Secto Rally Finland Preivew WRC2

The 2023 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with the 9th of 13 rounds, Secto Rally Finland. 

Drivers’ Championship Standings

2021 WRC3 champion Yohan Rossel leads the WRC2 Drivers’ Championship standings heading into Secto Rally Finland. Rossel is currently tied for the most WRC2 rally wins this season with Andreas Mikkelsen and Gus Greensmith, with each driver winning 2 events. Andreas Mikkelsen sits second in the WRC2 championship, 8 points behind Rossel. Oliver Solberg, who won’t be scoring points this weekend, sits third in the championship, 5 points behind Mikkelsen. Gus Greensmith sits fourth in the championship, a mere 2 points behind Solberg. 2022 WRC2 champion Emil Lindholm sits fifth in the championship, 3 points behind Greensmith.

Anybody’s Game

With just 31 points separating 1st and 7th in the WRC2 championship heading into Secto Rally Finland, the championship is still anybody’s to take. Emil Lindholm won Rally Finland last season, beating Egon Kaur by over a minute. Lindholm comes into this weekend as one of the favorites to win the event. This weekend could be a critical one for those who want to win the WRC2 championship. As Rally Finland features some of the hardest roads in the championship. It’s also an event that neither of the top two drivers has had success in. Mikkelsen has never won or podiumed at Rally Finland in either WRC1 or WRC2. Yohan Rossel has never run the event in his career. This leaves an open door for drivers like Gus Greensmith, Sam Pajari and the previously mentioned Emil Lindholm to push back on the championship leaders, or potentially take the lead. 

No Points For Solberg 

Oliver Solberg has elected to not score points at Secto Rally Finland. Solberg would make this decision a while back. His reasoning for not wanting to score points at the event is simple, he hasn’t done good here in the past and doesn’t want to risk wasting a scoring round. Last season Solberg crashed out of Rally Finland just a couple meters into the second stage of the event. 

A Full Pack

Normally those without experience in WRC2 choose to skip Secto Rally Finland as it’s a difficult event. This season it seems like everyone and their dog is going to be there. Everyone in the top ten of the championship will be there, minus Teemu Suninen who will be there, just behind the wheel of a WRC1 car instead. Adrien Fourmaux returns after missing the last two rounds. 2022 Finnish Rally Champion Mikko Heikklä will also be there. Alongside Jari Huttunen and Lauri Joona who are tied for the lead this season. 

The 2023 WRC season continues this weekend with the 9th of 13 rounds, Secto Rally Finland. 

Drivers’ Championship Preview

Kalle Rovanperä will once again lead the Drivers’ championship standings into Secto Rally Finland much like he did last season. Last season Rovanperä came into his home event with an 83-point lead over Thierry Neuville. This time round Rovanperä leads Elfyn Evans by 55 points. Rovanperä is inching closer and closer to his second WRC championship every rally. As nobody has seemed to be able to match Rovanperä’s pace regularly. Rovanperä’s teammate Elfyn Evans sits second in the championship, as previously mentioned. Thierry Neuville moved into third in the championship after placing second at Rally Estonia last month. Neuville sits just 3 points behind Evans. 2022 Rally Finland winner Ott Tänak sits fourth in the championship, the same spot he sat last season. Tänak sits 8 points behind his former teammate Thierry Neuville. Sebastien Ogier managed to maintain a top 5 spot after Rally Estonia, now sitting 6 points behind Tänak. Ogier won’t be competing at Secto Rally Finland this weekend, however.

Championship Hopes On The Line

A couple of drivers’ championship hopes will be on the line, from a realistic standpoint at least. As after Secto Rally Finland, drivers will only have the opportunity to score 120 points. This puts a bit of pressure on drivers who want to stay in the championship hunt to finish ahead of Rovanperä. Luckily for them, Rovanperä hasn’t done great in Finland and has never won the event. Rovanperä’s highest finish in Finland is 2nd which came last season. Only one WRC1 driver is completely out of the championship race from a mathematical standpoint. That sole driver is Teemu Suninen, who drove half the season in WRC2. This means no WRC1 driver who has driven a WRC1 car all season is out of the hunt. 

