Day 2 of the Central European Rally brought big changes to the leaderboard, as six stages were run across three countries, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, with each loop repeated in reverse order during the afternoon. The morning featured the stages Granit und Wald (Germany), Böhmerwald (Austria), and Col de Jan (Czechia), followed by a regroup in Český Krumlov before tackling them again in the opposite direction.
The day began with Sébastien Ogier in the lead, followed by Kalle Rovanperä just +1.6 seconds behind, and Adrien Fourmaux in third at +3.9 seconds.
The opening stage of the day saw Thierry Neuville make a strong push, jumping three positions from seventh to fourth. However, his teammate Ott Tänak matched his pace and managed to overtake him on the following stage (SS4). Unfortunately, on SS5, Neuville damaged the front-right of his car after a small off and suffered a puncture, costing him over a minute and dropping him to eighth overall.
That same stage, SS5, proved difficult for several crews. Grégoire Munster, who had narrowly avoided retirement on Day 1, wasn’t as fortunate this time, he hit a bank after a jump, causing double punctures and suspension damage, forcing him to retire for the day. He is expected to rejoin under Super Rally tomorrow.
More trouble followed when the anti-cut poles were moved before SS5, creating unexpected hazards. Several drivers, including Josh McErlean, Timo Pahlitzsch, William Smart, and Matteo Daprà, all struck the same hidden stone, damaging their suspensions and losing valuable time.
More trouble followed when the anti-cut poles were moved before SS5, creating unexpected hazards. Several drivers, including Josh McErlean, Thomas Pahlitzsch, Max Smart, and Roberto Daprà, all struck the same stone, damaging their suspensions and causing punctures, losing valuable time.
Adrien Fourmaux also struggled with the changed road conditions, saying:
“Many corners were flat for me on the recce, but I couldn’t go flat because there was so much dirt on the road.”
The time loss dropped him from third down to sixth overall.
The afternoon loop ran more smoothly, as drivers were familiar with the stages and could better manage their pace. But SS7 brought another twist, Elfyn Evans set a faster time than Tänak, stealing third place on the leaderboard.
The final stage took place after dusk, adding a new challenge as the anti-cut poles reflected heavily, making visibility difficult for many crews.
As the rally heads into Day 3, it’s shaping up to be a thrilling fight at the top. Toyota holds all three podium positions, but the gap between the top two drivers is incredibly close.
- Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais – 1:03:29.8
- Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen – +0.6
- Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin – +29.5
In WRC2, Spain’s Alejandro Cachón continues to lead comfortably, followed by Léo Rossel at +34.2 seconds, and Jan Černý at +1:08.3.