Ott Tanak took a dominant victory last time out in Portugal.
Team by Team Citroen Thoughts on Portugal: had expected good steps forward but except on Power Stage, this was not evident largely due to the running order disadvantage. Challenge of Sardinia: bigger stage cleaning effect, expectation of higher temperatures than Portugal, the stages are more technical and therefore slower speeds, but similar set-up for both cars. One day for each driver testing in Sardinia to cover both Portugal and Sardinia. Same cars as in Portugal. No defined R5 programme for Ostberg after Sardinia. No specific extra curricula programme before Finland. Both Ogier and Ostberg have contested this event 11 times in the past, Ogier winning three times and Ostberg once coming second.🇮🇹As the @OfficialWRC enters the 2nd half of the season, @Citroen drivers @SebOgier & @EsapekkaLappi prepare to tackle one of the most technical events, with the Mediterranean Sea forming a magnificent backdrop.
🇲🇫 https://t.co/KjG88M7F8O 🇬🇧 https://t.co/eahydeE0O0#WRC #C3WRC pic.twitter.com/kE2UN0eQc3 — Citroën Racing (@CitroenRacing) June 7, 2019
Hyundai Thoughts on Portugal: the fuel problems for Sordo and Loeb were confirmed as being similar to each, and connected to the problem in Mexico. Sardinia is rougher than Portugal, especially on the second passes of stages. The team only had three days back at base in order to re-prepare the cars. Pre event testing was in Sardinia in the middle of May with Andreas Mikkelsen, Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville, one day each. The same chassis as in Portugal. Between Sardinia and Finland, in addition to Finland testing the team’s plans include Neuville going to Ypres, Mikkelsen in Rally Estonia and Loeb at Rally Alba (Italian championship at Cuneo). Loeb goes to Rallye Vosges Grand Est same weekend as Sardinia and then Terre du Haut-Var in an R5 and Jari Huttunen does Pohjanmaa Rally in Finland. Neuville has won here twice, Sordo has two podium results, but in 10 attempts Mikkelsen has never been on the podium.Next stop for #WRC: Sardinia 🇮🇹 @Rally_d_Italia #HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/uhhqyjL0D1
— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) June 7, 2019
M-Sport Thoughts on Portugal: Temmu Suninen’s brake failure was due to a burst brake hose, Gus Greensmith’s steering was thought to have been damaged earlier on the PowerStage, but only broke when the suspension was fully dropped on the jump. Sardinia is traditionally rougher and slower than Portugal which had been unusually hot and road cleaning is expected to be more severe in Sardinia. No testing was carried out specifically for Sardinia. Elfyn Evans and Suninen have the same cars as in Portugal, Greensmith’s R5 will be Alberto Heller’s car in Portugal. The WRC2 Pro entry for Lukasz Pieniazek was withdrawn. There are plans for entering various rallies, including Camilli who will debut the new M-Sport R5 in Ypres, while Evans is to enter Rally Estonia in a WRC before Finland. No podium result for either driver, though Suninen has won WRC2 and WRC3 here. Veteran Fiesta WRC privateer Martin Prokop has entered this event 12 times and finished in the points five times.The @FIAJuniorWRC crews are back in town and ready to tackle the gravel stages of this weekend's @Rally_d_Italia 😎
➡️ Read the preview here: https://t.co/rui5gTJFqo https://t.co/n2Q2hDCEou — M-Sport (@MSportLtd) June 10, 2019
Toyota Thoughts on Portugal: Tanak’s brake problem was probably a broken pipe and loss of fluid. Jari-Matti Latvala and Tanak’s Day 2 suspension problems were not exactly the same, but were similar. Main challenge for Sardinia is the running order with Toyota driver Tanak due to start second. The three cars entered by the official team are the same as in Portugal, the extra car (for Juho Hanninen) was entered by Tommi Makinen Racing and was chassis 2 used by Katsuta when he won Itaralli earlier this year, and earlier by Marcus Gronhom on the 2019 Swedish. All four drivers had at least one test day for Rally Sardegna. These tests were held in Sardinia and Portugal. One victory for Tanak, five podiums and a Group N victory for Latvala. Hanninen won an IRC rally here and 13 years ago won Group N, but Meeke, in five attempts, has never finished higher than 16th.What to expect from @Rally_d_Italia? Our test driver @JuhoWRC will give you a good overview what's going to happen. See more from the video below! 😎#TOYOTA #YarisWRC #RallyItaliaSardegna #WRC #JuhoHänninen #Rallying #TGR_WRC #WRCjp #ToyotaGAZOORacing pic.twitter.com/9wgRMiteYS
— Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) June 7, 2019
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