Itinerary 

Day One 

Number Of Stages: 1

Total Stage Kilometres: 3.48km

Day Two

Number Of Stages: 9

Total Stage Kilometres: 104.76km

Longest Stage: Myhinpää (15.5km)

Shortest Stage: Harju (3.48km)

Day Three

Number Of Stages: 8

Total Stage Kilometres: 160.68km

Longest Stage: Vekkula (20.65km)

Shortest Stage: Västilä (18.94km)

Day Four

Number Of Stages: 4

Total Stage Kilometres: 51.64km

Longest Stage: Moksi-Sahloinen (16.56km)

Shortest Stage: Himos-Jämsä (9.26km)

Jari-Matti Latvala Returns To WRC Competition

Secto Rally Finland takes place later this week, Ott Tänak needs to do well at the event for a variety of reasons. 

Why Does Tänak Need To Do Good

With the 9th of the 2023 World Rally Championship takes place this weekend. 2022 Drivers’ Championship runner-up Ott Tänak currently sits 8 points off 3rd place (Thierry Neuville), 11 off 2nd place (Elfyn Evans) and 66 points off the current championship leader Kalle Rovanperä. If Tänak wants to keep his hopes of winning the championship this season alive he has to do well this weekend. Realistically speaking even if Tänak scores 0 points and Rovanperä scores 30 in Finland, Tänak can still come back. It would just be significantly harder. Just as a clarification Tänak can finish say 6th overall, he just has to attempt to score more points than Rovanperä. This is also the case with Evans and Neuville.

An Event He’s Won Before

Ott Tänak comes into the 2023 running of Secto Rally Finland as the reigning winner. As the Estonian won the event last year. Beating Kalle Rovanperä by 6.8 seconds. Tänak would only win 5 of the 22 stages last year. Last season Rally Finland would start Tänak’s short-lived push against Rovanperä. A push that saw Tänak win Rally Finland and Ypres Rally Belgium. Along with finding second at Acropolis Rally Greece. A second place which would have easily been a first if it wasn’t for team orders allowing Neuville to win, but I digress. Tänak’s push for the championship would come just a little bit too late. As Rovanperä would still take home the championship after winning Repco Rally New Zealand. Becoming the youngest WRC champion ever. 

With the 2023 World Rally Championship season halfway over. It may be time to start looking ahead to 2024 driver lineups. This article will look at who could drive for the M-Sport Ford WRT next season.

A Quick Note

In this article I am going to assume M-Sport will have 3 Rally1 Pumas next season. As where Jourdan Serderidis’s Puma will go next season is unknown at this point. I am also going to list atleast three potential drivers for each role (part-time and full-time). Some of these drivers may cross-over as well but it will be noted in the section about them. 

Full-Time Drivers

Ott Tänak

It’s likely Ott Tänak will remain with M-Sport Ford as their number 1 driver next season. Tänak currently sits 4th in the Drivers’ Championship, 8 points behind Thierry Neuville. Tänak returned to M-Sport last offseason after parting ways with Hyundai at the end of the 2022 season. The 35 year old Estonian is likely beginning the backend of his WRC career, but is looking for another championship win. Tänak won the 2019 WRC Championship being the first person since Petter Solberg to win the championship without the first name of Sebastien. 

Pierre-Louis Loubet

M-Sport Driver Pierre-Louis Loubet has had a rather disappointing 2023 WRC season. As Loubet hasn’t finished in the top five so far this season. Although Loubet has had some strong events, bad luck would strike each time causing him to not finish in the top five.The 26 year old Frenchman is racing in his first full WRC season. After being a part time driver for 2C Competition and M-Sport Ford. Loubet may be better served back in a part time role for M-Sport next season. 

Oliver Solberg

It’s no secret Oliver Solberg wants to be back in a Rally1 car. It’s also no secret Oliver Solberg has previously spoken to M-Sport about becoming a driver. Things just didn’t work out last season so Solberg wasn’t one this season, but he could be one next season. Solberg would make sense for M-Sport to add. As Solberg is an extremely talented driver who was really unlucky with Hyundai last season. The 21-year-old has shown what he can do in the WRC2 this season. As Solberg sits third in the WRC2 championship, 5 points behind Andreas Mikkelsen. Solberg could drive for M-Sport in a full-time or part-time role.

