SS11 and SS12: Wins for Al-Attiyah, Atkinson

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Chris Atkinson were the surprise winners on the Super Specials at Leon’s race circuit this evening as a sudden downpour created adverse stage conditions for the some of the leading drivers running further down the order.

Al-Attiyah was fastest through the first run in his Qatar World Rally Team Citroen DS3 WRC to claim his maiden stage victory in the World Rally Championship powered by Nokia. Atkinson was second with Ott Tanak third and MINI driver Armindo Araujo fourth.

Atkinson, in a Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC, then reversed the top two positions on the second run with Araujo taking third and Tanak fourth.

Rally Guanajuato Mexico leader Sebastien Loeb was one of several drivers caught out by the deteriorating conditions. The factory Citroen driver was eighth on both runs but has nevertheless managed to extend his overall advantage to 11.2s after team-mate and rival Mikko Hirvonen also lost time.

Saturday’s action gets underway with the 29.90-kilometre Ibarilla at 06:54hrs local time.