While Andreas Mikkelsen celebrated a successful return to the FIA European Rally Championship, Alexey Lukyanuk fought abet love a champion with a charging indicate on Rally Hungary’s deciding leg today time, scoring eight potentially essential functions in his bid to capture the coveted title for a 2nd time.
Lukyanuk modified into as soon as firmly in the victory wrestle, a mere 5.1s in the abet of Mikkelsen after five stages on Saturday. However when he modified into as soon as erroneously checked in five minutes early for stage six, his hopes of a third 2020 ERC capture came crashing down as a five-minute penalty modified into as soon as utilized to the Saintéloc Junior Crew driver’s entire time.
No topic languishing in a miles-off P18 at the overnight stop in host city Nyíregyháza, Lukyanuk didn’t stop and went on a flat-out tag to capture leg two courtesy of four stage wins in P13 total. His efficiency slice the margin to winner Mikkelsen to 4m53.5s in the final case of what could possibly possess been.
“We won the day so the mission is total,” mentioned Lukyanuk, who modified into as soon as competing in a Citroën C3 R5 on Pirelli tyres with co-driver Dmitry Eremeev. “Chance administration is something to be taught clearly and we gaze it’s that you simply’re going to be in a assign to factor in to be faster. All in all, we tried to be aware of velocity and consistency and it feels appropriate.”
For Mikkelsen, his victory alongside co-driver Ola Fløene, came on the abet of seven stage bests, a noteworthy efficiency given this modified into as soon as the Norwegian’s first rally of 2020 and his first in his Pirelli-geared up, Topp-Vehicles Rally Crew-lunge Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
“I’m undefeated in 2020 up to now!” mentioned a ecstatic Mikkelsen, a winner of three World Rally Championship events previously. “It’s been a appropriate weekend. As I mentioned I haven’t been competing, easiest attempting out as most of you know, for the final couple of years on Tarmac has been truly advanced for me and I have faith maybe folk notion I couldn’t force on Tarmac any longer so it’s wonderful to near here and indicate we’ve serene got it and we’re serene rapid. I must recount an tall on account of our team, Topp-Vehicles, for handing over me this car, it’s been working flawless all weekend and as effectively to Skoda for making this truly, truly wonderful car. I attempted it in 2017, I most in vogue it then but lots has took assign since then and now it’s even better. I truly feel so happy riding and it’s all about self belief. I felt I’ve ravishing mighty been on high of issues the total rally. I felt very appropriate,. We drove a suave scheme, now no longer taking too mountainous dangers but we possess been serene hasty so it’s truly wonderful.”
BMA Autosport Hyundai i20 R5 driver Grégoire Munster won ERC1 for the 2nd rally in succession in a profession-qualified 2nd total with Efrén Llarena, the ERC3 Junior champion from 2019, furthermore landing a non-public qualified in third for Rallye Crew Spain having carried out leg one in fifth draw.
MOL Racing Crew’s Norbert Herczig modified into as soon as third with two stages closing but a puncture on SS15 denied the Hungarian a home podium. “I’m truly unhappy, we had a puncture but I don’t know how because we force fastidiously,” mentioned the four-time nationwide champion, who drives a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. “Sadly, we lose the podium and I’m sorry for all americans. I wished very mighty the podium, but lifestyles is lifestyles. Subsequent time.”
To boot to benefiting Llarena, Herczig’s extend promoted Oliver Solberg – who modified into as soon as ninth overnight after two punctures on Saturday – to fourth and Niki Mayr-Melnhof to fifth, the Austrian dropping time with a 2nd via a ditch on SS14.
Callum Devine modified into as soon as seventh for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy to proceed his stable most up-to-date lunge, whereas Erik Cais produced a succession of rapid stage cases as he recovered from his 2nd-stage off to attain eighth for the Yacco ACCR Crew. Double ERC Junior champion Marijan Griebel overcame a high-velocity droop this morning to attain ninth for Saintéloc Junior Crew. András Hadik, from Hungary, carried out the pinnacle 10 with Josh McErlean marking his ERC debut with an spectacular P11 for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy.
Dominik Dinkel (Brose Motorsport) battled abet from several delays – plus no working intercom for several Saturday stages – to attain P12 earlier than the recovering Lukyanuk and Yoann Bonato. The Michelin-supported Citroën driver modified into as soon as delayed going off the twin carriageway on the outlet morning then got a one-minute penalty for an early compare-in. ORLEN Crew’s Polish champion Miko Marczyk, who led after SS1 but misplaced out on a high consequence on account of a puncture, modified into as soon as P15 with Albert von Thurn und Taxis taking P16.
Extra Munster magic in ERC1 Junior
Grégoire Munster staked his claim on the FIA ERC1 Junior title with a 2nd successive victory as a double puncture hit rival Oliver Solberg’s hopes worthy on day one. However Luxembourg driver Munster, in his household-lunge BMA Autosport Hyundai i20 R5, had factors of his possess when his car failed to commence earlier than leaving overnight parc fermé and then service this morning.
