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2018 Wales Rally GB

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2018 Wales Rally GB
74. Dayinsure Wales Rally GB
Round 11 of 13 in the 2018 World Rally Championship
← Previous eventNext event →
Host country United Kingdom
Rally baseDeeside, Flintshire
Dates run4 – 7 October 2018
Start locationTir Prince Raceway
Finish locationLlandudno Promenade
Stages23 (318.34 km; 197.81 miles)
Stage surfaceGravel[a]
Transport distance1,083.01 km (672.95 miles)
Overall distance1,401.35 km (870.76 miles)
Statistics
Crews registered60
Crews57 at start, 48 at finish
Overall results
Overall winnerFrance Sébastien Ogier
France Julien Ingrassia
United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT
3:06:12.5
Power Stage winnerFinland Jari-Matti Latvala
Finland Miikka Anttila
Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Support category results
WRC-2 winnerFinland Kalle Rovanperä
Finland Jonne Halttunen
Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport II
3:15:27.2
WRC-3 winnerUnited Kingdom Tom Williams
United Kingdom Phil Hall
United Kingdom Tom Williams
3:49:44.9

The 2018 Wales Rally GB (formally known as the 74. Dayinsure Wales Rally GB) was a motor racing event for rally cars that took place over four days from 4 to 7 October 2018. The event was open to entries competing in World Rally Cars and cars complying with Group R regulations. It marked the seventy-fourth running of Rally Great Britain and was the eleventh round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship,[3] the highest class of competition in international rallying. Sixty crews, including manufacturer teams and privateers,[4] were entered to compete in the World Rally Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship-2 and FIA World Rally Championship-3 support series and the MSA British Rally Championship.[5][b] The 2018 event was based in Deeside in Flintshire and consisted of twenty-three special stages throughout North and Mid-Wales.[1] The rally covered a total competitive distance of 318.34 km (197.81 miles) and an additional 1,083.01 km (672.95 miles) in transport stages.[6]

Elfyn Evans was the defending rally winner.

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team crew of Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt were the defending rally winners.[7][8] Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson of Škoda Motorsport were the defending winners of the World Rally Championship-2, and French privateers Raphaël Astier and Frédéric Vauclare were the reigning winners in the World Rally Championship-3 category;[7] however, Astier and Vauclare did not defend their title as they did not enter the rally.[4]

The rally was won by Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. The result marked their fifth win in Wales and saw them become the most successful crew in the history of the event. Ogier and Ingrassia moved to within seven points of championship leaders Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul. Toyota's Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila finished second, with their teammates Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm completing the podium. M-Sport Ford World Rally Team were the manufacturers' winners, whilst Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT extended their lead in the manufacturers' championship.[9] The Škoda Motorsport II crew of Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen won in the World Rally Championship-2 in a Škoda Fabia R5, while the local crew of Tom Williams and Phil Hall won in the World Rally Championship-3.[10]

Background

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Championship standings prior to the event

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Hyundai's Thierry Neuville entered the round as the drivers' championship leader.

Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul entered the round as the leaders of the World Rally Championship for Drivers and the World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers respectively.[11] They held a thirteen-point lead over Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja. Defending World Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were third, a further ten points behind. In the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT held a five-point lead over Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT.

In the World Rally Championship-2 standings, Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler led the drivers' and co-drivers' standings by thirty-two points, but did not contest the rally. Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson were in second place, thirty-eight points ahead of privateers Gus Greensmith and Craig Parry. Škoda Motorsport II held a seventeen-point lead over sister team Škoda Motorsport in the teams' championship.

Newly crowned Junior World Rally Champion Emil Bergkvist led the World Rally Championship-3 drivers' standings. Denis Rådström was second, six points behind Bergkvist and Jean-Baptiste Franceschi third; Franceschi entered the rally, but did not nominate it as a round to score points. Johan Johansson held a one-point lead over Romain Courbon in the co-drivers' standings, while Tatu Hämäläinen was another eleven points behind. In the teams' championship, ACI Team Italia led Castrol Ford Team Turkiye by sixteen points.

Entry list

[edit]

The following crews were entered into the rally. The entry list consisted of sixty crews, including eleven World Rally Car entries, fourteen entries in the World Rally Championship-2, four in the World Rally Championship-3 and nineteen in the British national championship.

