WRC
Rovanpera pips Breen on Day 1 of Rally Estonia
By Adam Hall
16 July 2021
Trading times
Kalle Rovanpera holds an 8.5s advantage over Craig Breen after Friday's eight Rally Estonia stages. The duel has put them over 40s ahead of the chasing pack headed by Thierry Neuville. Tanak is the only other driver to win a stage but his rally came to an early end when a double puncture left him stranded on Stage 4.
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Still room to improve
While their pace remained unmatched both Rovanpera and Breen were still not completely happy with Friday's second loop. Breen lacked some high-speed experience of Stage 7 following dust issues this morning and Rovanpera was discontent with his set-up claiming to lack grip in his Toyota.
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Overall after SS9
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1. Rovanpera / Halttunen 2. Breen / Nagle 3. Neuville / Wydaeghe 4. Ogier / Ingrassia 5. Evans / Martin
1:06:54.4 +8.5 +53.4 +59.4 +1:15.1
Fuming Mads
Mads Ostberg was left less than impressed after losing his WRC 2 lead on Stage 6 courtesy of a debeaded Pirelli tyre. It's not the first time this year the Citroen driver has suffered the issue which handed fellow Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen a comfortable advantage.
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