Sensational Loeb takes the lead in Arganil
An 18.72km version of the legendary Arganil stage completed the loop. Craig Breen continued to suffer dust issues inside the cockpit of the Ford Puma, as Sébastien Loeb set the early benchmark time of 11min 48.0sec.
The veteran Frenchman admitted that he’d pushed hard and that effort actually gave him the stage win and saw him displace Elfyn Evans at the top of the leader board heading into the tyre fitting zone in Arganil. The pair were separated by a mere 0.5 seconds after the loop, with Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä rounding off the top five.
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“I was not expecting so big tyre wear on the first pass. It was good that we managed only four tyres. It
should be good for the rest of the rally. I think we did quite a good job for being the first car.”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
Moved back ahead of Rovanperä in the overall standings. “On the previous one I was saving a bit the
tyres. We should have done better in there. It was hard to know with the tyre wear.”
Car 42. BREEN/NAGLE
Ran wide on the stage, suffered ongoing dust issues in the car and lost 10.5 seconds to Neuville. “I
tried to smash the door a bit (to stop the dust). Now I am sweating a bit and it’s sticking to my glasses.”
Car 19. LOEB/GALMICHE
“I tried hard. I had a very good stage. What I can do at the moment, it was a good drive.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“There is no problem. Really not the feeling with the car. I try and do what I can.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“It’s up and down a bit. Middle of the stage I was quite okay. Some sections I have no speed at all. I
need to improve myself. It’s very hot in the car.”
Car 44. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
Dropped 16.2 seconds to Loeb. “That one I felt like I had a good run. I lost the tyres, I was clean and
tidy. I don’t have an answer for that. I am surprised.”
Car 1. OGIER/VEILLAS
“To be honest I am pushing. I don’t know how to go faster at the moment. We need to analyse with the
team.”
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
Lost the lead to Loeb after the stage. “Not perfect to be honest. It is one of them. The grip is not so high.
Some places pushing too much and some places not enough. Not happy with that one.”
Car 20. MIKKELSEN/ERIKSEN
Started the stage 5.5 seconds behind Suninen in WRC2.
Car 21. SUNINEN/MARKKULA
The Finn continued to lead WRC2 at the start of the stage.