ERC
Suninen fights back to slash Meeke’s ERC Ceredigion lead
Teemu Suninen has hit back in the battle for FIA European Rally Championship glory in Wales by winning SS7 to reach midday service 7.0sec behind leader Kris Meeke.
Meeke snatched top spot from overnight pacesetter Suninen by winning Saturday’s opening test as Suninen dropped precious time with a spin.
With SS6 cancelled for safety reasons, Suninen had to wait until SS7 to begin his recovery. By going 5.7sec quicker than Meeke through the 20.71km kilometre stage, the chase for ERC success is very much on.
“It [the stage] is pretty unique,” said Pirelli-supplied Suninen who leads the ERC title race heading into the penultimate round of the season this weekend. “There were a lot of compressions. We tried to survive. The grip level was so good we could have been pushing a bit more but the tyres are in a high window. It was nice in places."
Rally leader, the Michelin-equipped Meeke, acknowledged Suninen’s impressive time, admitting: “Honestly, I'm surprised by his [Suninen's] time, that is incredible. Fair play to him, good time.”
Reigning ERC champion Miko Marczyk dropped from second to third on SS7 and headed to service 16.7sec from first place.
The Polish driver is however 14.6sec ahead of fellow countryman Jakub Matulka. Title contender Andrea Mabellini rounded out the top five, driving a factory-supported Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2.
Max McRae, Meirion Evans and Osian Pryce are next up in the overall order with MRF-shod Erik Cais and Simone Tempestini completing the top 10 ahead of Pierre Ragues after Sam Touzel crashed out on SS5.
In FIA ERC3, championship leader Ville Vatanen leads Ireland's Casey Jay Coleman by 6.3sec, with compatriot Kalum Graffin in third, 1.7sec back.
FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC is headed by a trio of Opel Corsa Rally4 cars. Timo Schulz topped the class after SS7 by 3.6sec from 82nd Rally Poland and Barum Czech Rally Zlín class winner Tom Heindrichs, while Welshman Ioan Lloyd held third (+13.5sec) on his ERC comeback, a stall at the start of SS5 not helping the home hero’s cause. Ford Fiesta Rally4 privateer is fourth in class, 15.8sec off the category lead, after posting back-to-back stage wins.
Five afternoon stages await the crews beginning with SS8 Aberffrwd 2, which is due to get under way at 14:20 local time.
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