SS5: Lead changes hands in the Central European Rally – Hyundai driver makes a critical error

Hyundai driver Neuville capitalised on his first starting position on the tarmac stage of Šumavské Hoštice, clocking the second-fastest time, just 0.3 seconds behind teammate Ott Tänak’s stage-best.

In the overall standings, Neuville moved ahead of Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, even though the Belgian made a small mistake towards the end of the stage.

“I just slide a bit wide, grip is changing in every corner. With no car in front, it is hard to judge the grip. We are a bit careful, overall very tricky. We still struggle with the grip changes in these conditions.”, said Neuville, who leads the WRC.

Neuville now holds a 2.7-second lead over Ogier after five stages. Tänak, who set the fastest time on the stage, is in third place, just 3.8 seconds behind the leader.

“I think this one was expected to get quite dirty from the front car. Mistake from me on the last junction where we lose a bit of time but that is my fault,” Ogier reported.

“Quite tricky in places, especially the forest where there were a few places with big surprise. Sometimes the damp is quite good, but sometimes you need to be careful in these places,” Tänak said.

Drivers starting further down the order lost more time to Tänak’s benchmark as the road conditions worsened. Toyota’s Elfyn Evans is in fourth place, still within striking distance of the top three, but Takamoto Katsuta, who dropped to fifth place, is now almost 20 seconds off the lead.

Hyundai’s Andreas Mikkelsen’s race came to an end on the fifth stage when he went off the road and crashed head-first into a fence. Mikkelsen’s rally ended there for Friday.

Mikkelsen’s retirement moved Toyota’s Sami Pajari up to sixth place in the overall standings. The Finn is more than 40 seconds behind the leader.

“This was maybe even more challenging, it was not so consistent. Some of the sections really nice, the grip was high. There was clearly many places where the grip was too low, but its all about learning,” Pajari emphasised.

Following Mikkelsen’s crash, the stage was halted as the damaged Hyundai partially blocked the road.

Mikkelsen’s retirement was a significant blow to Hyundai, who currently lead the manufacturers’ championship. Toyota is chasing the top team, 17 points behind, and now has an opportunity to strike with one Hyundai driver out of contention.

There are still three more special stages to be run on Friday in the Central European Rally. The competition will conclude on Sunday.

Central European Rally standings after SS5/18:

Central European Rally itinerary (CET) :

Thursday, 17 October

09.31 Shakedown: Točná (2.11 km)
15.05 SS1: SSS Velká Chuchle (2.55 km)
18.26 SS2: Klatovy 1 (11.78 km)

Friday, 18 October

08.02 SS3: Klatovy 2 (11.78 km)
09.32 SS4: Strašín 1 (26.69 km)
10.42 SS5: Šumavské Hoštice 1 (16.85 km)
13.11 SS6: Klatovy 3 (11.78 km)
14.28 Remote Service (30 min)
16.14 SS7: Strašín 2 (26.69 km)
17.24 SS8: Šumavské Hoštice 2 (16.85 km)

Saturday, 19 October

07.58 SS9: Granit und Wald 1 (20.05 km)
09.05 SS10: Beyond Borders 1 (24.33 km)
10.34 SS11: Schärdinger Innviertel 1 (17.35 km)
12.10 Service (40 min)
14.28 SS12: Granit und Wald 2 (20.05 km)
15.35 SS13: Beyond Borders 2 (24.33 km)
17.04 SS14: Schärdinger Innviertel 2 (17.35 km)

Sunday, 20 October

09.11 SS15: Am Hochwald 1 (12.17 km)
10.35 SS16: Passauer Land 1 (14.87 km)
11.33 SS17: Am Hochwald 2 (12.17 km)
13.15 SS18: Passauer Land 2 (14.87 km)