Part-Time

Adrien Fourmaux 

Fourmaux was another driver pushed down to WRC2 at the end of last season. Fourmaux was sent back down after a disappointing 2022 WRC season with M-Sport. Since then Fourmaux has competed in the British Rally Championship and 5 rounds of the WRC2 championship. Fourmaux hasn’t won a round in the WRC2 class this season, but has won all the rounds of the British championship so far. Fourmaux could be called back up by M-Sport to drive part time next season, well continuing to compete in the BRC. 

Gus Greensmith 

Greensmith was also demoted to WRC2 at the end of last season. Unlike Fourmaux, Greensmith parted ways with M-Sport after 6 seasons with the team. It’s unknown what the relationship between Greensmith and M-Sport is like but assuming it’s ok he could return to the team. Greensmith currently sits 5th in the WRC2 championship, 2 points behind Oliver Solberg. The 26-year old Brit would be a decent option for M-Sport to give another chance at the top level. As Greensmith has a decent amount of talent, he just hasn’t seemed to have had the luck to back it. 

Andreas Mikkelsen

Andreas Mikkelsen has been talked about a lot in the past two seasons as a candidate to return to the top level of Rally. Mikkelsen would give M-Sport another experienced driver in their lineup. As Mikkelsen has competed in 125 WRC rounds throughout his career, taking 114 stage wins and 25 podiums. The 34-year old Norwegian sits 2nd in the WRC2 championship this season, 8 points behind Yohan Rossel. Mikkelsen’s experience could be good for M-Sport if they use him in a similar role as Hyundai uses Dani Sordo. This wouldn’t be the first time Mikkelsen has driven a Ford branded rally car. As Mikkelsen would start his WRC career in a Ford. Mikkelsen began his three year stint with Ford at the beginning of the 2006 season, and ending it at the end of the 2008 season. 

Yohan Rossel

WRC2 Driver Yohan Rossel could be a good younger candidate for M-Sport to give a chance to next season. As Rossel is on pace to win the WRC2 championship this season. The 28 year old Frenchman has never been given a chance at the sport’s top level. 

Rally Estonia has come to an end, marking the end of the eighth round of the 2023 WRC season. Kalle Rovanperä would take home a dominant win at the event. 

Driver’s Championship Standings

After taking home the max possible 30 points at Rally Estonia, Rovanperä now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 55 points over Elfyn Evans. Rovanperä is well on track to taking home his second consecutive WRC championship. As the 22-year-old has no real challengers for the championship. As previously mentioned Evans sits 55 points back, which will be difficult for Evans to gain back. For Evans to take the Championship lead he’d either have to score an average of 11 points more than Rovanperä at the 5 remaining events or hope Rovanperä crashes out of Finland and takes less than 5 points in Greece. Thierry Neuville would move back into a top-three spot after taking second in Estonia. Neuville now sits just 3 points behind Evans. Ott Tänak dropped from third to fourth, now sitting 8 points behind Neuville. Sebastien Ogier would also drop from third overall to fifth, 6 points behind Tänak. 

Day One

The first day of Rally Estonia saw drivers race a single 3.35km SuperSpecial stage. Ott Tänak took the stage win, beating Elfyn Evans and Esapekka Lappi by 0.6 seconds. Unfortunately due to a penalty, Tänak would not lead after the day. Thus moving Evans and Lappi into a tie for first heading into the second day of the event.