No. Entrant Driver Co-Driver Car Group Eligibility[c] Tyre
0 United Kingdom Stuart Egglestone United Kingdom Paul Morris Subaru Impreza STi N12 Course car
1 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
2 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT United Kingdom Elfyn Evans United Kingdom Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
3 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Finland Teemu Suninen Finland Mikko Markkula Ford Fiesta WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
4 South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Anders Jæger-Synnevaag Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
5 South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Belgium Thierry Neuville Belgium Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
6 South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT New Zealand Hayden Paddon United Kingdom Sebastian Marshall Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
7 Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
8 Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Estonia Ott Tänak Estonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
9 Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Finland Esapekka Lappi Finland Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
10 France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Norway Mads Østberg Norway Torstein Eriksen Citroën C3 WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
11 France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Republic of Ireland Craig Breen United Kingdom Scott Martin Citroën C3 WRC RC1 WRC manufacturer M
31 Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport II Sweden Pontus Tidemand Sweden Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
32 United Kingdom Gus Greensmith United Kingdom Gus Greensmith United States Alessandro Gelsomino Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
33 Finland Printsport Poland Łukasz Pieniążek Poland Przemysław Mazur Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
34 Italy ACI Team Italia WRC Italy Fabio Andolfi Italy Simone Scattolin Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 WRC-2 P
35 France PH Sport Norway Ole Christian Veiby Norway Stig Rune Skjærmoen Citroën C3 R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
36 Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport II Finland Kalle Rovanperä Finland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
37 South Korea Hyundai Motorsport Finland Jari Huttunen Finland Antti Linnaketo Hyundai i20 R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
38 Italy BRC Racing Team France Pierre-Louis Loubet France Vincent Landais Hyundai i20 R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
39 Spain Nil Solans Spain Nil Solans Spain Marc Martí Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 WRC-2 P
40 France Citroën Total Rallye Team France Stéphane Lefebvre France Gabin Moreau Citroën C3 R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
41 Bolivia Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Bolivia Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Argentina Fernando Mussano Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
42 Romania Simone Tempestini Romania Simone Tempestini Romania Sergio Itu Citroën C3 R5 RC2 WRC-2 M
43 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT France Eric Camilli France Benjamin Veillas Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 WRC-2 P
44 Turkey Toksport WRT United Kingdom Chris Ingram United Kingdom Ross Whittock Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 WRC-2 P
61 Finland Taisko Lario Finland Taisko Lario Finland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 RC4 WRC-3 M
62 Italy Enrico Brazzoli Italy Enrico Brazzoli Italy Luca Beltrame Peugeot 208 R2 RC4 WRC-3 P
63 United Kingdom Louise Cook United Kingdom Louise Cook United Kingdom Stefan Davis Ford Fiesta R2 RC4 WRC-3 M
64 United Kingdom Tom Williams United Kingdom Tom Williams United Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2 RC4 WRC-3 P
81 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT United Kingdom Matt Edwards United Kingdom Darren Garrod Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 National P
82 United Kingdom David Bogie United Kingdom David Bogie Republic of Ireland John Rowan Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 National D
83 United Kingdom Rhys Yates United Kingdom Rhys Yates United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson Škoda Fabia R5 RC2 National M
84 United Kingdom Tom Cave United Kingdom Tom Cave United Kingdom James Morgan Hyundai i20 R5 RC2 D
85 India Team MRF Tyres India Gaurav Gill Australia Glenn MacNeall Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 MR
86 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT United Kingdom Alex Laffey United Kingdom Patrick Walsh Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 P
87 Republic of Ireland Eamonn Boland Republic of Ireland Eamonn Boland Republic of Ireland Michael Joseph Morrissey Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 M
88 United Kingdom James Aldridge United Kingdom Sacha Kakad United Kingdom James Aldridge Ford Fiesta R5 NAT2 National P
89 Brazil Palmeirinha Rally Brazil Paulo Nobre Brazil Gabriel Morales Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 P
90 United Kingdom Lawrence Whyte United Kingdom Lawrence Whyte United Kingdom Paul Beaton Ford Fiesta R5 RC2 P
91 France Équipe de France FFSA Rally France Jean-Baptiste Franceschi France Romain Courbon Ford Fiesta R2T RC4 P
92 Norway Steve Rokland Norway Steve Rokland United Kingdom Dai Roberts Peugeot 208 R2 RC4 National M
93 United Kingdom Tom Woodburn United Kingdom James Williams United Kingdom Tom Woodburn Vauxhall Adam R2 RC4 National P
94 United Kingdom William Creighton United Kingdom William Creighton Republic of Ireland Liam Regan Peugeot 208 R2 RC4 National M
95 United Kingdom Tony Jardine United Kingdom Tony Jardine United Kingdom Tom Cary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX NAT4 K
96 Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan United Kingdom Liam Fouhy Škoda Fabia R2 RC4 National K
97 United Kingdom John Morrison United Kingdom John Morrison United Kingdom Peter Carstairs Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX NAT4 National K
98 United Kingdom Paul Walker United Kingdom Paul Walker United Kingdom Geraint Thomas Subaru Impreza NAT4 Y
99 United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Fiona Scarret Subaru Impreza NAT4 Y
100 United Kingdom Peredur Davies United Kingdom Jordan Reynolds United Kingdom Peredur Davies Ford Fiesta R2 NAT2 National P
101 United Kingdom Finlay Retson United Kingdom Finlay Retson United Kingdom Tom Hynd Ford Fiesta R2 NAT2 National P
102 United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson United Kingdom Glyn Thomas Subaru Impreza WRX STi RC2 National P
103 United Kingdom James McDiarmid United Kingdom James McDiarmid United Kingdom Gareth Clarke Ford Fiesta R2T RC4 National P
104 United Kingdom Alex Waterman United Kingdom Alex Waterman United Kingdom Harry Thomas Ford Fiesta R2T RC4 National P
105 United Kingdom Bart Lang United Kingdom Bart Lang United Kingdom Sinclair Young Ford Fiesta R2 NAT2 National P
106 United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi United Kingdom Stephen Landen MG ZR NAT3 P
107 United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar United Kingdom Richard Bliss Peugeot 208 R2 RC4 National P
108 United Kingdom Jonathan Mulholland United Kingdom Jonathan Mulholland Republic of Ireland Jeff Case Ford Fiesta R2 NAT2 National P
109 United Kingdom Stephen Southall United Kingdom Stephen Southall United Kingdom Richard Bestwick Ford Escort MK2 NAT4 P
110 United Kingdom Iwan Evans United Kingdom Iwan Evans United Kingdom Sion Williams Subaru Impreza NAT4 K
111 United Kingdom Neil Andrew United Kingdom Neil Andrew United Kingdom Dominic Adams Subaru Impreza NAT4 K
Source:[4][12]

