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Juho Hänninen has strengthened his grip on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ title with his second victory of the season on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna today.
Driving a factory Škoda Motorsport-run Fabia, the Finn took a slender lead on the rally’s ninth stage and pulled clear when Kris Meeke, his closest pursuer, crashed heavily on stage 10.
Hänninen’s win means he has finished on the podium on all five rounds of the IRC so far this season and is now 11 points to the good in the battle for the coveted drivers’ accolade. With team-mate Jan Kopecký taking third behind Peugeot driver Paolo Andreucci, Škoda now tops the manufacturers’ table by 34 points.
Andreucci started Sunday’s six stages 7.4s clear of fellow Peugeot runner Meeke, but lost more than 20 seconds with a sluggish run through the first Coiluna stage after opting to run a soft suspension set-up on his Peugeot Sport Italia 207, which resulted in a handling imbalance.
After dropping to third, Andreucci moved to second when Meeke crashed. However, he then had to stave off Kopecký’s advances over the final two runs. He prevailed by 2.6s after setting the fastest time on the last Monte Olia run.
Kopecký had been playing catch up after a moment on stage three when he inflicted sizable damage to his Fabia’s front-right corner striking a rock, which necessitated a rapid overhaul in service by his mechanics.
Meeke was 3.6s behind Hänninen when he understeered off the road on a sweeping left-hand bend. His Peugeot UK 207 ended up on its side and would go no further.
It was a disappointing end to an impressive drive by the defending IRC champion, who claimed two stage wins during the course of the event.
Guy Wilks (Skoda) crashed heavily on Saturday, and has reported two broken vertebrae.
Rally Sardinia – Final classification :
1. Hanninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia S2000) in 2h31'28"6
2. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 35"6
3. Kopecky-Star (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 38"2
4. Neuville-Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 5'58"6
5. Magalhaes-Magalhaes (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 9'55"8
6. Arminen-Nikkola (Subaru Impreza N14) + 10'12"3
7. Ricci-Barone (Subaru Impreza N14) + 11'33"4
8. Batistini-Pisano (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 11'58"1
etc.
Championship:
1. Hanninen 32 points, 2. Kopecky and Wilks 25, 4. Meeke 15, 5. Magalhaes 13, 6. Hirvonen 10, 7. Vouilloz 6, 8. Sarrazin, etc.
Juho Hänninen has strengthened his grip on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ title with his second victory of the season on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna today.
Driving a factory Škoda Motorsport-run Fabia, the Finn took a slender lead on the rally’s ninth stage and pulled clear when Kris Meeke, his closest pursuer, crashed heavily on stage 10.
Hänninen’s win means he has finished on the podium on all five rounds of the IRC so far this season and is now 11 points to the good in the battle for the coveted drivers’ accolade. With team-mate Jan Kopecký taking third behind Peugeot driver Paolo Andreucci, Škoda now tops the manufacturers’ table by 34 points.
Andreucci started Sunday’s six stages 7.4s clear of fellow Peugeot runner Meeke, but lost more than 20 seconds with a sluggish run through the first Coiluna stage after opting to run a soft suspension set-up on his Peugeot Sport Italia 207, which resulted in a handling imbalance.
After dropping to third, Andreucci moved to second when Meeke crashed. However, he then had to stave off Kopecký’s advances over the final two runs. He prevailed by 2.6s after setting the fastest time on the last Monte Olia run.
Kopecký had been playing catch up after a moment on stage three when he inflicted sizable damage to his Fabia’s front-right corner striking a rock, which necessitated a rapid overhaul in service by his mechanics.
Meeke was 3.6s behind Hänninen when he understeered off the road on a sweeping left-hand bend. His Peugeot UK 207 ended up on its side and would go no further.
It was a disappointing end to an impressive drive by the defending IRC champion, who claimed two stage wins during the course of the event.
Guy Wilks (Skoda) crashed heavily on Saturday, and has reported two broken vertebrae.
Rally Sardinia – Final classification :
1. Hanninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia S2000) in 2h31'28"6
2. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 35"6
3. Kopecky-Star (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 38"2
4. Neuville-Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 5'58"6
5. Magalhaes-Magalhaes (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 9'55"8
6. Arminen-Nikkola (Subaru Impreza N14) + 10'12"3
7. Ricci-Barone (Subaru Impreza N14) + 11'33"4
8. Batistini-Pisano (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 11'58"1
etc.
Championship:
1. Hanninen 32 points, 2. Kopecky and Wilks 25, 4. Meeke 15, 5. Magalhaes 13, 6. Hirvonen 10, 7. Vouilloz 6, 8. Sarrazin, etc.