It ended at Alghero the 21st Rally Italia Sardiniawith the victory of the Estonians Oct Tanak And Martin Jaervoja on Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid.
The Estonian, World Champion in 2019, signed for the third time the race organized by the Automobile Club of Italy with the direct support of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, after the successes of 2017 and 2022.
The victory came in the last meter of the race, after a Power Stage in full attack for the Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT crew who obtained the 2nd time in qualifying and won the rally with just 2 tenths of an advantage over their direct rivals Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, on Toyota GR Yaris Rall1 Hybrid, dominated the Italian stage but were betrayed by a puncture in the final time trial.
A final stretch of the race that kept not only the thousands of spectators in suspense, but also the viewers who followed the rally on TV and in particular through the live broadcast of RAI Sport.
A duel that lasted for the entire sixth race of the FIA World Rally Championship, always very close, but which gave the verdicts only in the last meter of the last special stage, the Power Stage in which Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe won and led precious points to their world championship leadership and to the Korean manufacturer. A final test with which the Belgian revived the fortunes of the unfortunate competition, which after the success on SS 4 saw him slip off the road on SS 7. Second time for Tanak who gave his all, aware that 6.2 seconds from Ogier there were too many to fill. The Frenchman entered the Power Stage as aggressive as ever, he attacked hard, but he understood that everything could vanish like the air that started to escape from a tire around the 4th km, as he will explain on the TV microphone. Disappointment for the multiple French champion who missed out on his fifth success in Italy by 2 tenths. Redemption for the Estonian who erased the bitterness of the 2019 edition, when he remained stopped halfway through that same power stage while he was traveling towards victory.
Profitable third place for the Spaniards Daniel Sordo and Candido Carrera who brought the second Hyundai i20 N to the Italian podium. Fourth position for the other Toyota GR Yaris of the British Elfyn Evans, looking for a good understanding with the tests, despite having won SS 12.
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