Can Tänak hold off Ogier’s challenge in Corsica?

March 27, 2019 0 Comments

Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja face one of the biggest challenges of their careers this weekend, as they attempt to hold onto their FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ lead against Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia on the Tour of Corsica.

Oh, and did we mention that Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) and Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) are also doing the event? And not forgetting Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Ford Fiesta WRC), as the Welsh driver always goes well in Corsica and finished second there in 2015.

Tänak (Toyota Yaris WRC) goes into the event just four points ahead of Ogier (Citroen C3 WRC) at the top of the table. They are the only two drivers to have won so far in 2019, with Tänak taking victory in Sweden and Ogier winning in Monte Carlo and last time out in Mexico.

Neuville, who is currently third in the standings, will be out to repeat his 2017 Corsica win, while Loeb is back after not making the trip to Mexico.

“I am looking forward to Corsica,” says Tänak. “Being first on the road there as championship leader should be a good thing, as this is the best place to be on asphalt where the road is cleanest. In the past, Corsica was probably the rally on which I struggled the most, but we had good pace last year on our first time there in the Toyota Yaris WRC. We know that we have a really strong package now on asphalt, so I believe that we can have a good performance. I'm sure that some of our rivals will be very fast too, but the aim is to continue our positive start to the season and keep scoring as many points as possible.”

This year’s CORSICA Linea - Tour de Corse route is 80% different to 2018. Much of the new mileage comes on Friday in the south of the island, following a ceremonial start in Porto Vecchio on Thursday evening. Two loops of three stages will be tackled before the first service of the rally on Friday evening in Bastia. Over half of the total of 347.51 competitive kilometres will be driven on Saturday, which features the only two stages carried over from last year and takes in the island’s northern most Cap Corse tip. On Sunday, the rally will finish for the first time in Calvi on the north-west coast following two nearby stages, with the Power Stage concluding just a couple of kilometres out of town.

Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja wear Stilo WRC DES Zero 8860 helmets.