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Tanak makes winning start to Rally Poland

motorsport27 June 2024 20:30| © AFP
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Ott Tanak © Getty Images

Hyundai driver Ott Tanak won the opening special stage of Rally Poland on Thursday ahead of his Belgian teammate Thierry Neuville, the world championship leader.

At the end of the 2.5-kilometre stage run in Mikolajki, the 2019 world champion edged Neuville by one second, while Britain's Elfyn Evans (Toyota) took third place at 1.3 seconds.

Tanak has unfinished business in Poland as a puncture robbed him of what would have been his maiden victory in the closing stages of the 2016 edition.

"I like this rally a lot, but I've never been able to win it," he said.

"It's a target I'd like to fight for but let's see for the weekend.

"(It will be a) very demanding rally going forwards, very high speed."

Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) was fourth, ahead of the third Hyundai driven by the Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen and Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport/Ford).

Two-time reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota) conceded 2.1 seconds and is seventh.

The Finn was not scheduled to drive in Poland but had to replace Sebastien Ogier at short notice after an accident during a reconnaissance run on Tuesday.

The eight-time world champion and his co-driver Vincent Landais, who was involved in a head-on collision, were uninjured, as were the two occupants of the other vehicle involved.

However, they had to withdraw from the Polish event.

STANDINGS AFTER 1ST SPECIAL STAGE

  1. Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (EST/Hyundai) 1min 42.5sec
  2. 2. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL/Hyundai) at 1.0sec,
  3. 3. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (GBR/Toyota) 1.3,
  4. 4. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (JPN-IRL/Toyota) 1.6,
  5. 5. Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen (NOR/Hyundai) 1.8,
  6. 6. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (FRA/M-Sport Ford) 1.9,
  7. 7. Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (FIN/Toyota) 2.1

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