Calendar changes

[edit]

The event swapped places on the calendar with the Rally Catalunya de España. Where the 2017 rally was run as the penultimate round of the championship, the 2018 event was brought forward from the last week of October to the first week in the expectation of better weather conditions for the event.[3] Toyota driver Jari-Matti Latvala anticipated that the change would see the rally run with stable, more-predictable temperatures than in previous years, making it easier to set the car up for the prevailing conditions.[13] Further changes to the calendar saw the revival of Rally Turkey as a replacement for Rally Poland.[3] The Turkish event was named as the tenth round of the championship and in light of the distance crews needed to travel from Turkey to Wales, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the governing body of international motorsport—gave entrants an additional week to prepare for Rally GB compared to previous years.[3]

Route

[edit]

The 2018 event featured a heavily revised route from the 2017 rally.[14] The route for the 2018 event was designed to be more challenging than the routes used in previous years.[15] The changes were introduced in response to criticism from crews and teams over the lengthy transport route, or the route taken on public roads to travel between special stages. The final route featured an additional 14.98 km (9.31 miles) in competitive kilometres compared to the 2017 route and the transport distance was shortened.[6] The changes to the route allowed the crews to return to the service park in Deeside at the end of the first day of competition as the omission of the return to the service park had been one of the teams' criticisms of the 2017 event.[16]

Details

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The rally was made up of gravel roads through forests and moors.[6] Many of these roads received little commercial traffic through the year aside from forestry maintenance and logging projects. Unlike events such as Rally Italia Sardegna and Rally Australia where loose gravel on the road surface creates dust,[17] the road surface in Wales is made up of heavier gravel on a hard-packed road base.[3] This creates more grip for crews in the dry, but the roads can become muddy and rutted in wet weather, particularly when a stage is used multiple times.

The event featured two days in northern Wales and one day in the middle of the country. The first leg was 111.20 km (69.10 miles) long and started with a spectator stage at Tir Prince Raceway on the evening of 4 October. It then moved into the forests of Conwy and Gwynedd on 5 October and was made up of two passes over Clocaenog Forest, Penmachno Forest and a new stage formed by merging the Brenig reservoir stage—which was run as the Power Stage between 2014 and 2017—with the Alwen stage using parts of the B4501 to connect them. Now known as Brenig, it was the longest stage of the rally at 29.19 km (18.14 miles). Penmachno Forest was run in its full length by using public roads. The Cholmondeley Castle spectator stage in England was removed and replaced by a new spectator stage called Slate Mountain. The rally moved to Powys and Ceredigion on 6 October for the longest day of the rally, totalling 146.45 km (91.00 miles) competitive kilometres. It consisted of two passes over the Myherin, Hafren, Dyfi and Gartheiniog stages and a single running of Dyfnant. The Hafren stage was extended to include the Sweet Lamb spectator arena. The 2018 event marked the first time since 1997 that these five stages were run on the same day. The rally returned to northern Wales on 7 October and the forests of Conwy and Snowdonia. The third leg was the shortest of the rally at 60.20 km (37.41 miles) long and featured Elsi, a brand new stage, and two passes of Gwydir. The Gwydir stage was doubled in length from previous years before the rally concludes with two passes over a spectator stage around the Great Orme headland and the streets of Llandudno.[6] A shortened version of the Great Orme stage had previously been used in 2011 when it was run in the opposite direction.

The final stage of the rally circles the Great Orme headland (top) and finishes on the Llandudno Promenade (bottom).

