Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy sit seventh in the Secto Rally Finland
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) are seventh overall after the opening day of Secto Rally Finland, the tenth round of the World Rally Championship. Picture: Jaanus Ree (Red Bull Content Pool ).
It was a day of high speed, commitment before there was rain and misted windscreens in the Secto Rally Finland where the Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) are seventh overall as Sebastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) holds a 16.3s lead over his team mate and championship leader Elfyn Evans with Sami Pajari completing an all-Toyota top three.
The other Irish crew Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne will re-join the rally on Saturday after beaching their Ford Puma on the day's second stage.
Indeed, Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne were the day's first major retirement. They entered SS3 in eighth position but were caught out as Armstrong explained; "Unfortunately, we clipped a bank and ended up with half the car in a deep ditch.
"We really appreciate everyone, who gave it everything trying to get us going again, but unfortunately our Friday at Rally Finland came to an early end. There's no damage, so we'll be back tomorrow (Saturday)."
Ogier won three of the morning's four stages and moved ahead of overnight leader Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) and led by 5.3s with Toyota's Sami Pajari, best on SS3 some 2.7s further behind in third.
Thierry Neuville so close to a podium spot earlier in the morning, hit trouble when he hit a bank on the outside of a crest on SS5 and lost nineteen places after his Hyundai spun around. Esapekka Lappi rolled his Hyundai just 800 metres after the start of SS5 and will take no further part in the event due to a damaged roll cage.
McErlean (eighth) said; "Every stage start we've had some warnings (of cars stopped). We have to reset now. A lot of new places where people get caught out. We have to reset and find more speed."
Heavy rain on the second stage of the afternoon brought chaos and several position changes. Although Ogier still led, his team mates Pajari and Evans had closed with the latter running first on the road, just 9.5s behind.
However, due to poor visibility, he haemorrhaged time on SS8 - yet moved into second 26.1s behind Ogier before cutting the overnight deficit to 16.3s. "We don't want to stop for rain but when you can't see, and the car is aquaplaning everywhere, some common sense is needed."
In the Junior WRC, Cavan's Craig Rahill (Ford Fiesta Rally3) rolled on SS5.
1.S. Ogier/J. Ingrassia (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 1h. 03m. 47.4s
2. E. Evans/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+16.3s
3. S. Pajari/M. Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+26.7s
4. O. Solberg/E. Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+41.3s
5. M. Sesks/R. Francis (Ford Puma Rally1)+1m. 04.9s
6. A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+1m. 24.0s;
7. J. McErlean/E. Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1)+2m. 29.0s
8. T. Katsuta/A. Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+2m. 30.7s
9. T. Neuville/M Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+2m. 56.2s
10. R. Virves/J. Viilo (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 08.7s.
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