Whatshot
Tänak snatches a last-gasp podium finish at Rally Latvia
Tänak snatches a last-gasp podium finish at Rally Latvia
At the end of 20 testing stages of Rally Latvia, the eventful eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Hyundai Motorsport now occupies first and second place in the drivers' standings.
Ott Tänak was resurgent on Super Sunday to put his early Latvian troubles firmly behind him and claim maximum points on Sunday; the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver also inherited third place overall to secure his third podium finish of the season. This has moved him into second in the drivers' standings, eight points behind team-mate Thierry Neuville.
Having provisionally secured fourth - and ten championship points - on Saturday, Tänak was once again on the hunt for a Super Sunday sweep. The Estonian driver claimed back-to-back stage wins on SS18 Mazilm?ja 1 and SS19 Krogzenji 2, which saw him head into the Power Stage on level times with Sébastien Ogier in the standings.
Troubles for local driver Martin Sesks suddenly brought a podium finish back into contention, but Tänak was focused only on full points from the day. His superb run through SS20 saw him win his fourth stage of the weekend, full Power Stage and Super Sunday bonus points, as well as third place in the overall classification.
Neuville ends a frustrating weekend in Latvia scoring nine points to maintain a slender margin over Tänak in the drivers' championship. Much like the two previous days, the Belgian gave the final four stages his all in a bid to best his early road position. His resilient efforts secured three Super Sunday and Power Stage points in addition to those scored with eighth place on Saturday.
A difficult weekend for Esapekka Lappi ended in heartbreak with an engine failure on the SS20 Mazilm?ja 2 Power Stage. The Finn was able to nurse his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid to the finish line but was unable to secure his two provisional championship points from Saturday.
Only a short break separates Rally Latvia and the ninth round of the FIA WRC season, Rally Finland is taking place August 1-4.