Organisers of the event had a dispute with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) over the planned route. The original proposal featured the Great Orme stage—which had previously featured in the route of the 2013 event—as the event's Power Stage. However, the FIA rejected the route as the proposed stage was not representative of the rally; the route primarily consisted of gravel stages, but the proposed stage was tarmac.[2] The dispute was resolved when the organisers agreed to run the first pass over Gwydir as the Power Stage, allowing the event to finish in Llandudno as originally planned.[16]

The inclusion of public roads in the route was made possible with the passage of the Deregulation Act 2015 by the British government, which amended parts of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it possible for events to close public roads to be used for motor racing events in the United Kingdom. In February 2018, the National Assembly for Wales passed the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Motor Racing) (Wales) Regulations 2018, a piece of secondary legislation that enabled motor racing events to take place on public roads in Wales.[18][19]

Itinerary

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Date No. Stage name Distance Location
4 Oct. Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
Clocaenog [Shakedown] 3.37 km Clocaenog Forest, Conwy
Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
Ceremonial start – Tir Prince Raceway Towyn, Conwy
Leg 1 — North Wales — 112.46 km
SS1 Tir Prince 1.70 km Towyn, Conwy
5 Oct. Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
SS2 Clocaenog 1 7.67 km Clocaenog Forest, Conwy
SS3 Brenig 1 29.13 km Llyn Brenig, Conwy
SS4 Penmachno 1 16.95 km Penmachno, Conwy
SS5 Slate Mountain 1 1.63 km Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd
SS6 Slate Mountain 2 1.63 km Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd
Regroup
Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
SS7 Clocaenog 2 7.67 km Clocaenog Forest, Conwy
SS8 Brenig 2 29.13 km Llyn Brenig, Conwy
SS9 Penmachno 2 16.95 km Penmachno, Conwy
Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
Leg 2 — Mid-Wales — 150.24 km
6 Oct. Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
SS10 Myherin 1 20.28 km River Wye, Powys
SS11 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 19.95 km Hafren Forest, Powys
SS12 Dyfi 1 19.48 km River Dovey, Ceredigion
SS13 Gartheiniog 1 11.26 km Afon Dulas, Ceredigion
SS14 Dyfnant 8.30 km Dyfnant Forest, Powys
Regroup – Newtown Newtown, Powys
Tyre and Light Fitting Zone – Newtown Newtown, Powys
SS15 Myherin 2 20.28 km River Wye, Powys
SS16 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 19.95 km Hafren Forest, Powys
SS17 Dyfi 2 19.48 km River Dovey, Ceredigion
SS18 Gartheiniog 2 11.26 km Afon Dulas, Ceredigion
Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
Leg 3 — North Wales — 55.64 km
7 Oct. Service park – Deeside Rally Village Deeside, Flintshire
SS19 Elsi 10.06 km Llyn Elsi, Snowdonia
SS20 Gwydir 1 [Power Stage] 14.76 km Gwydir Forest, Snowdonia
SS21 Great Orme Llandudno 1 8.03 km Llandudno, Conwy
Tyre Fitting Zone – Dolgarrog Dolgarrog, Conwy
SS22 Gwydir 2 14.76 km Gwydir Forest, Snowdonia
Regroup – Llandudno Llandudno, Conwy
SS23 Great Orme Llandudno 2 8.03 km Llandudno, Conwy
Ceremonial finish – Llandudno Promenade Llandudno, Conwy
Source:[1][6][13]

Reception

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The new route was received positively by drivers—particularly former Citroën driver Kris Meeke—who appreciated the inclusion of challenging stages.[d] Thierry Neuville and Craig Breen also applauded the route as the best route used by the rally since it moved from Cardiff to Deeside.[22] Defending rally winner Elfyn Evans had a more muted response, expressing disappointment that organisers had not taken full advantage of road closures to create a more demanding route, such as merging the Dyfi and Gartheiniog stages. Rally organisers revealed that they had considered many of the suggestions Evans had raised, but chose a more conservative approach to road closures as the legislation that allowed them to close roads had only been passed in February 2018 and they wanted to ensure that the protocol had been followed properly.[23]

Report

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Leg 1

[edit]

Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm completed the opening super special stage three tenths of a second ahead of fellow Toyota crew Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila and championship leaders Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul, who tied for second.[24] As the event moved into the forest stages, Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja—who entered the rally having taken three consecutive victories—dominated the early running. He won five of the eight stages and established a comfortable lead to end the day twenty-eight seconds ahead of Neuville and Gilsoul.[25] Tänak had been closely matched by defending rally winners Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt until their Fiesta WRC developed a misfire and was forced to retire from the leg. Latvala and Anttila dropped down to third overall after losing their rhythm in the afternoon loop. Lappi and Ferm recovered from an early spin to finish fourth, while Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia completed the leg in fifth. Ogier and Ingrassia had fallen to eighth during the first pass over the stages when they suffered a series of spins and the loss of first and second gear. Their M-Sport Ford teammates Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula completed the team's woes when they slid off the road and into a ditch; Suninen and Markkula were unable to re-enter the rally. Craig Breen and Scott Martin were the lead Citroën crew in sixth after enjoying a trouble-free day, ahead of Hyundai crews led Hayden Paddon and Sebastian Marshall in seventh and Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger-Synnevaag in eighth. Both Paddon and Mikkelsen complained of unpredictable handling in their cars, particularly during the afternoon loop of stages when rain affected the profile of the roads.[13] Neuville, by comparison, reported that his car's handling improved in the afternoon, benefiting from a new specification of tyre provided by Michelin that offered improved grip whilst being more durable than previous tyres.[13] Citroën's Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen were the last of the drivers in a World Rally Car-specification entry, finishing the leg in ninth place.

