Ireland - after SS4: Hanninen snatches first place

Juho Hänninen has snatched the lead of the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally by winning the fourth stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier, the first of two night tests.

With rain falling heavily on sections of the stage, driving conditions were notably difficult for the crews. Hänninen, who is running first on the road, was fastest by 2.8s and now moves 0.6s ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen in the overall classification.

“It was difficult to find the places where it is wet and the surface is changing. It is not easy,” said Hänninen, whose ŠKODA Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký was second fastest, 2.8s down on the new rally leader.

With stiffer front suspension on his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000, Alastair Fisher equalled IRC champion Mikkelsen’s third-best time through the stage and climbs to fourth overall.

Craig Breen is running out of position following his delay reaching the first service halt in Armagh. As a result he said he lost out in a heavy rain shower and having to overtake IRC 2WD Cup contender Jonny Greer on his way to the seventh best time.

Breen is now seventh overall with Saintéloc Racing team-mate Mathieu Arzeno fifth in his identical Peugeot 207 Super 2000. ŠKODA Ireland’s Robert Barrable said he backed off too much when it began to rain. However, Breen’s time penalty of 1m30s promotes him to sixth.

Sepp Wiegand was sixth quickest and has climbed to eighth following his delay with a puncture on the previous test.

Menya Krózser is back up to full speed after a replacement driveshaft was fitted to his Honda Civic Type R in service after the original failed on stage three, when the Hungarian also suffered a puncture.