This month’s Rally Sardinia featured the joint-closest finish for a win in World Rally Championship history, as Ott Tanak and Sebastien Ogier contested a thrilling battle.
It culminated in Tanak claiming victory by just 0.2s after the Hyundai driver overhauled a 17.1s deficit to Toyota’s Ogier on the final day.
Tanak's first win since his return to Hyundai means he is now second in the championship, level with Toyota’s Elfyn Evans. The Welshman finished the rally fourth after struggling for pace throughout, and was hampered too by a puncture on the Friday.
Misfortune also hit championship leader Thierry Neuville, who crashed from third on stage eight, but he recovered by claiming a maximum score on the Sunday under the WRC’s new points system. The Belgian's championship was reduced from 24 points to 18 as a result.
But next up is Rally Poland, which may be a great place for Neuville to bounce back as he claimed victory at the event in 2017.
That was also Poland’s last appearance on the WRC calendar, before it lost its place due to repeated breaches of spectator safety.
The event's return will only be a one-off according to Simon Larkin, WRC event director, with Rally Poland celebrating its 80th edition in 2024 after being part of the European Rally Championship in recent years.
The manufacturers’ standings will also be one to look out for in Poland. Hyundai currently leads defending champion Toyota by just 13 points, having not claimed the title since 2020.