Rally Estonia Day One Recap

Day Two

The second day of Rally Estonia saw drivers race 92.48km across 7 special stages. Ott Tänak would dominate most of the day, taking 5 out of the 7 stage wins. Kalle Rovanperä would be the only other driver to take a stage win on the second day. With the fin taking the other 2 stage wins. Unfortunately for Tänak once again his stage wins wouldn’t mean much. As he would remain last in the WRC1 class due to a penalty. Kalle Rovanperä led the rally by 3 seconds over Thierry Neuville. 
Rally Estonia Day Two Recap

Day Three

The third day of Rally Estonia saw drivers race 102.61km over 9 special stages. Kalle Rovanperä would dominate the day, taking all 9 stage wins. Rovanperä would now lead the rally by 34.9 seconds over Thierry Neuville. Esapekka Lappi and Elfyn Evans battled for third. Lappi ended the day 7.3 seconds ahead of Evans. 
Rally Estonia Day Three Recap

Day Four

The fourth and final day of Rally Estonia saw drivers race 61.08km across the final 4 stages. Kalle Rovanperä continued to dominate during the day. Once again taking all the stage wins. Rovanperä ended the event 52.7 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville. Esapekka Lappi finished third, 7.3 seconds ahead of Elfyn Evans at the event’s end. 
Rally Estonia Day Four Recap

Rovanperä Dominates

It’s not often in the WRC a driver can win 13 consecutive stages. Kalle Rovanperä would do it this weekend. As from the third day on, the reigning champion was unstoppable. The 22-year-old fin has now won Rally Estonia 3 out of the 4 times it’s been a WRC event. With Ott Tänak being the only other winner. 

Penalty For Tänak

Fan favorite Ott Tänak received a 5-minute penalty before the events start. Tänak would be given the penalty as a result of having his engine fully replaced. The replacement came after an engine issue forced Tänak to only run the shakedown stage once. M-Sport Ford chose to replace Tänak’s engine completely. Thus resulting in the 5-minute penalty. The penalty is in place so teams don’t choose to replace engines at every fault during events. 

The fourth and final day of Rally Estonia has come to an end. Andreas Mikkelsen would hold on to take the win. 

SS18, KARASKI 1

Sami Pajari would dig a bit more into Andreas Mikkelsen’s lead. As the Fin would take the stage win on SS18, finishing 2.7 seconds faster than Mikkelsen to take the stage win. Gus Greensmith finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS19, KAMBJA 1

Oliver Solberg took the win on the 19th stage of Rally Estonia. Solberg finished 1.9 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to take the stage win. Andreas Mikkelsen would lose more time to Pajari. As Mikkelsen finished third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Pajari.

SS20, KARASKI 2

Sami Pajari would continue his push for the WRC2 win at Rally Estonia taking another stage win. This time Pajari would finish the stage 2.8 seconds faster than Mikkelsen to take home the stage win. Miko Marczyk set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Mikkelsen.

SS21, WOLF POWERSTAGE KAMBJA 2

The 21st and final stage of Rally Estonia saw 2 pairs of ties on the stage. Andreas Mikkelsen and Sami Pajari would tie for the stage win. With both drivers finishing 0.4 seconds faster than Oliver Solberg and Miko Marczyk to take the stage win. 

Keeping Mikkelsen Honest

Sami Pajari would head into the final day of the Rally 15.8 seconds behind Mikkelsen. By the end of the day, Pajari cut that lead down to 9.7 seconds. Unfortunately for Pajari his push for the win at Rally Estonia would start too late into the event and he ran out of stages to pull time back on. Nevertheless, Pajari will take second-place points in WRC2 and first place points on the Powerstage as well. 

The fourth and final day of Rally Estonia has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä would hold on to take the rally win.

SS18, KARASKI 1

Kalle Rovanperä continued his dominance taking yet another stage win. As Rovanperä finished the stage win a time 2.7 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi to take the stage win. Eflyn Evans set the third fastest time on the stage, 2.3 seconds slower than Lappi. Thierry Neuville would post the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 4 seconds slower than Neuville. 

SS19, KAMBJA 1

Kalle Rovanperä also took the stage win on the 19th stage of Rally Estonia. As Rovanperä posted a time 4.6 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Evans. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.3 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak completed the top five on the stage, finishing 2.8 seconds slower than Lappi.

SS20, KARASKI 2

Kalle Rovanperä would once again take the stage win on SS20. Rovanperä set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi to take the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Lappi. Elfyn Evans posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta solidified a top five finish on the stage, 2.6 seconds slower than Evans.