Leg 2

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Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja continued their form through the opening stages of the second leg until they were forced to retire. Tänak damaged his radiator after a heavy landing off a jump during the second pass through Sweet Lamb Hafren.[26] Tänak and Järveoja had experienced similar retirements in the Rallies of Portugal and Sardinia.[27] Ogier and Ingrassia experienced a resurgence, climbing from fifth place to take the lead; however, Ogier chose the more-durable medium compound tyres as the dry gravel would damage the faster soft compound, and was unable to build a lead of his own. He finished the leg with a slender four-second advantage over the surviving Toyotas of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila in second place and Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm in third.[28] Craig Breen and Scott Martin ended the leg in fourth, some fifteen seconds off the lead. The reversal of the running order for the second leg meant that Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen ran with favourable road conditions, which allowed them to find some pace in the morning loop and climb the leaderboard. Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger-Synnevaag similarly benefited from their road position, winning three of the day's stages and finishing the leg two and a half seconds behind Østberg and Eriksen. Hayden Paddon and Sebastian Marshall completed the day in seventh overall ahead of Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul; Neuville and Gilsoul had been running second at the time, but lost fifty-one seconds when they ran off the road in the early morning stages and he conceded a further fifteen seconds to Ogier and Ingrassia when they was unable to match the leaders' pace.[29]

Leg 3

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The final leg of the rally saw Ogier and Ingrassia trade places with Latvala and Anttila several times. Ogier and Ingrassia initially held the advantage, but a fast time by Latvala and Anttila through the Gwydir Power Stage—that saw them take the five bonus points—was enough to seize the lead. Latvala and Anttila held the lead through the first pass over Great Orme Llandudno, only for Ogier and Ingrassia to reclaim it on the return to Gwydir. The final stage was delayed following an incident that required the attention of emergency services and not all of the competitors were able to start the stage.[30][31] Latvala and Anttila was unable to set a competitive time, meaning Ogier and Ingrassia only needed to finish to claim victory. They ultimately set a time fast enough to win the stage and the rally, taking twenty-five World Championship points for the win and an additional three points for third place on the Power Stage.[32] Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm completed the podium and scored an extra Power Stage point. Craig Breen and Scott Martin were fourth, ahead of Neuville and Gilsoul. Neuville and Gilsoul led the three Hyundais, with Mikkelsen and Jæger-Synnevaag in sixth and Paddon and Marshall seventh. Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen were eighth, with the final points-scoring places going to World Rally Championship-2 entrants Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen and their Škoda Motorsport teammates Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja re-entered under Rally2 regulations and finished nineteenth overall, scoring four points on the Power Stage in the process. Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt also re-entered and finished twentieth in the final classification.

Support categories

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In the World Rally Championship-2 standings, eighteen year-old Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen finished the first leg as the category leader and tenth in the overall standings. Rovanperä and Halttunen won every stage but one to establish a lead of fifty-five seconds over teammates Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson, while British privateers Gus Greensmith and Alessandro Gelsomino finished the leg in third.[13] Rovanperä and Halttunen maintained their lead over Tidemand and Andersson throughout the second leg and the two crews climbed to ninth and tenth in the overall classification following the retirement of Tänak and Järveoja.[29] Rovanperä and Halttunen went on to win the category by ninety-four seconds, aided by an off-road excursion by Tidemand and Andersson in the Power Stage. Tidemand and Andersson damaged their rear suspension, but were able to continue after repairing the damage during a transport stage. The result was Rovanperä and Haltunnen's second win in the category. Tidemand and Andersson recovered to finish second, with Greensmith and Gelsomino finishing third.

Tom Williams and Phil Hall led the first leg in the World Rally Championship-3 category after trading stage wins with Taisko Lario and Tatu Hämäläinen throughout the day.[33] Williams and Hall's lead was consolidated during the second leg when Lario and Hämäläinen were late checking into a stage and had thirty seconds added to his time as a penalty. Williams and Hall went on to win the event, marking their first victory in the category. Italian privateers Enrico Brazzoli and Luca Beltrame caught and passed Lario and Hämäläinen during the second leg and held the position until the end of the rally. Lario and Hämäläinen ultimately finished third overall.

The first two legs of the rally also served as the final two rounds of the MSA British Rally Championship. M-Sport driver Matt Edwards and co-driver Darren Garrod secured the 2018 championship title with fourth place on the first leg of the rally.[34] Edwards and Garrod won the second leg and were the highest-place national entrant at the end of the rally.

