Central European Rally 2024 Neuville Takes Lead

October 19, 2024Joe Moore
RallyWRC

The second day of the Central European Rally 2024 has come to an end. Thierry Neuville took the event lead on the day. 

SS3, Klatovy 2

Sebastien Ogier kicked off the second day with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 1.5 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Katsuta and 2.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville. 

SS4, Strašin 1

Elfyn Evans topped the fourth stage of the Central European Rally 2024. With a time 1.6 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Neuville and four seconds slower than Evans. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier. 

SS5, Šumavské Hoštice 1

Ott Tänak capped off the morning loop with his first stage win of the weekend. As the Estonian set a time 0.3 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Sebastien Ogier had the third fastest time on the stage, three seconds slower than Neuville and 3.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Elfyn Evans finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 9.3 seconds slower than Evans. 

SS6, Klatovy 3

Takamoto Katsuta took home his first stage win of the Central European Rally 2024 on SS6. With a time 0.4 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville. Sebastien Ogier finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Neuville and one second slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 1.7 seconds slower than Evans. 

SS7, Strašin 2

Thierry Neuville topped the seventh stage of the weekend. As the Belgian set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Evans and 1.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Sebastien Ogier was fourth fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 1.2 seconds slower than Ogier. 

SS8, Šumavské Hoštice 2

Sebastien Ogier capped off the second day of the Central European Rally 2024 in the same fashion he started it in. As the eight-time World Champion set a time 0.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Ott Tänak had the third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 7.1 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 7.7 seconds slower than Evans. 

Mikkelsen Crashes Out

Andreas Mikkelsen would crash out of the event on SS5. Mikkelsen would slide off the road into a fence which destroyed his i20 rally1. His car would block the road leading to SS5 getting red-flagged and ultimately cancelled.