Bonato extends advantage despite late Llarena push

Although Llarena hit back on SS11 – a dry run for this afternoon’s live-broadcast Power Stage – to reclaim 4.6sec, Bonato is still very much in charge with just 58.30km still to run.

Llarena’s MRF Tyres team-mate Javier Pardo consolidated third position ahead of fellow Škoda driver Martin László, with runaway ERC4 pace-setter Laurent Pellier narrowly holding off ERC Open leader Alberto Monarri for fifth. Despite the pair’s strong form, the class titles still look set to go elsewhere, with both Óscar Palomo and Joan Vinyes currently doing enough to seal the spoils.

The action will resume with SS12 at 15:56 CET, with the 24.18km El Montmell 2 Power Stage going live on WRC+ at 17:50 CET.

Overall Classification after SS11

Having begun the day with 18.5sec in hand over recently-crowned FIA European Rally Champion Llarena, Citroën star Bonato – who is chasing his first win in the series – picked up from where he had left off yesterday evening to stretch his margin further with fastest times on both SS9 and SS10.

“That was the plan!” Bonato proclaimed. “The Michelin tyres are working well on the longer stages, and we’ll try to continue the same way this afternoon. Let’s hope it’s not quite so close between Efrén and me at the end as it has been on some of the other rallies this season!”