SS8: Hänninen recovers lost ground

ŠKODA Motorsport’s Juho Hänninen has taken back the time he lost on stage seven of Sata Rallye Açores by winning stage eight, Feteiras. As a result his lead on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event over Andreas Mikkelsen is now 10.1s. “I was trying on this one,” he said.

Mikkelsen reported dropping time on an uphill section following a sluggish exit out of a junction. Nevertheless he still managed to set the second quickest time in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport entry.

In the battle for third position, Jan Kopecký has closed to within 2.4s of Peugeot Sport Portugal’s Bruno Magalhães.

The 7.47-kilometre stage was cancelled this morning when cows were spotted on sections of the route.

Overall positions after SS8