News and quotes SS10 (Keply 1)

The 21.95 km Keply special stage proved to be exactly the tough nut that many drivers had predicted: the narrow, fast and slippery forest passages were made even more challenging by light rainfall. The biggest victim was World Championship leader Sébastien Ogier. He skidded off the track in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, hit a tree and came to a halt next to the track with a torn-off front wheel after spinning. ‘That's not possible,’ was all the Frenchman could say in response to his retirement.

Others also felt the effects of the unforgiving track. Grégoire Munster, the first on the track, promptly spun on the wet leaves. Joshua McErlean hit a straw bale with his front right in a chicane and had to continue the race with a destroyed front right headlight. At the same spot, Thierry Neuville touched the straw bale and damaged the Hyundai in the area of the right front headlight and fender. Once again, it was the final starters who set the fastest times: Ott Tänak beat all the times before him by almost 10 seconds, Elfyn Evans was another 2.3 seconds faster. Then Kalle Rovanperä crushed everything that had started before him: his 11:17.4 minutes was the fastest time, 6.4 seconds ahead of Evans.

#33 Elfyn Evans (GBR) / Scott Martin (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

‘That could have been much better. Some sections were good, but I was far too cautious in the difficult places.’

#69 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) / Jonne Halttunen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

‘That wasn't enough. I was too cautious. But the conditions are extremely difficult. I'm not satisfied.’

#8 Ott Tänak (EST) / Martin Järveoja (EST), Hyundai i20 N Rally1

‘It was okay – not enough performance. The leaves make the stage difficult, the rest is fine.’

#1 Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1

’I had no confidence in the car and no feeling for it. It wasn't fun. But we made it to the finish. The three rain tyres certainly helped. We are fighting and giving it our all.’

#18 Takamoto Katsuta (JPN) / Aaron Johnston (IRL), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

’I often hesitated. It was really difficult. It's hard to see where it's slippery and where it's not. The leaves are particularly treacherous.’

#16 Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) / Alexandre Coria (FRA), Hyundai i20 N Rally1

‘I have no confidence in the grip and the tyres. I think the soft tyres worked better than the rain tyres. These are the wrong choice at the moment. It was easy to make a mistake.’

#5 Sami Pajari (FIN) / Marko Salminen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

’You have a few bad moments and lose confidence. It wasn't fun. But I have to use conditions like these to learn and get better. This time it wasn't good, next time I'll be better.’

#13 Grégoire Munster (LUX) / Louis Louka (BEL), Ford Puma Rally1

’The uneven asphalt makes it borderline. If it were even and flat, it would be easier. I spun on the wet leaves. Once I got on it, I had no chance. It was still drizzling a bit, but that's not so bad. Unlike the rain that happened here before.‘

#55 Joshua McErlean (IRL) / Eoin Treacy (IRL), Ford Puma Rally1

’I hit the hay bale in the chicane under the trees. That happens quickly because the grip conditions keep changing. I don't know yet whether the soft tyres were the right decision, but it wasn't ideal.‘

#20 Oliver Solberg (SWE) / Elliott Edmondson (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris

’The conditions are treacherous. I was far too slow. But we're still learning. It's difficult to build confidence.’