Whatshot
Rally Italia Sardegna delivers another win for Hyundai
Rally Italia Sardegna delivers another win for Hyundai
Hyundai Motorsport celebrated a fantastic finish to Rally Italia Sardegna, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship season (WRC), where Ott Tänak snatched victory on the final stage of the event by just two tenths of a second.
The Estonian had been gaining on rally leader Sébastien Ogier throughout the day as their intense battle continued, yet it appeared the gap was insurmountable heading into the Power Stage. However, this unpredictable rally held one final surprise: a puncture for Ogier saw the advantage swing back to Tänak when it mattered most. The incredible result matches the 2011 Jordan Rally for the closest-ever finish in WRC history and marks a seventh win for Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team in Sardinia.
It is also Hyundai Motorsport's second consecutive double podium finish, with Dani Sordo/Cándido Carrera joining their team-mates after safely bringing their Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid home in third. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe topped the Super Sunday standings in a superb recovery from their Saturday frustrations.
Sunday featured two special stages, each run twice on the day: Cala Flumini (SS13/15, 12,55 km) and Sassari-Argentiera (SS14/16, 7,10 km). The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team was quick out the blocks: once again, Neuville refused to let the disadvantage of being first on the road hamper his mission to score maximum points. Two stage wins in the morning loop established the Belgian at the top of the Super Sunday standings.
Nest up, Rally Poland will make its highly anticipated return to the WRC calendar from 27 to 30 June on the fast gravel roads that last featured in 2017, when Thierry Neuville led a Hyundai Motorsport 1-2 finish.