Day three of the Rally Italia Sardegna has come to an end. Thierry Neuville would take the lead from Esapekka Lappi.
SS8, COILUNA-LOELLE 1
Thierry Neuville (BEL) Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) Of team HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Italy in Olbia, Italy on 2,June,2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Stage eight would see Thierry Neuville take the stage win. Neuville would set a time 1.1 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier who set the second-fastest time on the stage. Kalle Rovanperä would set the third fastest time on the stage, setting a time 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Esapekka Lappi would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 1.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 6.6 seconds slower than Lappi.
SS9, FILIGOSU 1
Stage nine of Rally Italia Sardegna would once again see Thierry Neuville take the stage win. Neuville would finish with a time 2.2 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi who set the second-fastest time on the stage. Sebastien Ogier would finish with the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 2 seconds slower than Lappi. Kalle Rovanperä would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, setting a time 2.3 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 7.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS10, ERULA – TULA 1
Sebastien Ogier (FRA) Vincent Landais (FRA) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Italy in Olbia, Italy on 2,June,2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Stage 10 would see Sebastien Ogier top the stage. With Ogier setting a time 4.9 seconds faster than Dani Sordo who would set the second-fastest time on the stage. Esapekka Lappi would finish with the third fastest time on the stage, with a time 8.1 seconds slower than Sordo. Kalle Rovanperä would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, setting a time 1.3 seconds slower than Lappi. Thierry Neuville would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 0.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS11, TEMPIO PAUSANIA 1
Stage 11 of Rally Italia Sardegna would see Thierry Neuville back on top. With Neuville setting a time 3 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to take the stage win. Kalle Rovanperä would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 3.7 seconds slower than Ogier. Dani Sordo would finish with the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 1.3 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Esapekka Lappi would round out the top five, setting a time 3.5 seconds slower than Sordo.
SS12, COILUNA-LOELLE 2
Esapekka Lappi (FIN) Janne Ferm (FIN) Of HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Italy in Olbia, Italy on 1,June,2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Stage 12 would see Esapekka Lappi take the stage win. With Lappi setting a time 3 seconds faster than his Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville who placed second on the stage. Sebastien Ogier would place third on the stage, setting a time 4.7 seconds slower than Neuville. Kalle Rovanperä would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 2 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 6 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS13, SU FILIGOSU 2
Stage 13 of Rally Italia Sardegna would see Thierry Neuville take his fourth stage win of the day. As Neuville would set a time 3.7 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä to take the stage win. Esapekka Lappi would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 2.7 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Sebastien Ogier would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, setting a time 6.2 seconds slower than Lappi. Dani Sordo would round out the top five on the stage, with a time 25.3 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS14, ERULA – TULA 2
Dani Sordo (ESP) Carrera Cándido (ESP) Of team HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Italy in Olbia, Italy on 2,June,2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Stage 14 would see Dani Sordo take home the stage win. As Sordo would set a time 5.7 seconds faster than his Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville to take home the stage win. Esapekka Lappi would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 26.9 seconds slower than Neuville. Kalle Rovanperä would finish with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 19.6 seconds slower than Lappi. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 9.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS15, TEMPIO PAUSANIA 2
Stage 15 of Rally Italia Sardegna would see Thierry Neuville take his fifth stage win of the day. Neuville would set a time 10.8 seconds faster than Dani Sordo who finished second on the stage. Eflyn Evans would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, setting a time 1.5 seconds slower than Sordo. Esapekka Lappi would finish with the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 0.3 seconds slower than Evans. Kalle Rovanperä would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 2.4 seconds slower than Lappi.
Chaos Ensues
Ott Tänak (EST) and Martin Järveoja (EST) of team M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Italy in Olbia, Italy on June 1, 2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Day three would see three of the remaining eight WRC1 drivers retire during the day. First would be Takamoto Katsuta who would retire on SS8 due to a mechanical issue caused by water damage. Ott Tänak would retire on SS9 also due to a mechanical issue caused by water damage. Sebastien Ogier would be the final driver to retire. With Ogier retiring on SS14 due to going off road.
Rally Italia Sardegna Day One Recap
Rally Italia Sardegna Day Two Recap