Thierry Neuville enters Friday’s premiere of Rally Central Europe in the lead – Elfyn Evans already showing slight nerves in WRC battle
Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville leads after the first day at the premiere of the Rally Central Europe, the penultimate round of the 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC). After two of 18 special stages, the Belgian is 1.2 seconds ahead of Ott Tänak (Ford) in the overall standings. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota, +5.8 seconds) is third.
The first three-country rally in WRC history kicked off with the spectator stage “SSS Velka Chuchle”, which was only 2.55 kilometers long and was held on the grounds of a horse race track. Despite its shortness, it proved to be treacherous, not only because of a gravel section.
In the chicanes made of straw bales, several drivers drove off their wing mirrors. The first fastest time went to Tänak. On the 8.92-kilometer “SSS Circuit of Klatovy,” which was driven as darkness fell and the track was wet, Neuville then set the fastest time and took the lead.
In the duel between the two WRC rivals Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans (both Toyota), defending champion Rovanperä currently holds the lead in fourth place overall. Evans in eighth place is 4.8 seconds behind his teammate. The reason for this was a driving mistake on the second stage. “I locked the wheels when braking for a branch-off and slid straight ahead,” reports the Welshman.
Two loops with three special stages each over a total of 121.8 kilometers are on the agenda at the Rally Central Europe on Friday.
