SS7: Lukyanuk closes on Delecour

Alexey Lukyanuk has closed to within one second of François Delecour in his pursuit of the final podium spot on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils.

The Russian clocked 200kph in his showroom-specification Mitsubishi Lancer on the high-speed, 10.42-kilometre Ventbunkers run, which he completed 2.2s slower than stage winner Jari Ketomaa in a Ford Fiesta RRC.

Finn Ketomaa was in turn 0.5s quicker than Craig Breen to grow his overall advantage ahead of the Irishman to 1.5s with two stages of leg two remaining.

“I had new tyres and they gave me so much grip,” said Lukyanuk, who holds a strong lead in the FIA ERC Production Car Cup. “I was too slow in the first part of the stage because you need time to get used to more grip. It was a fast road and I am happy.”

Delecour once again bemoaned his normally-aspirated Peugeot 207 Super 2000’s lack of outright grunt compared to its turbocharged rivals. “I was on the limiter all the time, it was a crazy stage and I lose so much time,” he said.

Breen, meanwhile, said he wasn’t entirely happy with his driving. “I was very sloppy in places and wasn’t too happy with my driving. I’m shocked I didn’t lose more time.”

Estonian Siim Plangi said he nearly went off the road on two occasions in his R4-specification Mitsubishi Lancer. “It was fifth gear at maximum speed. Two more metres and I would have rolled into the field,” he told ERC Rally Radio’s Julian Porter.

Jan Černý reported losing time due to a lack of grip. “We had used tyres for this stage,” said the Czech privateer. “Because of this we didn’t have so many studs.”

Stage eight, the second run through Neste Oil, is now underway.