Tänak fifth in Finland
Estonia's top rally driver Ott Tänak came fifth in the Finland stage of the World Rally Championships. Finn Jari-Matti Latvala won.
Tänak began well, coming fourth in both stage 2 and 3, but then broke a front shock absorber and had to complete the day with a broken vehicle. He hovered around the 10th place mark until the 12th stage, when he slowly began showing faster times.
He was sixth on stages 16 and 17, and fifth in the last three stages. Overall, Tänak lost 4:29.3 to Latvala.
“It's a shame I could not drive at maximum speed at the legendary Ouninpohjat stage and others. I missed that experience,” Tänak said. “The fast rallies and jumps are more natural to me and not only feel easier, but also more instinctive,” Raigo Mölder, Tänak's co-driver added.
After eight races (from 13), Tänak and Mölder are eighth in the standings with 50 points, having picked up points from Sweden, Argentina, Portugal, Poland and now Finland. Sebastien Ogier is first on 182 points, followed by Latvala on 93.
Editor: J.M. Laats