SS21, SS21 WOLF POWERSTAGE KAMBJA 2

The 21st and final stage of Rally Estonia would also be won by Kalle Rovanperä. Rovanperä set a time 2 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Esapekka Lappi finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.9 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Lappi. Thierry Neuville would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.5 seconds slower than Tänak. 

Kalle Rovanperä secured the overall win with a dominant performance winning 15 of the 21 stages on the weekend. After Day 2 no one really had an answer for Rovanperä. The result provided Rovanperä with a strong result in his fight to return to the top spot in the 2023 Championship run.

Next up is

WRC Secto Automotive Rally Finland which features smooth and blisteringly quick gravel roads, buried among forests and lakes, are characterized by massive stomach-churning jumps. It is touted as the fastest rally in the championship.

Rally Estonia Day Three Recap

Day three of Rally Estonia has come to an end. Andreas Mikkelsen would retain the WRC2 class lead after the day.

SS9, MÄEKÜLA 1

Oliver Solberg secured the stage win on SS9 in marginal fashion. Solberg set a time 1.6 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to take the stage win. Mikkelsen ran a good stage and made up time towards the end of the stage. Solberg’s lead proved to be too much and Mikkelsen had to settle for second. Sami Pajari rounded out the top three times on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS10, OTEPÄÄ 1

Oliver Solberg would repeat his earlier success on the day and also take the stage win on SS10. This time around Solberg extended the gap a bit posting a time 4.3 seconds faster than second place man Gus Greensmith. Georg Linnamäe finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Greensmith. The chase came down to the wire between Greensmith and Linnamäe.

SS11, MÄEKÜLA 2

Oliver Solberg continued his dominance and also secured the stage win on SS11. Solberg would set a time 2.4 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Pajari.

SS12, OTEPÄÄ 2

Oliver Solberg was on fire winning SS12 to sweep the morning loop of stages. Solberg finished with a time 4.4 seconds faster than Sami Pajari and Miko Marczyk to take the stage win. 

SS13, ELVA 1

No one anticipated this Sunday’s string of wins from Solberg. Solberg secured yet another win in SS13. Solberg posted a time 2.3 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to take the stage win. Egon Kaur finished in third 1.2 seconds behind Pajari. No major incidents had plagued the day.

SS14, KANEPI 1

Oliver Solberg would also take the stage win on the 14th stage of Rally Estonia. Solberg finished with a time 5.8 seconds faster than Miko Marczyk to take his sixth consecutive stage win. Andreas Mikkelsen finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Marczyk. 

SS15, ELVA 2

No one had any answers for Oliver Solberg as he would again take the stage win. Solberg set a time 3.1 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to take the stage win. Egon Kaur rounded out the top three times on the stage, finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Pajari.

SS16, KANEPI 2

It wasn’t until Stage 16 that we finally had somebody other than Oliver Solberg take the stage win. As Sami Pajari finished the stage win a time 0.5 seconds faster than Oliver Solberg to take the stage win. Miko Marczyk set the third fastest time on the stage, 2.5 seconds slower than Solberg. Solberg was still very much in the fight for the stage win but Pajari was able to edge him out.

SS17, TARTU VALD 2

In refreshing fashion Andreas Mikkelsen took the stage win on stage 17. After Solberg dominated the field for the majority of the day. Mikkelsen would set a time 0.1 seconds faster than Oliver Solberg to end the day. Sam Pajari finished 0.6 seconds slower than Mikkelsen to secure P3.

The third day of Rally Estonia has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä would retain the rally lead heading into the final day.

SS9, MÄEKÜLA 1

Stage nine would see Kalle Rovanperä take the win. As Rovanperä would set a time 1.6 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the win. Eflyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Esapekka Lappi posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Evans. Teemu Suninen would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.5 seconds slower than Lappi. 

SS10, OTEPÄÄ 1

Kalle Rovanperä would also take the stage win on the 10th stage of Rally Estonia. Rovanperä would post a time 2 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Elfyn Evans once again finished third on the stage, this time Evans would finish 1.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Esapekka Lappi finished the stage with the fourth fastest time, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.9 seconds slower than Lappi. 

