After SS12: Hänninen leads into service

After SS10: More success for leader Juho

Juho Hänninen has strengthened his control of Rally Argentina by winning Sunday’s second stage, the 22.40-kilometre Assochinga-La Cumbre test. He was 6.5 seconds faster than Briton Guy Wilks, who is at the wheel of a similar Škoda Fabia.

Jan Kopecký, in the second works Fabia, has closed to within 33.9 seconds of third-placed Kris Meeke after the Peugeot 207 driver lost more time with a throttle sensor fault.

Gabriel Pozzo is just 7.9 seconds behind Federico Villagra and looks set to overhaul his countryman for fifth place as the top Argentine driver, particularly after Villagra complained that his Ford Fiesta was still proving to be slow exiting corners.

After SS11: Juho on top; problems for Meeke

Juho Hänninen’s domination of Rally Argentina continued when he set the fastest time through the 11.34-kilometre Valle Hermoso-Casa Grande stage to increase his overall lead to 44.9 seconds. Roared on by huge crowds, the factory Škoda driver has now won all but two of the stages held so far in his Fabia S2000.

Kris Meeke’s hopes of a podium finish suffered another knock when the Northern Irishman could only manage the fifth fastest time through the stage as an electronic sensor problem on his Peugeot 207 worsened.

After SS12: Hänninen leads into service

Juho Hänninen has completed the opening loop of stages of the final day of Rally Argentina with a lead of 45.4 seconds over fellow Škoda Fabia ace Guy Wilks.

Kris Meeke was again unable to match the leading pace in his Peugeot 207 due to an electrical problem but he still holds third position ahead of Jan Kopecký, who is now 26.2 seconds behind in his Fabia.

Argentine Gabriel Pozzo, in a Subaru Impreza, has moved ahead of countryman Federico Villagra into fifth place.

Crews are now negotiating the 57-kilometre road section back to Carlos Paz for the midday service. After that there are three stages left to run, including the event-closing Tarmac superspecial through the streets of Carlos Paz.