“It modified into as soon as maybe something to attain with the cool evening we had,” mentioned Munster. “This day we tried to attach up the car constantly working to now no longer regain any longer complications. I’m truly proud of our weekend, it modified into as soon as a extremely, truly tricky rally. On the major day we pushed and showed some big shuffle. On the 2nd day we had to impart up the gap we had. I did now no longer deserve to lift any possibility this morning and we managed it moderately better in the 2nd loop when we showed we possess been in a position to riding rapid without making any errors.”
Love Munster, Efrén Llarena modified into as soon as furthermore competing on Rally Hungary for the major time but shrugged off his ignorance of the match and his Rallye Crew Spain-entered Citroën C3 R5. “We tried to possess a appropriate shuffle to attain the total stages at 80/85 per cent,” mentioned the ERC3 Junior champion. “This afternoon we possess been in the wrestle and seen we could be on the podium so we tried to assault. It modified into as soon as an shimmering podium for the team and furthermore Rallye Crew Spain and the total guys that abet me.”
Within the abet of Solberg in third, Callum Devine took fourth earlier than Erik Cais, Dominik Dinkel and Miko Marczyk. Emil Lindholm restarted on day two after he went off the twin carriageway on SS9 whereas in the thick of the ERC1 Junior podium wrestle for Crew MRF Tyres. He positioned eighth. Hungarian class newcomer Ádám Velenczei retired with a technical enviornment on leg one and did now no longer restart on Sunday.
Érdi Jr takes certain ERC2 capture as Mabellini makes up for misplaced time in Abarth Rally Cup
For the 2nd rally working, Hungarian hero Tibor Érdi Jr modified into as soon as fastest in ERC2 on all but two stages to lift a dominant triumph, his third of 2020. Zelindo Melegari finished 2nd with Andrea Mabellini third after Dmitry Feofanov stopped on the final day with an oil leak. Mabellini retired on Friday evening’s superspecial with suspension failure but fought abet to total the ERC2 podium and capture the Abarth Rally Cup portion for a third time. Martin Rada finished 2nd but Mihnea Mureșan and Roberto Gobbin possess been non-starters on leg two after crashing out on Saturday. “We are more than happy to capture our home lunge,” mentioned Érdi Jr. “We had no complications other than a slack puncture on SS12. The feeling is wonderful and we are more than happy, it’s a appropriate job. We tried to be stable without possibility and here’s what we did.”
Torn turns on the warmth in ERC3/ERC3 Junior title bid
Ken Torn did his chances of a combined ERC3/ERC3 Junior title triumph the vitality of appropriate alongside with his third capture of the season at the wheel of the Pirelli-geared up Ford Fiesta Rally4 he shares with co-driver Kauri Pannas. The Estonian Autosport Junior Crew driver modified into as soon as embroiled in a end wrestle with Rallye Crew Spain’s Pep Bassas, which ebbed and flowed for quite lots of the match.
“Pointless to recount the final consequence is qualified,” mentioned Torn. “It modified into as soon as a tricky weekend, one in all the hardest weekends we’ve had, but a mountainous job is done. It’s appropriate skills in the pocket for the future. We had a entrance-ethical puncture on stage 15, it modified into as soon as now no longer the correct recordsdata but we did now no longer lose too mighty time. The potentialities of successful the title seem appropriate but there might be lots more to attain, we are in a position to’t be slothful and we possess now to attach up working and be stronger on the subsequent match.”
Romanian Raul Badiu carried out the ERC3 podium in the abet of Bassas with Norwegian rookie Ola Jr Nore third in ERC3 Junior in Toksport’s all-fresh Renault Clio RSR Rally5. Hungarian lady driver Adrienn Vogel modified into as soon as a stable fifth in ERC3 with Amaury Molle battling an engine enviornment for quite lots of the match to attain fourth in ERC3 Junior and sixth in ERC3.
Csaba Juhász modified into as soon as next up adopted by spectacular Romanian newcomer Norbert Maior, who modified into as soon as in the ERC3 Junior lead wrestle till a driveshaft failure compelled him out on Saturday. Martin László furthermore showed stable assemble but his hopes possess been undone by a skedaddle back and forth into a ditch on SS5 and a gearbox enviornment. Csaba Viszlo crashed out, whereas Rachele Somaschini retired with the recurrence of an extinct shoulder hurt.
Breen explains podium heartache
Craig Breen modified into as soon as firmly on the right music for a podium attain for Crew MRF Tyres easiest for a mechanical failure to force him to retire his Hyundai i20 R5 on SS12 whereas working in 2nd. The Irishman, a five-time winner in the ERC, explained what went coarse. “Sadly, about a kilometres from the tip of the third stage of the loop we had an engine failure. There’s no indicate point fingers and blame somebody. There modified into as soon as cramped warning and I have faith by the time the warning came, the hurt [was] already done. There modified into as soon as now no longer a good deal of more that we attain to be ethical. This day modified into as soon as rather easy upright to carry it home. That modified into as soon as the assignment. We took it very easy over the stages. It’s truly disappointing, brooding about the total work that all americans has done, but it no doubt is lifestyles sadly. The progress of MRF Tyres has definitely been spectacular. We’ve been we’ve been attempting very, very worthy and the total tests in the interval in-between to form tyre an increasing selection of aggressive and we’re definitely making mountainous improvements and we are going to lift a study and form it even better one day.”
