Tanak sprints to first WRC stage wins in Sweden

Based entirely in Sweden, the second leg of the 60th Rally Sweden provided the backdrop for an impressive showing from the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team. Ott Tänak recovered well from Day 1 disappointment to prove his potential by securing his first WRC stage wins. Continuing his outstanding start to the season, Evgeny Novikov lies fifth overall heading into Day 3, and guest driver Michal Solowow sits 20th going into the final day of competition tomorrow.

Proving that their fifth place at Rallye Monte-Carlo was no one-off, Novikov and co-driver Denis Giraudet impressed throughout the morning loop to secure a string of top ten times. Claiming the fourth fastest time in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, the 14.23km pass over SS12 saw the Russian outperform 2005 Rally Sweden winner, Petter Solberg – just 0.3 seconds adrift of snow-master Mads Østberg in third. A problem with the windscreen misting up halted the Russian’s charge on the morning’s final two stages, but revitalised after service, Novikov was back on the pace in defence of his fifth place.

A string of top-ten times followed for Novikov in the afternoon. Going 6.8 seconds quicker than eight-time World Champion, Sébastien Loeb on SS17 – the fourth fastest time, just 7.3 seconds shy of pace-setter Mikko Hirvonen – secured his fifth place at day’s end. The Muscovite now has a 44.4-second lead over Loeb heading into the final day of competition tomorrow.

There were mixed fortunes for Tänak and co-driver Kuldar Sikk over the morning loop. SS11 saw the Estonian produce the drive of the stage as despite being disadvantaged by running second on the road, Tänak posted the fifth fastest time over the 24.63km loop, just 13.5 seconds adrift of pace-setter, Jari-Matti Latvala. Unfortunately, disaster struck on SS12 as the 24-year-old misjudged the speed of a right-hand corner, going off the road and losing 20 minutes to his competitors as spectators helped them to regain the road. Nevertheless, undaunted by his early error, and with no lasting damage to his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Tänak proved his potential by setting the fastest time over the 1.87km sprint stage to claim his first WRC stage win.

Tänak impressed again in the afternoon with the sixth fastest time on SS16 – 4.2 seconds ahead of Loeb and just 1.2 seconds adrift of 2003 World Champion, Petter Solberg. The Estonian’s day was topped off with the second fastest WRC stage time of his career with the stage win on the second pass over the Hagfors Sprint.

Elsewhere, thoroughly enjoying their time behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC, guest crew Michal Solowow and Maciek Baran produced a controlled drive in their Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Becoming stuck on a snow bank on SS17, the Polish driver lost some time but remains happy to be back competing on the world stage.

Evgeny Novikov (5th) said: “Everything is working well. We are pushing but it is still very slippery out there with much more ice than I had expected.

“Tomorrow we will push and try to maintain our fifth place. [Sébastien] Loeb is just 40 seconds behind us so we need to make sure we have a clean run with no mistakes.”

Ott Tänak (32nd) said: “Today was mostly ok. On the first two stages we had a lot of snow so it wasn’t very easy to be first on the road. This is my first time in the WRC being first on the road so it’s all good experience, but for sure it’s not the easiest thing to do.

“The last sprint stage was probably the only stage where we had a small advantage going first because the roads were quite icy and the stage became harder and harder to drive as it went on.

“Overall I think we had a good run this afternoon. Tomorrow we will be first on the road again and on the recce these stages looked like they could be quite tricky.

“We made the mistake on Friday so now it’s just about getting the experience and trying some new things.”

Michal Solowow (20th) said: “This afternoon’s stages were very nice. We made a few small mistakes – twice off the road – but we had some good luck and we are still here.

“I am very much looking forward to tomorrow. We’ll go out and just drive as fast as we can.”