We were waiting for Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä even Thierry Neuville at the top of the time sheet. But it is indeed the surprising Oliver Solberg, who has a rally1 freelance this weekend at the wheel of the Toyota Gr Yaris, who is the leader of the Estonia Rally at the end of the first loop this Friday noon!
Satisfied with his car for the moment, unlike many of his competitors, the young Swedish signed two scratchs, the first two of his career in WRC, during the same special: the longest of the day (24.35 km) disputed around Peipsiääre. It was Ott Tänak, his Dauphin general (+8 ″ 5), who signed the other two scratches of the morning. There too during the same special (mustve – 11, 37 km).
Behind the two men, we find Kalle Rovanperä on the third step of the provisional podium. The Finnish, triple holder of the title of the Estonian event, is relegated, for the moment, 10 seconds from the 23 -year -old pilot. In fourth row, we find Thierry Neuville (+12 ″), who cannot, for the moment, to find the right pace. But the Belgian is far from having abdicated and can still hope to get on the box.
First morning in Estonia complicated for Fourmaux
On the other hand, it is more complicated for Adrien Fourmaux, who already seems too far to hope to fight with these four. Indeed, the Frenchman, who is clearly not in the rhythm, is already pointed at 34 ″ seconds from Solberg and therefore at 24 ″ of the podium. Even if this Rallye d’Estonie is still long, it seems difficult for the Hyundai pilot to get better than a top 5 on Sunday.
For the moment, fifth place seems to be playing between two teammates, Takamoto Katsuta (5th) and Elfyn Evans (6th). Only 0 ″ 5 separate them. The Welshman, the leader of the championship, continues to have difficulties with the scan since he opens the road again this Friday, as in the previous heats.
In addition, the three M-Sport pilots, like what we saw in Portugal, Sardinia or Greece, can already hope for nothing. Josh Mcerlean, the best placed, is 9th a minute from the Swedish. He thus closes the walking in the standings in front of Martins Sesks and Grégoire Munster.
In WRC2, at the end of this first loop in Estonia, the local Robert Virves largely leads the rally with more than 30 seconds ahead of its first pursuers, its compatriots Georg Linnamäe (+33 ″ 3) and Egon Kaur (+36 ″ 2). We recall the absence, this weekend, of the French Yohan and Léo Rossel or the British Gus Greensmith.
WRC – Rallye d’Estonie
ES5 – Special classification
General classification
General classification WRC2