Adrien Fourmaux narrowly avoided a collision with Hyundai driver Ott Tänak on the third special stage on Friday. Tänak had previously ended up in a snowbank but was able to continue at a crawl.
Tänak’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car suddenly appeared in front of Fourmaux during the stage. The Frenchman was just able to avoid colliding with the Hyundai.
“We didn’t get any alarm. That’s how the system is designed. If the competitor in front of us is moving, we don’t get an alarm,” said Fourmaux.
“This system needs improvement because it was very dangerous. I was in 5th gear!” Fourmaux demanded.
According to Fourmaux, he was driving at about 180 kilometers per hour when he noticed Tänak’s car.
“Even though I braked, it was impossible for us to stop like that. On snow, braking isn’t exceptional. So, I tried to pass between him and the snow wall. The road was too narrow to pass on the right or left, but luckily he wanted to stop there and moved to the right… and we managed to pass. It was close!” recounted Fourmaux.
“I immediately asked Alex ( co-driver Coria) if we had hit something, but there was nothing. If Alex had done it, he could have touched the wing of the Hyundai. There must have been 10 centimeters between the two Rally1 cars.”
Fourmaux reviewed the situation soon after the special stage.
“I wanted to review it immediately because it really scared me.”
Fourmaux finished third in Rally Sweden and made it to the podium for the first time in a main class competition. In the WRC points standings, the M-Sport Ford driver is in third place.
Rally Sweden was won by Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi ahead of Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, who collected the biggest points haul from the rally.
Check out the full WRC points standings here.
Also read: Elfyn Evans blasts: “I don’t think that’s right”
Sources: Autohebdo.fr, Rallye-sport.fr
