{"id":3295,"date":"2025-05-09T21:08:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T21:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldrally.eu\/?p=3295"},"modified":"2025-05-09T21:28:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T21:28:36","slug":"day-one-at-rally-hungary-tempestini-sets-the-pace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldrally.eu\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/day-one-at-rally-hungary-tempestini-sets-the-pace\/","title":{"rendered":"Day One at Rally Hungary: Tempestini Sets The Pace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rally Hungary 2025, the second round of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), kicked off on Friday, 9th May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day began with the shakedown session, giving drivers a chance to test their cars during two hours of free practice. Following this, the qualifying stage took place, where the top competitors raced to secure the best starting positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi at Shakedown \/ Photo by TG MotorPhoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The top five drivers from the qualifying stage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Roope Korhonen \u2013 3:33.881<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Andrea Mabellini \u2013 3:33.909<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Jon Armstrong \u2013 3:34.755<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Simone Tempestini \u2013 3:35.087<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Isak Reiersen \u2013 3:36.091<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Unlike other rallies, there was no ceremonial start. Instead, the action continued straight into the first special stage (SS1), held in the evening. The short 2.05 km stage brought early drama. It had to be stopped twice after Sebastian Buty\u0144ski and Max McRae both crashed into concrete barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Philip Allen also had a tough time. His car half-spun at the very first corner and got stuck. He later explained, \u201cThe car was obviously very cold. I put my foot on the brake and it locked up. I should\u2019ve braked earlier. Just a small mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne at SS1 \/ Photo by TG MotorPhoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After the first stage, the results were extremely close: Simone Tempestini and co-driver Sergiu Itu led with a time of 1:45.2; Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi followed just 0.3 seconds behind; and Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne were in third place, 1.3 seconds back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With the top three crews separated by just over a second, the fight for victory is already intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n