P1 Racing Fuels Podium Place awards drivers
The P1 Racing Fuels Podium Place, lunge for the major time all around the 2019 ERC season finale in Hungary, continued on this year’s match. It rewarded the pinnacle three finishes in ERC1 and ERC2 with gas vouchers that can even be exchanged for P1 XR5 lunge gas at subsequent events, serving to opponents to extra lower the tag of competing. All the procedure via each and every lessons, the successful drivers got 150 litres of gas, whereas the 2nd and third positioned drivers got 100L and 50L respectively.
LEG ONE REPORT: Click on HERE for leg one document
DAY TWO NEWSFEED AVAILABLE BY EMAILING: Paula_Dequidt@discovery.com
PROVISIONAL TOP 15 ERC POSITIONS (after 16 stages, 191.06 kilometres)
1 Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)/Ola Fløene (NOR) Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo 1h48m31.1s
2 Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL) Hyundai i20 R5 +1m32.2s
3 Efrén Llarena (ESP)/Sara Fernández (ESP) Citroën C3 R5 +2m00.3s
4 Oliver Solberg (SWE)/Aaron Johnston (IRL) Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo +2m04.8s
5 Niki Mayr-Melnhof (AUT)/Poldi Welsersheimb (AUT) Ford Fiesta R5 MklI +2m08.2s
6 Norbert Herczig (HUN)/Ramón Ferencz (HUN) Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 +2m31.4s
7 Callum Devine (IRL)/James Fulton (IRL) Hyundai i20 R5 +2m50.3s
8 Erik Cais (CZE)/Jindřiška Žáková (CZE) Ford Fiesta R5 MkII +3m24.3s
9 Marijan Griebel (DEU)/Tobias Braun (DEU) Citroën C3 R5 +3m32.4s
10 András Hadik (HUN)/Krisztián Kertész (HUN) Ford Fiesta R5 MkII +4m13.6s
11 Josh McErlean (IRL)Keaton Williams (GBR) Hyundai i20 R5 +4m16.8s
12 Dominik Dinkel (DEU)/Ursula Mayrhofer (AUT) Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo +4m35.1s
13 Alexey Lukyanuk (RUS)/Dmitry Eremeev (RUS) Citroën C3 R5 +4m53.5s
14 Yoann Bonato (FRA)/Benjamin Boulloud (FRA) Citroën C3 R5 +4m57.7s
15 Miko Marczyk (POL)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo +5m44.5s
FIA ERC2: Tibor Érdi Jr (HUN)/Zoltán Csökő (HUN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
FIA ERC3: Ken Torn (EST)/Kauri Pannas (EST) Ford Fiesta Rally4
FIA ERC1 Junior: Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL) Hyundai i20 R5
FIA ERC3 Junior: Ken Torn (EST)/Kauri Pannas (EST) Ford Fiesta Rally4
Abarth Rally Cup: Andrea Mabellini (ITA)/Nicoló Gonella (ITA) Abarth 124 rally
Click on here for plump provisional outcomes, stage classifications, retirements and other knowledge or observe this link: https://www.fiaerc.com/live-timing/.
RALLY LEADERS
SS1: Marczyk/Gospodarczyk
SS2-SS16: Mikkelsen/Fløene
STAGE WINNERS
A record of stage winners is straight away available in the hooked up PDF.
KEY STATISTICS:
ERC rally wins in 2020: Lukyanuk 2; Mikkelsen, Solberg 1
ERC stage wins in 2020: Lukyanuk 20; Solberg 11; Mikkelsen 7; Crugnola 6; Basso and Breen 3; Ares, Bonato and Østberg 2; Gryazin, Marczyk and Munster 1
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: Click on here the provisional positions after 4/6.
What’s next? Spherical 5 of 6, Rally Islas Canarias, November 26-28: With the stages hiking and descending at a frequent rate, drivers pay end attention to corner velocity and strains to ensure optimum momentum is maintained, whereas precise car impart-up and pacenote accuracy are essential. One in every of the distinguished facets of the sealed stages is the abrasive surface, constructed partly from volcanic lava. It technique grip levels are high and reside fixed if it rains, though tyre wear can form bigger. Alternatively, with the chance to lift ‘cuts’ via corners restricted, the roads reside moderately particles-free. Returning to the ERC schedule in 2016, it’s a rally mountainous on mission and fixed action. Media recordsdata and accreditation: Roberto Martí and Javier Viera, prensa@rallyislascanarias.com Tournament recordsdata: https://www.rallyislascanarias.com/index.php/en/
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