2024-04-22 10:48:31
Before the final day, Neville (Hyundai Shell Mobis) and Evans (Toyota Gazoo) were separated by less than five seconds and the battle for victory in this tarmac rally was predicted to be between these two drivers as the gap was reduced to 2.6 seconds after the first stage of the day. .
However, Neville hit a tree in one of the turns, damaged the rear aerodynamics package and lost about 25 seconds. Evans, on the other hand, spun in one of the corners in the same stage, which cost him about 20 seconds.
In the end, Ogier beat his teammate Evans by 9.7 seconds, and Neville by 45.8 seconds. The fourth was another “Hyundai” driver, Estonian Ots Tenak.
Neville won the first stage of the WRC in Monte Carlo this season, the Finnish Esapeka Lapi (“Hyundai Shell Mobis”) won the second in Sweden, and Kalle Rovanpere (“Toyota Gazoo”) was unbeaten in Kenya. Neville maintains the leading position in the overall standings, where he has accumulated 86 points, Evans is second with 80 points.
This season, 13 stages of the competition are held, with the eighth stage from July 18 to 21 taking place in Latvia for the first time in the WRC calendar.
Finnish racing driver Kalle Rovanpere became a two-time world champion last year, securing the title one stage before the end of the season. Latvian ex-champion Rovanpere will not start in all stages of the WRC this year.
2024-04-22 10:48:31