SS5: Trouble for Mikkelsen as Sordo takes lead

Dani Sordo has snatched the lead of Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse after Andreas Mikkelsen hit trouble in the battle for victory on round four of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Mikkelsen started the 24.57-kilometre Erabajolo-Pont d’Altiani test, shown live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, leading MINI driver Sordo by 7.2s but a puncture early in the stage has wrecked the ŠKODA UK Motorsport ace’s bid for his first win in the IRC on asphalt.

“We went slightly off, hit a pole and got a puncture,” said Mikkelsen, who slips to eighth. “The jack didn’t work so the car was always going down and it took a long time to change the tyre. It’s a big shame but basically it was my mistake, there is nobody else to blame.”

Sordo was second fastest through the stage and now leads by 20.8s. “I’m quite happy and I was pushing really hard so it’s okay. Even though Mikkelsen has problems we have to be focussed and can’t make any mistakes because the other drivers are also strong.”

Bryan Bouffier was fastest through the stage in his Delta Rally Peugeot 207 despite complaining of feeling ill before the start. He is now up to fourth in the overall classification. Behind Sordo, Jan Kopecký was third fastest with Pierre Campana fourth quickest and the leading Corsican driver.

Elsewhere, Mathieu Arzeno said he lost confidence after striking a small rock in his Peugeot, while Sepp Wiegand reported a soft brake pedal towards the stage finish and a big moment close to the start due to excessive understeer, which was captured live on Eurosport.