Ott Tänak claimed his second podium finish of the season with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team following a great performance on the Tour de Corse, the French round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Esapekka Lappi’s hopes of joining Tänak on the overall podium were dashed by a puncture on the final day, but he bounced back to win the Power Stage―his fourth stage win of the challenging all-asphalt event. The points gained move Toyota up to third in the manufacturers’ championship, while Tanak is up to third in the drivers’ standings.
Tänak had moved into second place by just 0.1 seconds on Saturday’s final stage but made the place his with a superb drive on Sunday morning’s first stage. At 55.17 kilometres, it was the longest stage the event had run since 1986, and Tänak completed it 12.6 seconds faster than anybody else.
Based on the great speed he had shown during the event, Lappi was also in podium contention coming into the final day, but a mistake on SS11 led to him needing to stop and change a flat tyre. He went on to win the rally-ending Power Stage by 2.2 seconds and gained sixth place in the overall standings.
Jari-Matti Latvala was unable to take part in the final day of the rally after rollcage damage incurred in a crash on Saturday was deemed to be too extensive to be repaired during the event.
