|
SS4, the famed Ouninpohja test, is a real driver favourite. Measuring 34.39km in length, it’s a feast of wide bends, more than 75 jumps and crazy speeds. Average speeds of more than 130km/h are to be expected.
 Rally leader Sebastien Ogier was quickest through the stage, as he was last year, and increases his rally lead and taking the stage record from Harri Rovanpera. ‘We enjoy it a lot. Not a bad stage. Very difficult to find the limit all the way through.’ smiled Ogier. Second quickest was the determined Jarii-Matti Latvala, hoping to take a win in his home rally this weekend. He was just three tenths down on Ogier, and moves up to second overall. ‘I’ve never been so good here – especially the opening 17km which I don’t know so well. it was okay.’ Mads Ostberg was third fastest, 3.4 seconds down on Latvala, but clearly enjoying his rally so far. ‘I’m enjoying my driving so much here – to fly the car over these jumps is just amazing.’ Kris Meeke completed the stage fourth fastest and is now down to third overall, just 0.9 seconds behind Latvala. However, he appears to have a problem and so the rest of his day is in jeopardy. ‘There’s something wrong. The driveshaft has gone I think It happened in the last seven or eight kilometres. I think we have only three-wheel drive.’ Hayden Paddon and Andreas Mikkelsen complete the top six. The next stage is the short 5.4km Himos test, before the crews have a tyre fitting stop to mark a short midday break. SS5 begins at 12:42 local time. Story by: iRallylive.com
|