SS11, MÄEKÜLA 2

Stage 11 would see Kalle Rovanperä take his third consecutive stage win. As Rovanperä posted a time 1.9 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi to take the stage win. Elfyn Evans set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Lappi. Thierry Neuville finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.7 seconds behind Neuville. 

SS12, OTEPÄÄ 2

The 12th stage of Rally Estonia was also won by Kalle Rovanperä. As Rovanperä would set a time 4.3 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi to take the stage win. Elfyn Evans would once again finish with the third fastest time on the stage, this time Evans would finish with a time 0.7 seconds slower than Lappi. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2 seconds slower than Evans. Teemu Suninen would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Tänak.

SS13, ELVA 1

Kalle Rovanperä would also take the stage win on Stage 13. As Rovanperä finished the stage with a time 3.6 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Esapekka Lappi set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Lappi. Teemu Suninen would round out the top five on the stage, 2.6 seconds slower than Evans. 

SS14, KANEPI 1

If you guessed Kalle Rovanperä took the stage win on stage 14 of Rally Estonia, you’d be correct. As Rovanperä would set a time 3.8 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Esapekka Lappi finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.9 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Lappi. Teemu Suninen would round out the top five on the stage, 5.5 seconds slower than Evans. 

SS15, ELVA 2

Kalle Rovanperä would also take the stage win on stage 15. As Rovanperä would post a time 2.4 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Evans. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak would round out the top five in the stage, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Lappi.

SS16, KANEPI 2

Kalle Rovanperä would also take the stage win on the 16th stage of Rally Estonia. As Rovanperä would post a time 2.7 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the stage win. Esapekka Lappi finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.9 seconds slower than Lappi. Ott Tänak would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.1 seconds slower than Evans.

SS17, TARTU VALD 2

Kalle Rovanperä would take his ninth consecutive stage win to sweep day three’s stages. Rovanperä would set a time 0.9 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi to take the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Lappi. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time, 1.3 seconds slower than Neuville. Teemu Suninen would round out the top five on the stage, 1.3 seconds slower than Evans. 

The second day of Rally Estonia has come to an end. Andreas Mikkelsen leads the WRC2 pack after the day.

SSS1, TARTU VALD 1

Miko Marczyk took the first-stage win of Rally Estonia. Marczyk would post a time 0.1 seconds faster than Georg Linnamäe to take the stage win. Andreas Mikkelsen would round out the top three on the stage, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Linnamäe.

SS2, PEIPSIÄÄRE 1

Oliver Solberg won the stage. Solberg finished the stage with a time 4.8 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to take the stage win. Egon Kaur finished with the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 2.9 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS3, MUSTVEE 1

Oliver Solberg would also take the stage win on SS3. As Solberg would post a time 4.5 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to take the stage win. Georg Linnamäe would round out the top three on the stage, finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS4, RAANITSA 1

Georg Linnamäe would take the stage win on stage 4 of Rally Estonia. Linnamäe would finish the stage 2.6 seconds faster than Oliver Solberg to take the stage win. Sam Pajari would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 1.1 seconds slower than Solberg. 

SS5, PEIPSIÄÄRE 2

Sam Pajari would take the stage win on the fifth stage of Rally Estonia. Pajari posted a time 2.6 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to take the stage win. Egon Kaur compelted the top three on the stage, 2.5 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS6, MUSTVEE 2

Andreas Mikkelsen shook up the pack with his stage win on SS6 of Rally Estonia. Mikkelsen would finish the stage with a time 0.4 seconds faster than Marco Bulacia to take the stage win. Gus Greensmtih would finish with the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Bulacia.

SS7, RAANITSA 2

Gus Greensmith won stage 7. Greensmith set a blistering time 10.1 seconds faster than Emil Lindholm to take the stage win. Andreas Mikkelsen would follow his previous stage win with a top three on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Lindholm.

SS8, NEERUTI

Gus Greensmith would also take the stage win on stage 8 of Rally Estonia. Greensmith would finish with a time 1.2 seconds faster than Sam Pajari. Andreas Mikkelsen set the third fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Pajari. 

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