SS3–4: WRC regular sets the pace – but it’s about to get harder for him

Known from the World Rally Championship, Gryazin really put the hammer down and left his closest challengers well behind. The only driver able to mount any challenge was Spain’s Jose Suarez, who ultimately fell 8.1 seconds short of the stage-winning time.

In the overall standings of the rally, which is taking place in Spain, Gryazin now holds a 10.9-second lead over Suarez, who climbed to second place.

“I had a lot of problems – some mistakes, because maybe I pushed too much. This push was not good, because I was sliding too much. The brakes overheated, so a lot of problems, which I will now discuss with the guys,” said Gryazin.

Gryazin benefitted during the morning loop from running first on the road, giving him the cleanest line through the asphalt stages. Those starting behind struggled more with the slippery surface, as dirt was increasingly dragged onto the road from corner cutting.

However, Gryazin’s situation is set to become more challenging in the afternoon loop, as the same stages will be run again and he will no longer have the benefit of a clean tarmac surface.

French driver Yoann Bonato sits third overall but is already 23.4 seconds off the lead. Italian Andrea Mabellini, Norwegian veteran Mads Østberg and Spaniard Pepe López follow in the next positions.

Among the ERC’s top contenders, Jon Armstrong went off briefly on stage four with his Ford. He eventually managed to rejoin the road, but lost close to a minute in the process.

Three more special stages remain to be run on Saturday in Rally Sierra Morena. The asphalt rally concludes on Sunday.

Standings in ERC Rally Sierra Morena after SS4/13: