Latest news with #SebastienOgier
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Ott Tanak feared final stage drama could cost his WRC Acropolis Rally win
Ott Tanak admitted he was 'very worried' he'd lose a drought-ending World Rally Championship win in Greece after a gearbox issue struck in the final stage. Tanak had dominated a demanding Acropolis Rally having driven his Hyundai to nine stage wins to open up a 48.8s margin over Toyota's Sebastien Ogier ahead of the 17th and final stage. Advertisement However, having avoided punctures and mechanical issues leading up to that point, Tanak's i20 N developed a gearbox issue during the final stage. The 2019 world champion still reached the stage end though, only dropping 16s to take the win - but to muted celebrations at the finish line. This was because he was concerned the car wouldn't complete the 50km road section to the final time control to secure his and Hyundai's first win of 2025. "I was very worried, it didn't look so good,' Tanak told 'First I lost third gear and then I started to get some bad noises on the other gears as well. Podium: Winners Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, second place Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, third place Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Podium: Winners Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, second place Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, third place Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 'Even when we crossed the finish line we still had 50 kilometres to go. This was a bit too stressful for a victory, but in the end it is a big relief and also for the team this win was so much needed for the team. Clearly the pressure was there to win the rally and I'm happy to achieve it. Advertisement 'It was not easy but we got here [to the finish].' Reflecting on the win, Tanak admitted he was 'very proud' of his 22nd WRC win, given the challenges he had to overcome in what was one of the toughest rallies in recent memory. Crews had to cope with intense heat as cockpit temperatures reached 70C, while rougher stages severely increased the risk of punctures and damage to the cars. 'It's been a mega event to be honest, there were so many challenges to keep in mind and at the same time Ogier was pushing from behind so you can never have an easy life and back off," Tanak added. 'Obviously I always wanted to keep some margin in case we had something and it was needed in the end. Advertisement 'I would say it is quite well played, it is a super tough rally and I'm very proud to win this one.' Tanak's victory has boosted his title hopes with the Hyundai driver now 12 points behind championship leader and Toyota driver Elfyn Evans. Read Also: WRC Acropolis Rally: Ott Tanak ends Hyundai's seven-race victory drought FIA investigates WRC retirements due to fuel system issues To read more articles visit our website.
CNA
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Rallying-Tanak takes season's first win for Hyundai in Greece
Estonian Ott Tanak took Hyundai's first win of the season in Greece's Acropolis Rally on Sunday despite a gearbox scare in the final stage. The victory on the rough gravel roads and in sweltering heat also ended Toyota's unbeaten run with Sebastien Ogier, winner of the previous two rounds, finishing second and 32.8 seconds behind. Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux completed the podium. Tanak closed the gap on Toyota's championship leader Elfyn Evans, who finished fourth, to 12 points. Ogier, who is running a part-time campaign, is nine points behind his teammate. "I was very worried, to be honest," Tanak said of the final gearbox drama. "In the last stage, third gear got very noisy and I understood that this one broke. "Soon, the whole gearbox got very noisy and we didn't have much confidence that we would finish the stage and get back here. It was definitely far too much stress to win a rally."
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Tanak takes season's first win for Hyundai in Greece
June 29 (Reuters) - Estonian Ott Tanak took Hyundai's first win of the season in Greece's Acropolis Rally on Sunday despite a gearbox scare in the final stage. The victory on the rough gravel roads and in sweltering heat also ended Toyota's unbeaten run with Sebastien Ogier, winner of the previous two rounds, finishing second and 32.8 seconds behind. Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux completed the podium. Tanak closed the gap on Toyota's championship leader Elfyn Evans, who finished fourth, to 12 points. Ogier, who is running a part-time campaign, is nine points behind his teammate. "I was very worried, to be honest," Tanak said of the final gearbox drama. "In the last stage, third gear got very noisy and I understood that this one broke. "Soon, the whole gearbox got very noisy and we didn't have much confidence that we would finish the stage and get back here. It was definitely far too much stress to win a rally."
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Evans clings to WRC lead as Tanak wins in Greece
Elfyn Evans' lead in the World Rally Championship is down to single figures after the Acropolis Rally Greece was won by Ott Hyundai driver's victory is the first time this year Toyota have failed to win a rally, with Sebastien Ogier second and Evans fourth in the punishing world champion Ogier is nine points behind GR Yaris Rally 1 team-mate Evans, with Estonian Tanak a further three the rally moved from September to its more traditional date in June, ambient temperatures pushed past 40 degrees and cockpit heat was even higher. Among the casualties of the baked gravel roads was another Toyota driver Kalle Rovanpera, who finished outside the top 10."It's been a tough weekend, didn't really have the pace we wanted," said 36-year-old Evans."We had to get to the end to get something, so could be worse."Welshman Evans had built up an unprecedented 36-point lead after the first three rallies of the year, placing second behind Ogier in Monte Carlo before winning in Sweden and French team-mate has now won four of this season's seven events and collected 10 bonus points in Greece, winning both Super Sunday and the powerstage, but the 41-year-old will skip the next round on the high-speed forest roads of Estonia."I think we've had a super strong weekend," Ogier said. "There wasn't much we could do to Ott – he was really flying."Ireland's Josh McErlean was another beset by struggles, suffering a puncture on Friday and damaging his suspension and breaking a driveshaft on finished 12th in his M-Sport Ford Puma."It took sheer determination from the team, because every service there was some job," said McErlean."Hopefully it gets a bit easier from here in Estonia and Finland."England's Gus Greensmith was one of several WRC2 drivers who claimed top-10 eight of the 14-event WRC series, Delfi Rally Estonia, runs from 17-20 July. Acropolis Rally Greece result 1. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 4 hours 12 minutes 20.1 seconds2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +32.8secs3. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, +3min 9.8secs4. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +3min 31.1secs5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +6min 9.5secs6. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, +10min 34.7secsSelected7. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, +11min 28.5secs12. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +16min 46.1secs FIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings (provisional) 1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 150 points2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 1413. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 1384. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 1175. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 966. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 63Selected11. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 14 12 Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 12
Reuters
a day ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Tanak heading for Hyundai's first win of 2025 in Greece
June 28 (Reuters) - Ott Tanak was heading for Hyundai's first win of the season after ending the penultimate day of the Acropolis Rally with a healthy 43.6-second lead over Toyota's Sebastien Ogier on Saturday. With temperatures soaring in central Greece, the Estonian and co-driver Martin Jarveoja took five stage wins out of six on the rough gravel roads after starting the day only three seconds clear of team mate Adrien Fourmaux. "Generally it was smoother and more consistent, a bit better than expected," said Tanak. "We had a good rhythm, and we maintained (it) all day." Toyota have won all six rounds so far this season and eight-times world champion Ogier the last two. Fourmaux's challenge faded when he hit a rock on the 10th stage and damaged his car's rear suspension, losing more than a minute, before a tyre later came off its rim. The Frenchman dropped to third, two minutes and eight seconds behind Tanak, with Toyota's championship leader Elfyn Evans in fourth but nearly a minute further back. Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera and Takamoto Katsuta both retired for the day after going off while Hyundai's reigning champion Thierry Neuville had a third puncture of the event and was in fifth place. Sunday features four more stages, with bonus points to be won in the final one.
