, allowing Pajari to climb to seventh overall.
“It was difficult and stressful. It’s eating me up inside. It was a stupid thing. Hopefully it can be sorted in service,” said Pajari.
There was more drama in the WRC2 category, as class leader Lauri Joona, who had taken the lead on the previous stage, suffered a puncture. The experienced drivers Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Martin Prokop, along with Italy’s Roberto Dapra, moved ahead of the Finn. After numerous twists and turns, Dapra is now in position to claim the class win on home soil, but Kajetanowicz is only 4.1 seconds behind. Prokop trails the Pole by just 0.7 seconds.
Russian-born Nikolay Gryazin had been the fastest of the Rally2 cars up to the penultimate stage, but was forced to change a tyre and lost several minutes. Solberg is currently the fastest Rally2 driver, but the Swede is not contesting WRC2 points in Sardinia.
One special stage remains in Rally Sardinia on Sunday.
Standings in Rally Sardinia after SS15/16:
| POS. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 3:22:42.1 |
| 2. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +17.2 |
| 3. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +1:08.8 |
| 4. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +5:12.9 |
| 5. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +7:36.9 |
| 6. | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +8:07.8 |
| 7. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +10:13.7 |
| 8. | Nikolai Grjazin | Skoda | +10:27.1 |
| 9. | Roberto Dapra | Skoda | +11:50.9 |
| 10. | K. Kajetanowicz | Toyota | +11:55.0 |
| 11. | Martin Prokop | Skoda | +11:55.7 |
| 12. | Lauri Joona | Skoda | +12:15.9 |
Super Sunday Stadings:
| POS. | Driver | Team | Timw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 50:03.2 |
| 2. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +6.1 |
| 3. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +13.3 |
| 4. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +39.6 |
| 5. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +54.0 |
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