Classification

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Final results

[edit]
Pos. No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Class Time Difference
to 1st to prev.
1 1 France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC WRC 3:06:12.5 0.0 0.0
2 7 Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC WRC 3:06:23.1 +10.6 +10.6
3 9 Finland Esapekka Lappi Finland Janne Ferm Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC WRC 3:06:47.6 +35.1 +24.5
4 11 Republic of Ireland Craig Breen United Kingdom Scott Martin France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën C3 WRC WRC 3:07:22.9 +1:10.4 +35.3
5 5 Belgium Thierry Neuville Belgium Nicolas Gilsoul South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC WRC 3:07:26.9 +1:14.4 +4.0
6 4 Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Anders Jæger-Synnevaag South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC WRC 3:07:28.4 +1:15.9 +1.5
7 6 New Zealand Hayden Paddon United Kingdom Sebastian Marshall South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC WRC 3:07:30.9 +1:18.4 +2.5
8 10 Norway Mads Østberg Norway Torstein Eriksen France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën C3 WRC WRC 3:07:34.1 +1:21.6 +3.2
9 36 Finland Kalle Rovanperä Finland Jonne Halttunen Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport II Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 3:15:27.2 +9:14.7 +7:53.1
10 31 Sweden Pontus Tidemand Sweden Jonas Andersson Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport II Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 3:17:01.4 +10:48.9 +1:34.2
11 32 United Kingdom Gus Greensmith United States Alessandro Gelsomino United Kingdom Gus Greensmith Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 3:17:40.8 +11:28.3 +39.4
12 37 Finland Jari Huttunen Finland Antti Linnaketo South Korea Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 R5 WRC-2 3:18:24.0 +12:11.5 +43.2
13 40 France Stéphane Lefebvre France Gabin Moreau France Citroën Total Rallye Team Citroën C3 R5 WRC-2 3:20:02.6 +13:50.1 +1:38.6
14 33 Poland Łukasz Pieniążek Poland Przemysław Mazur Finland Printsport Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 3:21:47.3 +15:34.8 +1:44.7
15 42 Romania Simone Tempestini Romania Sergio Itu Romania Simone Tempestini Citroën C3 R5 WRC-2 3:24:16.9 +18:04.4 +2:29.6
16 34 Italy Fabio Andolfi Italy Simone Scattolin Italy ACI Team Italia WRC Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 3:24:34.3 +18:21.8 +17.4
17 81 United Kingdom Matt Edwards United Kingdom Darren Garrod United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 National 3:25:42.0 +19:29.5 +1:07.7
18 41 Bolivia Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Argentina Fernando Mussano Bolivia Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 3:26:12.2 +19:59.7 +30.2
19 8 Estonia Ott Tänak Estonia Martin Järveoja Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC WRC 3:26:51.4 +20:38.9 +39.2
20 2 United Kingdom Elfyn Evans United Kingdom Daniel Barritt United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC WRC 3:27:40.5 +21:28.0 +49.1
21 86 United Kingdom Alex Laffey United Kingdom Patrick Walsh United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 National 3:31:44.7 +25:32.2 +4:04.2
22 85 India Gaurav Gill Australia Glenn MacNeall India Team MRF Tyres Ford Fiesta R5 3:33:27.4 +27:14.9 +1:42.7
23 89 Brazil Paulo Nobre Brazil Gabriel Morales Brazil Palmeirinha Rally Ford Fiesta R5 3:34:39.2 +28:26.7 +1:11.8
24 43 France Eric Camilli France Benjamin Veillas United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 3:42:48.7 +27:21.5 +8:09.5
25 87 Republic of Ireland Eamonn Boland Republic of Ireland Michael Joseph Morrissey Republic of Ireland Eamonn Boland Ford Fiesta R5 3:43:02.4 +36:49.9 +13.7
26 35 Norway Ole Christian Veiby Norway Stig Rune Skjærmoen France PH Sport Citroën C3 R5 WRC-2 3:48:28.3 +42:15.8 +5:25.9
27 87 Norway Steve Rokland United Kingdom Dai Roberts Norway Steve Rokland Peugeot 208 R2 National 3:48:51.2 +42:38.7 +22.9
28 64 United Kingdom Tom Williams United Kingdom Phil Hall United Kingdom Tom Williams Ford Fiesta R2 WRC-3 3:49:44.9 +43:32.4 +53.7
29 91 France Jean-Baptiste Franceschi France Romain Courbon France Équipe de France FFSA Rally Ford Fiesta R2T 3:50:27.8 +44:15.3 +42.9
30 93 United Kingdom Tom Woodburn United Kingdom James Williams United Kingdom Tom Woodburn Vauxhall Adam R2 National 3:53:52.9 +47:40.4 +3:25.1
