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WRC: SORDO WINS AS TITLE RIVALS STRIKE ISSUES

Dani Sordo wins Rally Italy - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Dani Sordo wins Rally Italy - Photo: LAT

Dani Sordo wins Rally Italy – Photo: LAT

Hyundai driver Dani Sordo has won just the second WRC round of his career, taking out the Rally Italia Sardegna.

The Spaniard was promoted into the lead of the rally on the final stage after Toyota’s Ott Tanak suffered a power steering failure, having amassed over a 26 second lead over the previous stages but lost over 2 minutes on the final trial wrestling his Yaris to the final checkpoint to finish fifth.

Tanak wasn’t the only World Rally Championship title contender, to strike issues. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville managed to salvage sixth position and three Power Stage points after spinning and damaging his radiator on Friday.

Ott Tanak led until a power steering failure on the final stage - Photo: LAT

Ott Tanak led until a power steering failure on the final stage – Photo: LAT

“Very early in the final stage, something very strange happened with the steering and basically it was locked,” said Tanak.

“We were stationary for some time, fighting to get the steering working. Somehow we managed to get going again, but there was a lot of time lost and so was the victory.

“I’m frustrated, but I also feel very sad for the team. Everybody put so much effort in for this event and in the end to lose it in this way is really a shame.”

Citroen’s Sebastien Ogier suffered his own issues. Broken the steering arms after colliding with rocks saw the Frenchman retire his C3 on both Friday and Saturday. Restarting under Rally 2 rules, he cruised through Sunday and conserved his tyres to focused on the Power Stage where he earned four points out of the weekend for the second fastest time through the stage.

Teemu Suninen earned his career best result - Photo: LAT

Teemu Suninen earned his career best result – Photo: LAT

Teemu Suninen notched up his career-best result, finishing second for Ford M-Sport in his first rally alongside new co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen.

Andreas Mikkelsen won all four of Sunday’s stages to round out the podium for Hyundai, beating M-Sport’s Elfyn Evans by just 0.9s who finished in fourth.

The championship continues on the gravel roads of Rally Finland on 1 – 4 August.

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