Battistolli edges Žala in Liepāja qualifier

The Italian driver averaged an impressive 121kph in his Pirelli-shod Škoda Fabia Rally2 to outpace Vaidotas Žala’s similar machine by just 0.03sec over the 3.77km Liepeni warm-up blast. 

The pace was hot, with just 1.5sec blanketing the top ten as the ERC’s Latvian encounter got underway in earnest. 

Battistolli was surprised to take his first-ever Qualifying Stage win and felt his time could have been even better had it not been for a turbo pop-off valve issue.

“I am really surprised, actually,” he said. “We had some problems with the pop-off valve - It opened at least two times during the stage. All the way through, I was thinking we were losing time.

“Of course, it’s a really nice way to start our rally, but it’s going to be a different story tomorrow. We know it will not be easy, so we will pick a good road position tonight and do our best,” he added.

Hayden Paddon completed the leading trio just 0.152sec slower than the pacesetter. The Kiwi is using this weekend’s fixture as a warm-up for WRC Rally Estonia and only took delivery of his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 earlier this week. 

Gregor Jeets brought his Škoda home just 0.015sec behind Paddon, followed by fifth-placed Nil Solans in another i20 N. Solans was 0.057sec faster than KOWAX Racing team-mate Tom Kristensson, who is driving a first-generation i20 R5. 

Home hero Mārtiņš Sesks was the highest-placed Team MRF Tyres Fabia driver in seventh and had team-mate and championship leader Efrén Llarena hot on his heels.

Ken Torn ended ninth in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, with flying Frenchman Yoann Bonato completing the top ten in a Citroën C3 Rally2.   

Crews will attend a ceremonial start in Liepāja city centre later Friday evening before the rally gets underway in the Talsi region on Saturday morning. 

• Full coverage from Rally Liepāja is available on WRC+ All Live here, including every stage broadcast as it happens as well as key interviews, features and expert analysis from the service park.