31 62 Italy Enrico Brazzoli Italy Luca Beltrame Italy Enrico Brazzoli Peugeot 208 R2 WRC-3 3:54:23.4 +48:10.9 +30.5
32 61 Finland Taisko Lario Finland Tatu Hämäläinen Finland Taisko Lario Peugeot 208 R2 WRC-3 3:56:40.0 +50:27.5 +2:16.6
33 95 United Kingdom Tony Jardine United Kingdom Tom Cary United Kingdom Tony Jardine Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 3:57:42.5 +51:30.0 +1:02.5
34 44 United Kingdom Chris Ingram United Kingdom Ross Whittock Turkey Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 4:00:45.9 +54:33.4 +3:03.4
35 97 United Kingdom John Morrison United Kingdom Peter Carstairs United Kingdom John Morrison Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX National 4:01:44.3 +55:31.8 +58.4
36 104 United Kingdom Alex Waterman United Kingdom Harry Thomas United Kingdom Alex Waterman Ford Fiesta R2T National 4:06:34.8 +1:00:22.3 +4:50.5
37 102 United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson United Kingdom Glyn Thomas United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4:07:23.9 +1:01:11.4 +49.1
38 63 United Kingdom Louise Cook United Kingdom Stefan Davis United Kingdom Louise Cook Ford Fiesta R2 WRC-3 4:09:08.7 +1:02:56.2 +1:44.8
39 108 United Kingdom Jonathan Mulholland Republic of Ireland Jeff Case United Kingdom Jonathan Mulholland Ford Fiesta R2 National 4:12:23.3 +1:06:10.8 +3:14.6
40 100 United Kingdom Peredur Davies United Kingdom Jordan Reynolds United Kingdom Peredur Davies Ford Fiesta R2 National 4:19:54.9 +1:13:42.4 +7:31.6
41 101 United Kingdom Finlay Retson United Kingdom Tom Hynd United Kingdom Finlay Retson Ford Fiesta R2 National 4:27:21.8 +1:21:09.3 +7:26.9
42 39 Spain Nil Solans Spain Marc Martí Spain Nil Solans Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 4:28:14.1 +1:22:01.6 +52.3
43 107 United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar United Kingdom Richard Bliss United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar Peugeot 208 R2 National 4:32:25.2 +1:26:12.7 +4:11.1
44 106 United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi United Kingdom Stephen Landen United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi MG ZR 4:33:21.0 +1:27:08.5 +55.8
45 111 United Kingdom Neil Andrew United Kingdom Dominic Adams United Kingdom Neil Andrew Subaru Impreza 4:42:26.1 +1:36:13.6 +9:05.1
46 109 United Kingdom Stephen Southall United Kingdom Richard Bestwick United Kingdom Stephen Southall Ford Escort MK2 4:43:24.5 +1:37:12.0 +58.4
47 96 Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan United Kingdom Liam Fouhy Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan Škoda Fabia R2 National 4:43:53.4 +1:37:40.9 +28.9
48 105 United Kingdom Bart Lang United Kingdom Sinclair Young United Kingdom Bart Lang Ford Fiesta R2 National 4:48:35.6 +1:42:23.1 +4:42.2
Ret 84 United Kingdom Tom Cave United Kingdom James Morgan United Kingdom Tom Cave Hyundai i20 R5 Retired SS21
Ret 38 France Pierre-Louis Loubet France Vincent Landais Italy BRC Racing Team Hyundai i20 R5 WRC-2 Retired SS21
Ret 82 United Kingdom David Bogie Republic of Ireland John Rowan United Kingdom David Bogie Škoda Fabia R5 National Retired SS20
Ret 83 United Kingdom Rhys Yates United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson United Kingdom Rhys Yates Škoda Fabia R5 National Retired SS15
Ret 99 United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Fiona Scarret United Kingdom Scott Partridge Subaru Impreza Retired SS11
Ret 88 United Kingdom James Aldridge United Kingdom Sacha Kakad United Kingdom James Aldridge Ford Fiesta R5 Retired SS11
Ret 3 Finland Teemu Suninen Finland Mikko Markkula United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC WRC Retired SS9
Ret 110 United Kingdom Iwan Evans United Kingdom Sion Williams United Kingdom Iwan Evans Subaru Impreza Retired SS8
Ret 94 United Kingdom William Creighton Republic of Ireland Liam Regan United Kingdom William Creighton Peugeot 208 R2 National Retired SS3
DNS 90 United Kingdom Lawrence Whyte United Kingdom Paul Beaton United Kingdom Lawrence Whyte Ford Fiesta R5 Did not start
DNS 98 United Kingdom Paul Walker United Kingdom Geraint Thomas United Kingdom Paul Walker Subaru Impreza Did not start
DNS 103 United Kingdom James McDiarmid United Kingdom Gareth Clarke United Kingdom James McDiarmid Ford Fiesta R2T National Did not start
Source:[35][36]

