Pellier sets scintillating pace to charge into Junior lead

Laurent Pellier served signal of his intent in the ERC4 Junior category at Rally di Roma Capitale today (23 July), as the Frenchman turned up the tempo to storm into the lead and snatch back the initiative in the title fight.

Pellier won the opening two rounds of the campaign in Gran Canaria and Poland, but a roll last time out in Latvia saw the Frenchman fail to score – and enabled Óscar Palomo to seize the top spot in the championship standings.

Five points separated the pair entering this weekend, and Pellier was on a mission from the start of Saturday’s six demanding speed tests. Outpacing Palomo throughout, the Opel Corsa driver overhauled early leader Andrea Mabellini with a herculean effort on SS6 – going more than 11 seconds quicker than any of his rivals – and proceeded to consolidate that advantage with another fastest time on SS7 to conclude the day 12.6sec in front.

Mabellini sits second in his Renault Clio, still very much in touch with six stages remaining on Sunday, with countryman Roberto Daprà almost a minute shy of the lead in third in a similar car. Palomo lies fourth overnight in his Peugeot 208.

“I’m really enjoying being back on the asphalt this weekend,” reflected Pellier, “and we gave it a big push on SS6. It was the longest stage of the day, but everything worked well, from the car to Marine [Pelamourgues – co-driver] and myself. It got pretty hot inside the cockpit towards the end, but we made it through.

“Tomorrow will be a new day, and another hard day with a 32km stage, so anything can still happen. The plan is to stay focussed, continue the way we have been going – and try to keep the others behind!”