Rallying-Rovanpera leads with near clean sweep in Canary Islands
Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera continued his domination of the Canary Islands rally with 12 stage wins from 13 so far to take a 45.2 second lead into the final day on Sunday.
The Finn had started the penultimate day 26.8 seconds clear of French teammate Sebastien Ogier after winning all six stages on Friday and he won six of Saturday's seven with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans taking the last.
Eight-times world champion Ogier had kept up over the day's first two stages on abrasive asphalt but Rovanpera gained 8.4 seconds on the third.
"On these kinds of roads, it's not about pushing, it's about having the flow," said Rovanpera. "It seems that everything is working well."
Toyota filled the top four places with Briton Evans third, but more than a minute off Rovanpera's pace, and ahead of Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta.
Sami Pajari crashed out, ending Toyota's run of five cars in the top five.
Hyundai filled the next three placings with Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux moving up to fifth, ahead of Belgian defending world champion Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak of Estonia.
"We're trying really to put the car as far as we can to make it work well, but I'm on the limit of what I can do," said Neuville after the day's early stages.
The rally on the Spanish islands off the coast of Morocco is making its world championship debut as round four of the season and finishes on Sunday. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tour de France final stage neutralised after slippery road conditions
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 20 - Nantua to Pontarlier - Nantua, France - July 26, 2025 Riders in action in the peloton during stage 20 REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier PARIS - The final stage of the Tour de France saw its competitive element largely neutralised on Sunday after organisers decided to freeze the times with about 50 kilometres left due to hazardous road conditions. Following a pre-stage check, officials identified several sections of the course as dangerously slippery. The stage goes up the cobbled roads of the Butte Montmartre three times. "After a reconnaissance carried out before the stage, and after noting that certain sections had slippery road conditions, it was decided, in agreement with the president of the commissaires' panel, that the times would be frozen at kilometre 82, that is, on the 4th crossing of the finish line," organisers said in a statement. "A stage classification will be established, but it will not affect the general classification." The overall standings will therefore remain unchanged, preserving the yellow jersey leader's position. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar will, however, still need to cross the finish line to be declared winner of the race. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Piastri beats Norris in rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 27, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris and McLaren's Oscar Piastri in action during the race REUTERS/Manon Cruz SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - McLaren's Oscar Piastri beat teammate and title rival Lando Norris in a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix to stretch his Formula One lead to 16 points on Sunday. Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row. The race at Spa-Francorchamps was red-flagged after an initial formation lap and delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to the weather, with standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility. Once the racing got going Piastri made quick work of overtaking pole-sitter Norris on a dominant afternoon for the Australian, who finished 3.415 seconds clear. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
India closing in on battling draw as England fail to make further inroads
Cricket - International Test Match Series - Fourth Test - England v India - Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, Britain - July 27, 2025 India's Shubman Gill plays a shot off a ball bowled by England's Jofra Archer and is caught out by Jamie Smith Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith MANCHESTER, England - After being 0-2 early in their second innings, India continued to battle on to frustrate England on day five of the fourth test at Old Trafford on Sunday, the tourists doing everything possible to keep the series alive on 322-4 at tea. Shubman Gill's courageous century added to England's woes in the morning session, before Washington Sundar and veteran Ravindra Jadeja both hit unbeaten half centuries after lunch to give India a second-innings lead of 11. A tantalising, closely-contested series in which every test has gone to the final day reached a crucial point as England targeted victory in the match that would seal series success with one fixture still to come. England skipper Ben Stokes, who took five wickets in India's first innings but was not fit to bowl in the tourists' first 63 overs of their second on Saturday, brought himself into the attack on Sunday morning with India resuming on 174-2. The move paid dividends as Stokes, still feeling the effects of several injuries, trapped KL Rahul leg before wicket for 90, ending the third-wicket partnership -- India having been 0-2 when Gill and Rahul came to the crease -- at 188. Gill remained undeterred, even after getting a nasty-looking blow on the hand, to move to his fourth century of the series. In his first as captain, the 25-year-old became only the third skipper to score four hundreds in a single test series. After almost seven hours at the crease, a tired-looking Gill wafted at a Jofra Archer delivery to fall just before lunch for 103. Jadeja was then dropped the very next ball by Joe Root but survived to return for the afternoon session. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Singapore Car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road South sinkhole removed; road remains closed for repairs Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Singapore Younger generation must inherit and strengthen Singapore's multiculturalism: David Neo Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Sundar moved along conservatively after lunch, with a draw India's only realistic target. He then hit successive boundaries, one a huge six, to move to his fifth test half century, before Jadeja reached his latest milestone. England looked short of ideas after struggling to cause India any afternoon problems. Sundar will resume on 57 after tea, Jadeja on 53. REUTERS
