Sébastien Ogier leads Rally Italia Sardegna after a brutal Saturday that saw multiple drivers fall victim to the rocky island terrain. With just one day remaining, he holds an 11.1-second lead over rival Ott Tänak, setting up a fierce showdown to close out the Mediterranean rally.
Ogier Maintains Control Through Sardinian Heat
Ogier entered Saturday with a slim advantage and built on it through consistency and raw pace. The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver navigated six scorching stages with confidence. Despite some frustration from dust delays, he won three stages and kept his rhythm intact.
He had a moment of concern when dust from Adrien Fourmaux’s car hindered visibility. Fourmaux, who had stopped earlier to change a wheel, unintentionally slowed Ogier on SS8. Fortunately, Ogier was granted a corrected time, keeping his momentum strong heading into Sunday.
Tänak Fights Back with Hyundai Power
Ott Tänak, last year’s narrow winner in Sardinia, responded with determination. Though he lost time due to a slow puncture on SS9, he came back hard. Driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, he won both runs of the Lerno–Su Filigosu stage and kept Ogier within striking distance.
The Estonian knows what it takes to win under pressure in Sardinia. He’ll be aiming to repeat last year’s heroics on Sunday with just four stages left and 77.78 kilometers of action remaining.
Rough Day Shakes Up the Leaderboard
The rocky roads weren’t kind to the competition. Adrien Fourmaux, who began the day second overall, rolled out in the penultimate stage. His exit opened the door for others to move up the leaderboard.
Kalle Rovanperä made the most of the situation. Starting fifth, he climbed steadily to finish Saturday in third. The two-time world champion took advantage of his rivals’ misfortunes, including a wheel issue for teammate Sami Pajari.
Mechanical Struggles Continue Across the Field
Elfyn Evans also suffered delays. After a quiet Friday, he showed pace but had to stop and change a wheel on SS11. Still, he managed to rise to fourth overall, just ahead of Pajari, who had similar troubles.
Nikolay Gryazin impressed in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, climbing to sixth. Takamoto Katsuta faced another difficult day but kept moving forward after a wheel change.
WRC2 points contender Emil Lindholm capped off the top 10, just ahead of Lauri Joona. Both Finns showed grit in the demanding conditions, especially as the field continued to shrink from mechanical setbacks.
Final Day Brings Promise of Intense Action
Sunday will feature four stages, including a new Wolf Power Stage along the scenic Olbia coastline. Ogier, Tänak, and Rovanperä remain the main contenders, but anything can happen in Sardinia. If history is any guide, the final kilometers could deliver more surprises.
Summary
Saturday’s punishing stages in Rally Italia Sardegna reshaped the standings and tested every driver’s resilience. Ogier leads with redemption in sight, but Tänak is closing in. The showdown in Sardinia is set for an exciting finish.
Disclaimer This article is intended for general motorsport news and entertainment purposes only. Performance or results mentioned may vary due to numerous conditions.
Source: WRC
