SS5: Baumschlager snatches Jännerrallye lead

Raimund Baumschlager proved he’s as good at driving rally cars as he is at running teams by snatching the lead of the International Jännerrallye.

The Baumschlager Rallye und Racing Team boss and 10-time Austrian champion was 4.4s quicker than erstwhile leader Jan Kopecký on the repeat of the 10.22-kilometre Liebenau test to snatch top spot on the FIA European Rally Championship counter in his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 by 3.4s.

Bryan Bouffier and Beppo Harrach shared the second fastest time but Bouffier remains in fifth overall behind Harrach. Meanwhile, Václav Pech reckoned he hadn’t driven fast enough and slips to third in his MINI.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz impressed with the fourth quickest time in his Lotos Rally Team Subaru Impreza. The Polish champion is a rival to Harrach for glory in the ERC Production Car Cup.

Rallying legend François Delecour is using the bar from his car’s jack as a makeshift gear lever after the original broke at the start of stage four. He was 15.9s slower than stage winner Baumschlager.

Rosenberger retires from Jännerrallye

Volkswagen Polo driver Kris Rosenberger is out of the International Jännerrallye with an electrical problem on his Super 2000-specifciation machine.

The Austrian veteran, who has driven everything from a historic Lancia Fulvia to a Seat Cordoba WRC throughout his distinguished career, stopped on stage four.

“We had a problem with the electrical systems: suddenly the windscreen wipers came on, then the headlights, then the indicators,” he said. “Afterwards the engine stopped, and the starter motor would not turn to re-start it, so that was it. A pity, as I was really enjoying it.”

Rosenberger finished 13th overall last year and had been running in 12th before his retirement from the FIA European Rally Championship round.