Josh McErlean Secures Ninth Place Amid Eventful Second Leg of Central European Rally
In a nail-biting second leg of the Central European Rally, Sebastien Ogier has taken the lead, finishing just 0.6 seconds ahead of his teammate, Kalle Rovanpera. The event showcased a thrilling competition across six stages, spanning Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Key Standings After Leg Two
- 1st: Sebastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 1h 03m 29.8s
- 2nd: Kalle Rovanpera / Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +0.6s
- 3rd: Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +29.5s
- 4th: Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +32.8s
- 5th: Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +35.7s
- 6th: Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +46.1s
- 7th: Sami Pajari / Mikko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +56.0s
- 8th: Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +1m 55.8s
- 9th: Josh McErlean / Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) – +2m 50.2s
- 10th: Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) – +3m 37.6s
Notable Events from Stage Three
The highlight of the rally’s second leg was the daunting third stage, a 23.37 km stretch known as the Col de Jan test. It was widely regarded as the toughest challenge of the series. Ogier excelled during this phase, proving his prowess by finishing 3.3 seconds faster than Rovanpera.
Rovanpera later expressed that he could have been more daring during his runs, indicating a missed opportunity to close the gap on his teammate. Meanwhile, Neuville faced difficulties, sustaining a rear-right puncture after a hard landing. This misfortune dropped him to eighth place.
McErlean’s Performance
Irish driver Josh McErlean, alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy, is currently occupying ninth place overall. They encountered some challenges, including damage to the steering after an impact. Despite these setbacks, McErlean’s performance showcased his potential in the highly competitive event.
His teammate, Grégoire Munster, was not as fortunate, retiring from the race due to broken rear suspension, also caused by the treacherous jump that troubled several drivers.
Upcoming Schedule
The rally continues with six more stages on Saturday and an additional four on Sunday. As the competition unfolds, each driver will need to navigate both the challenging terrain and the ever-shifting standings closely.
The Central European Rally is part of the World Rally Championship, highlighting the skill and determination of drivers like Ogier and McErlean in an intense motorsport landscape.
