Ogier tops Rovanpera in first day of Central European Rally

Sebastien Ogier clung to a narrow 0.6s advantage over Toyota teammate Kalle Rovanpera after a demanding first full day of the World Rally Championship's Central European Rally.

The eight-time world champion led from the outset, his experience proving decisive over the day’s six stages spanning almost 100km across three countries and varying road conditions.

Despite seeing his advantage trimmed slightly on the repeated afternoon loop, Ogier ended Friday on top as Toyota Gazoo Racing tightened its grip on both the rally and the manufacturers’ title.

“It’s been more challenging than normal opening the road on Tarmac,” said Ogier. “Only SS5 was good for us, others were cleaning with the dust. It’s not much, small things – but we’re playing with small things. It’s been a good day for us.”

Rovanpera, who topped two afternoon stages at Col de Jan and Böhmerwald, appeared more at ease on the cleaner, faster Austrian and German asphalt than in the dirtier Czech sections.

“When it’s clean and proper tarmac driving I enjoy it so much,” he smiled earlier in the day. “In the dark it was difficult with so many anti-cuts reflecting the light, but the gap is quite good.”

Elfyn Evans, marking co-driver Scott Martin’s 200th WRC start, rounded out the all-GR Yaris podium. The Welshman topped the final 10.86km Granit und Wald test under full darkness, trimming his gap to the leaders to 30.6s and reclaiming ground after being handed a five-second penalty on Thursday evening for hitting a haybale chicane.

Ott Tanak and his Hyundai were the only gap in Toyota's front-running show on Friday. Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images

Ott Tanak held fourth in his Hyundai i20 N, 1.5s behind Evans, while Takamoto Katsuta sat just 2.4s further back in fifth. Toyota now occupies four of the top five positions and can clinch the WRC manufacturers’ championship this weekend if Hyundai fails to outscore it by six points.

Adrien Fourmaux was sixth for Hyundai, his afternoon highlighted by second-fastest time for SS7 after struggling earlier with balance in his i20 N Rally1. The Korean marque’s day of mixed fortunes continued as Thierry Neuville battled a flapping hood, understeer, and a heavy landing that caused a rear-right puncture during the morning loop.

“It’s not fun and not what I was expecting,” said the defending champion, who trailed Sami Pajari in eighth overnight. “I’m struggling, I just can’t find the confidence.”

Josh McErlean led the way for Ford on a challenging day for the Puma squad. Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images

Grégoire Munster came unstuck on the same jump that caused Neuville’s tire deflation but was forced to retire his M-Sport Ford Puma with broken rear suspension. Teammate Josh McErlean survived unscathed apart from a bent steering arm to end ninth overall after a steep learning day.

Newly crowned WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg rounded out the top 10 in his GR Yaris Rally2, but with the Swede not eligible to score points, it was Alejandro Cachón who topped the WRC2 standings.

Saturday is the rally’s longest day with six stages totaling 103.64km in Germany and the Czech Republic.

WRC Central European Rally, positions after Friday/Leg One, SS8
1 Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 1h03m29.8s
2 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +0.6s
3 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +29.5s
4 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoia (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)) +32.8s
5 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +35.7s
6 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +46.1s
7 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +56.0s
8 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1m55.8s
9 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +2m50.2s
10 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2 leader, ineligible) +3m37.6s

• Watch the rally-closing, bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage action from the Central European Rally LIVE on the RACER+ App starting Sunday from 7:00-8:30am ET or same-day delayed on RACER Network from 8:30-10:00pm ET. 

Plus, for a deeper dive into the FIA World Rally Championship, check out the WRC Magazine Show on RACER Network. Catch the latest episode on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 a.m. ET.  

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