ogier.23

Norwegian takes Spain victory after last stage drama
Ā 
Andreas Mikkelsen claimed his maiden WRC victory at Spainā€™s RallyRACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada on Sunday when world champion SĆ©bastien Ogier crashed out of the lead in the final speed test.
Ā 
In a hugely dramatic finale, Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Floene finished the last stage and learned they had edged Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala for what should have been second after a fierce final day fight.
Ā 
Seconds later the Norwegian was informed that Ogier had smashed his similar Polo R into a metal roadside barrier less than 4km from the finish, ripping the rear right wheel from the car.
Ā 
Mikkelsen was stunned into silence as he realised the significance of his colleagueā€™s error. It was his first WRC win in 64 attempts and kept alive his hopes of pipping Latvala for second in the driversā€™ standings at next monthā€™s final round in Britain.
Ā 
ā€œIt was absurd because Ogier never makes mistakes so when they told me I didnā€™t believe it. It was a big surprise, and although itā€™s not the way I want to win a rally, weā€™ve been so close so many times that I feel I really deserve this one,ā€ said 26-year-old Mikkelsen.
Ā 
Ogier was airlifted to hospital but was passed fit after checks. The 31-year-old Frenchman was seemingly on his way to an eighth victory of the season on the four-day mixed surface event south of Barcelona with a comfortable 50.9sec lead over Mikkelsen.
Ā 
Mikkelsen and Latvala fought tooth and nail through the final leg and were less than a second apart before Latvala punctured three stages from the end. Mikkelsen then spun in the penultimate test and the duo began the final stage showdown 1.4sec apart.
Ā 
The eventual winning margin was 3.1sec, with Dani Sordo taking the final podium place at his home event in a Hyundai i20, a further 18.1sec back.
Ā 
Citroenā€™s Mads Ƙstberg finished fourth after demoting team-mate Kris Meeke who spun his DS 3. The gap between them was 1.9sec, with New Zealandā€™s Hayden Paddon completing the top six in another i20.
Ā 
Thierry Neuvilleā€™s hopes of a top six finish ended in the penultimate stage when a transmission problem pitched the Belgian off the road under braking. He limped through the final stage to take eighth behind Martin Prokopā€™s Ford Fiesta RS. WRC 2 winner Pontus Tidemand and team-mate Jan KopeckĆ½ completed the leaderboard.
Ā 
The final round of the season is the gravel Wales Rally GB which is based in Deeside on 12 – 15 November.

- Advertisement -