ERC
Sesks extends ERC Poland lead over Marczyk
Mārtiṇš Sesks remains on course to win ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland although his nearest rival is now home hero Miko Marczyk after Roope Korhonen rolled out of second position on Sunday morning.
Sesks took a 21.4sec overnight lead into the final six stages, an advantage which the Latvian, co-driven by Renars Francis, extended to 41.4sec at the end of the morning loop of fast gravel stages. That lead is now over FIA European Rally Championship title contender Miko Marczyk, with Jon Armstrong in third, 47.6sec adrift.
Sesks, making a return to the ERC this weekend, can count himself fortunate to still be leading the rally after his MRF-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 left the road in stage nine. Sesks misjudged a left hander at a junction which resulted in a brief off road excursion through a farmer’s field.
Despite the moment, Sesks still set the second fastest time, only 0.2sec behind stage winner Isak Reiersen, and extended his rally lead over nearest rival Korhonen, who was fifth quickest.
Stage 10 proved to be a dramatic affair as Korhonen’s hopes of a podium finish came to a sudden halt. The championship leader went off the road 4.9km into the 20km Pozezdrze test, rolling his MRF branded Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally2. Korhonen and co-driver Anssi Viinikka emerged from the crash unscathed.
Upon seeing Korhonen’s car on its roof, Sesks backed off and posted the third fastest time behind stage, 1.6sec shy of stage winner Armstrong. Sesks completed the morning in fine style by winning stage 11 by 6.8sec from Marczyk.
"Of course our team approach has changed now and I’m really sorry for Roope [Korhonen] in the last stage and it would have been really great to finish it together. We are now here with three stages to go, and I just need to keep it clean," said Sesks.
Home hero Miko Marczyk inherits second positon
© ERC
Korhonen’s demise shook up the leaderboard as Michelin runner Marczyk slotted into second ahead of the hard charging Armstrong, driving a Pirelli-shod M-Sport-Ford World Rally Team Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Reiersen survived a couple of clashes with hay bales but lost ground on Armstrong to sit fourth [+1minute 14.0sec] behind the wheel of his Hankook equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
After rectifying a turbo issue in service last night, Mads Østberg was able to challenge the front runners in his Citroen C3 Rally 2. The Norwegian held fifth, 12.2sec behind Reiersen. Simone Tempestini was sixth ahead of Mille Johansson, who was now much happier with the set up on his Škoda.
Title hopeful Andrea Mabellini struggled for confidence on the brake pedal in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 and dropped from seventh to eighth position.
The top 10 was rounded out by Polish duo Jakub Matulka and Krzysztof Bubik, with Max McRae in 11th spot.
Disadvantaged by opening the road, Jos Verstappen lost the Master ERC class lead to Zbigniew Gabryś, who opened up a 10sec margin.
Tymek Abramowski (Ford Fiesta Rally3) maintained the lead in the ERC3 class, with a 23.1sec margin over the Renault Clio Rally3 driven by Ville Vatanen. Tristan Charpentier held third, only 2.6sec behind Vatanen.
In Junior ERC, Calle Carlberg (Opel Corsa Rally4) topped the class by 26.4sec from Jaspar Vaher (Lancia Ypsilon Rally4).
The crews will repeat the trio of stages to conclude the fourth round of the season.
For live timing click here.
