Following on from BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, the ERC’s high-speed gravel ride continued with Delfi Rally Estonia, round four of the all-action season, last July.
The winners: Home hero Georg Linnamäe reversed a 9.3sec deficit starting the event-deciding Power Stage to win Delfi Rally Estonia for his maiden ERC victory.
Linnamäe looked to have lost out on first place to friend and compatriot Robert Virves following a flat-out battle between the pair on Estonian’s high-speed gravel stages.
But the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 driver’s choice of soft-compound Michelin tyres for the Power Stage, which was held in treacherous conditions following heavy rain and strong winds during the build-up, proved inspired.
He went 11.5sec quicker than Pirelli-shod Virves (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) to take the win alongside Welsh co-driver James Morgan by 2.2sec in a thrilling finale as Nikolay Gryazin completed the top three aboard his Pirelli-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2.
How did it feel? “I can’t believe it,” said Linnamäe. “I gave it everything I had. It was just crazy [on the Power Stage], I think I had a moment in about every corner. It was the most ballsy stage I’ve ever done in my life, I just left nothing out there. After the last stage we knew we had a big job ahead of us, but we knew our tyre choice would pay-off for this one, it’s just great. It’s been a great battle, the most fun I’ve had in a rally car ever, it’s just been mega.”
Turning point: Virves (below) started leg two 1.0sec ahead of Linnamäe but extended that margin after winning two of the final day’s first three stages. Linnamäe cut Virves’ lead to 2.9sec by winning SS12 but the Michelin-equipped Toyota driver had no answer to his compatriot on SS13, who was 6.4sec faster. While Virves appeared to have done enough in his pursuit of a maiden ERC win, he ultimately couldn’t hold on through the Power Stage, which changed the course of the rally in Linnamäe’s favour. Regardless of the result, Linnamäe and Virves could look forward to celebrating their birthdays – they turned 26 and 24 respectively the day after the rally.
Miracle man: Hayden Paddon reached the finish of SS2 with steam pouring out of his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 due to damage caused by a “big nosedive over a jump halfway through the stage”, according to the defending European champion. Rapid repairs by co-driver John Kennard allowed him to continue his charge to the extent he was fastest of all through SS3 after benefiting from a break in the weather. The BRC Racing Team driver would then bend his Hyundai i20 N Rally2’s steering striking a rock on SS9.
Shining through: FIA Rally Star Romet Jürgenson, who would go on to win the FIA Junior WRC title later in the year, claimed FIA ERC3 honours while Jaspar Vehar (below) scored an FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC double for a clean sweep of victories by Estonian drivers. Another local talent, Patrik Enok, impressed by finishing second. Turkish teenager Kerem Kazaz claimed ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy honours for the first time in fourth position, one place behind Joosep Ralf Nõgene.
Early setback: Simone Tempestini was in trouble when he ran wide on a high-speed left-hand turn 15.2 kilometres from the start of SS2 and rolled. Tempestini and co-driver Sergiu Itu were uninjured but their Fabia RS Rally2 sustained significant damage.
Table topper: Hayden Paddon fought back from earlier delays to finish fifth. And having started the event equal on points with Mathieu Franceschi, BRC Racing Team-run Paddon led the provisional standings by 10 points after four rounds.
What’s next? Visit FIAERC.com on Saturday 25 January for the Rally di Roma Capital recap.