SS4: Pajunen regains rally lead

A cat-and-mouse battle has emerged between Intercontinental Rally Challenge front-runners Mikko Pajunen and Yuriy Protasov as Pajunen has reclaimed the lead on Prime Yalta Rally.

Finn Pajunen clocked the fastest time on the 22.55-kilometre Plato 1 stage, completing the asphalt speed test at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 with a time of 15m58.7s. Ukraine’s Protasov finished 18s behind pace-setter Pajunen in a Ford Fiesta RRC, and now slips 6.4s behind the rapid Finn on the overall leaderboard.

Third fastest was Fiesta S2000 driver Yağiz Avci, completing the stage 15.2s adrift of Protasov. Closely behind Avci was Ukraine’s Yuriy Kochmar at the wheel of a Mistubishi Evolution Lancer VIII who also clocked the fastest time out of the IRC Production Cup competitors. Fellow countryman Vitaliy Pushkar set the fifth quickest stage but now trails Kochmar in the IRC Production Cup by 4.3s.

Sixth fastest was Vizin László in a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, with Valeriy Gorban finishing 11s behind László at the wheel of a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

Frenchman Robert Consani has established more than a one-minute lead in the IRC 2WD Cup after his closest competitor Murat Bostanci encountered problems during the stage.

Puncture woes for Bostanci

Murat Bostanci was running second in the IRC 2WD Cup on Prime Yalta Rally before a front-left puncture on stage four cost him more than five minutes.

The Turkish Ford Fiesta R2 driver was competing on the tenth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge but hit trouble on the 22.55-kilometre Plato 1 stage.

“It happened about half-way through the stage,” explained a team representative from Ford Team Türkiye. “It was a front-left puncture and Murat stopped to change the tyre. Everything is okay now and he hopes to make up some more positions this afternoon.”

Robert Consani continues to leads the IRC 2WD Cup over the Honda Civic Type R of Olexsiy Panov, who is more than one minute behind leading Consani.