Ott Tänak has taken the lead of Rally Italy Sardinia on the opening stage of Saturday after Sébastien Ogier suffered a puncture.
Ogier was 4.5 seconds going into the opening 7.5-mile Tempio-Pausania stage, but was 4.6s slower than Tänak. Speaking at the end of the stage, Ogier confirmed the deflation had occurred near the start of the stage: “I actually have a puncture since the beginning, I have no idea why.”
Tänak suffered drama of his own, with his hood lifting slightly thanks to a catch that wasn’t correctly latched. This didn’t stop him from setting the fastest time overall, however.
Eight-time world champion Ogier had been the only driver to gamble on taking a single spare tire to save weight, so now faces the unenviable task of completing the three remaining stages of Saturday morning without a spare tire – a second deflation would risk an immediate retirement.
Thierry Neuville also made a big move on the day’s opening test, jumping from fifth to third having passed both Dani Sordo and Takamoto Katsuta on the opening 7.5-mile Tempio Pausania stage.
After spending Friday struggling as the first driver on the road Neuville has a buffer of three cars ahead of him on Saturday, which will have helped the championship leader set the second fastest time, 3.3s slower than Tänak.
Sordo lost two places at once – he not only fell behind his team-mate but also Katsuta, so drops to fifth place.
