Autosportfoto

Junior WRC in Finland: Ciamin in control

Despite dropping over a minute with a puncture, frenchman Nicolas Ciamin held a commanding lead in the FIA Junior WRC after saturday's second leg at Neste Rally Finland.

He extended his overnight advantage by over a minute after setting fastest time on six of the eight super-fast gravel stages south of host city Jyväskyla.

He stayed out of trouble to finish 1min 25.1sec ahead of local star Emil Lindholm after a number of drivers hit trouble.

"It has been a tough day but we're very happy to still be at the front," said Ford Fiesta R2 driver Ciamin. "We aren't pushing 100 per cent but need to have one eye on the win here and one on the prize drives.

"You have to be brave on these stages and take a few chances to set top times. Our aim is still on the win."

Lindholm won the first stage this morning and was in a close tussle with Julius Tannert. When the German dropped time on the final test, Lindholm moved more than two minutes clear.

Lindholm and Tannert were elevated after championship leader Nil Solans and top rookie Dennis Rådström went off the road in SS15, each dropping over three minutes. Both are within touching distance of Tannert, with Rådström fourth and Solans fifth.

Terry Folb held second overnight but the Frenchman retired with engine failure in today's opening test.

Zdroj: wrc.com