ERC
Hakalehto on an ERC4 high
Aatu Hakalehto delivered an FIA ERC4 Championship masterclass by winning the five Saturday stages that ran to build on his overnight advantage for a lead of 4min 59sec.
The 19-year-old Finn, making his debut at European level, started out this morning leading by 4.4sec after his pacesetting performance on the Córdoba street stage on Friday evening.
With an unbroken run of stage bests aboard his Hankook-equipped Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF, Hakalehto was untroubled on 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site while three key rivals hit trouble.
Francesco Dei Ceci, fourth after SS1, lost time through SS2 before retiring on the subsequent road section through illness. Dei Ceci’s fellow ACI Team Italia member, Valentino Ledda, then dropped out of second place with a mechanical issue on route to SS5 to leave Tommaso Sandrin in the provisional runner-up spot ahead of Petr Turkin and ERC newcomer Ludwig Zigliani. Dei Ceci and Ledda are set to restart on Sunday.
Tomasso Sandrin in ERC4 action on Saturday in Sierra Morena
© At World
Sandrin would have been closer to the front had he not been forced to change a damaged front-right tyre 15 kilometres from the start of SS3. The emerging Italian then suffered a spin on SS7 as he continued to adapt to his new-for-2026 Lancia.
“We had some understeer on SS2 but the car was very good after this and I have a good feeling,” Sandrin said. “Unfortunately, I had a puncture on SS3, we were doing great splits, and the stage was super-nice. This is rally.”
But the day belonged to MS Munaretto-run Hakalehto, who said: “It’s been quite nice. We are trying to learn and get the most out of the Hankook tyres. The main goal here is to learn the tyre for the Junior ERC Championship. Obviously, the speed is quite okay, and we are happy with it. The main thing is to learn about the tyres and the car and to get the performance out of everything we have. We tried to drive safely without cutting too much, not taking risks.”
Petr Turkin sat third overnight in ERC4 on his home rally
© At World
SS6 was cancelled for the ERC4 crews after ERC1 contender Philip Allen crashed and partly blocked the road.
The 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site concludes tomorrow (Sunday) with six more stages over a timed distance of 99.20 kilometres. The day-opening 8.95-kilometre Obejo stage is due to begin at 08:05 local time.
For more information, stage times and live updates go to the new Live Centre by clicking HERE.
