Sébastien Ogier king of the mud in the Rally of Wales

Mud and domain Volkswagen. The forecasts have not failed
during the first stage of the Rally of Wales, although the first six
special test has left a startle. The end
of the day, Sébastien Ogier is the leader with a lead of 13.5 seconds
about Kris Meeke. The podium is completed by the Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, while
that Citroën is imposed in a clear way Hyundai in the fight
runners-up of builders. Immersed in that battle, Dani Sordo occupies the
fifth position with more than 1 minute and 18 seconds lost compared to the leader of
the test.

Since the first special of the day, the mud was
protagonist. With more grip than expected despite the evening showers,
the riders started the rally with a lot of confidence, although no one could beat
Sébastien Ogier on SS1. The first scratch champion was only the preamble
discard two of the pilots called to fight for the podium. 600
meters after the exit of the SS2, Jari-Matti Latvala suffered a departure of
track in the first big braking ‘Sweet Lamb’. The finn was knocked out of
the test, leaving the tray in the victory.

The other pilot that was left out was Thierry Neuville. The
belgian driver lost a wheel of their Hyundai i20 WRC, in theory, by not
tighten properly the nut on one of the changes made between
stretch and stretch. The mud played a trick on the belgian, while his
companions succumbed in the fight for the runners-up of brands. Dani Sordo
closing the loop morning in the sixth position and Hayden Paddon in the seventh
plaza. Robert Kubica with a slow puncture was the latest victim of the hardness of the
Rally of Wales in its first three sections.

After the three scratch from Sébastien Ogier in the loop
morning section, the afternoon was born with changes. Kris Meeke is scored the
best time in SS4, while Hayden Paddon suffered a small spin that
made him lose a good number of seconds. Stretches broken posed a
problem for the fastest riders, but not prevented Sébastien Ogier
back on track in the second pass through ‘Sweet Lamb’. Dani Sordo
curdled a good role in this special and finished with the third best time, to
so only 0.5 seconds scratch Ogier.

Standings after SS6 of the 71st Rally of Wales

The second stage of the Rally of Wales will start this Friday, at 08:29h. The pilots played 160,86 kilometres against the clock along eleven special divided in a day almost marathon.

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