Special stages

[edit]
Overall classification
Day Stage Name Length Stage winners Car Time Class leaders
4 October Clocaenog [Shakedown] 3.32 km Finland Teemu SuninenFinland Mikko Markkula Ford Fiesta WRC 2:01.2
SS1 Tir Prince 1.70 km Finland Esapekka LappiFinland Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 1:21.6 Finland Esapekka LappiFinland Janne Ferm
5 October SS2 Clocaenog 1 7.67 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 4:07.2 Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja
SS3 Brenig 1 29.13 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 16:52.4
SS4 Penmachno 1 16.95 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 10:15.9
SS5 Slate Mountain 1 1.63 km Belgium Thierry NeuvilleBelgium Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 1:16.8
SS6 Slate Mountain 2 1.63 km Finland Jari-Matti LatvalaFinland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 1:15.3
SS7 Clocaenog 2 7.67 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 4:01.6
SS8 Brenig 2 29.13 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 16:30.5
SS9 Penmachno 2 16.95 km Belgium Thierry NeuvilleBelgium Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 10:16.4
6 October SS10 Myherin 1 20.28 km France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 10:46.2
SS11 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 19.95 km Norway Mads ØstbergNorway Torstein Eriksen Citroën C3 WRC 11:39.4
SS12 Dyfi 1 19.48 km Estonia Ott TänakEstonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 10:56.7
SS13 Gartheiniog 1 11.26 km Norway Andreas MikkelsenNorway Anders Jæger-Synnevaag Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:51.0
SS14 Dyfnant 8.30 km Finland Jari-Matti LatvalaFinland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 4:28.2
SS15 Myherin 2 20.28 km France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 10:37.9
SS16 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 19.95 km Norway Andreas MikkelsenNorway Anders Jæger-Synnevaag Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 11:26.6 France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia
SS17 Dyfi 2 19.48 km Finland Jari-Matti LatvalaFinland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 10:42.8
SS18 Gartheiniog 2 11.26 km Norway Andreas MikkelsenNorway Anders Jæger-Synnevaag Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 6:43.6
7 October SS19 Elsi 10.06 km Finland Esapekka LappiFinland Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 7:17.1
SS20 Gwydir 1 [Power stage] 14.70 km Finland Jari-Matti LatvalaFinland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 9:31.6 Finland Jari-Matti LatvalaFinland Miikka Anttila
SS21 Great Orme Llandudno 1 8.03 km France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 4:22.0
SS22 Gwydir 2 14.70 km France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 9:30.4 France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia
SS23 Great Orme Llandudno 2 7.43 km[e] France Sébastien OgierFrance Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3:59.3
World Rally Championship-2
4 October Clocaenog [Shakedown] 3.32 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 2:07.0
SS1 Tir Prince 1.70 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 1:23.8 Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen
5 October SS2 Clocaenog 1 7.67 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 4:17.6
SS3 Brenig 1 29.13 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 17:29.7
SS4 Penmachno 1 16.95 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 10:48.8
SS5 Slate Mountain 1 1.63 km Sweden Pontus TidemandSweden Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 1:21.1
SS6 Slate Mountain 2 1.63 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 1:20.4
SS7 Clocaenog 2 7.67 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 4:15.7
SS8 Brenig 2 29.13 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 17:29.4
SS9 Penmachno 2 16.95 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 10:44.3
6 October SS10 Myherin 1 20.28 km United Kingdom Gus GreensmithUnited States Alessandro Gelsomino Ford Fiesta R5 11:31.1
SS11 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 19.95 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 12:28.8
SS12 Dyfi 1 19.48 km Sweden Pontus TidemandSweden Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 11:37.0
SS13 Gartheiniog 1 11.26 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 7:16.0
SS14 Dyfnant 8.30 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 4:44.5
SS15 Myherin 2 20.28 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 11:12.2
SS16 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 19.95 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 12:09.0
SS17 Dyfi 2 19.48 km France Eric CamilliFrance Benjamin Veillas Ford Fiesta R5 11:20.9
SS18 Gartheiniog 2 11.26 km Sweden Pontus TidemandSweden Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 7:09.3
7 October SS19 Elsi 10.06 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 7:34.0
SS20 Gwydir 1 14.70 km Finland Kalle RovanperäFinland Jonne Halttunen Škoda Fabia R5 10:00.1
SS21 Great Orme Llandudno 1 8.03 km Italy Fabio AndolfiItaly Simone Scattolin Škoda Fabia R5 4:35.9
SS22 Gwydir 2 14.70 km France Eric CamilliFrance Benjamin Veillas Ford Fiesta R5 9:54.6
SS23 Great Orme Llandudno 2 7.43 km[e] Stage interrupted[f]
World Rally Championship-3
4 October Clocaenog [Shakedown] 3.32 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 2:28.2
SS1 Tir Prince 1.70 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 1:38.3 United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall
5 October SS2 Clocaenog 1 7.67 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 5:05.3 Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen
SS3 Brenig 1 29.13 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 20:33.4 United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall
SS4 Penmachno 1 16.95 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 12:34.6
SS5 Slate Mountain 1 1.63 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 1:36.9
SS6 Slate Mountain 2 1.63 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 1:36.3
United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T
SS7 Clocaenog 2 7.67 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 5:04.1
SS8 Brenig 2 29.13 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 20:24.8
SS9 Penmachno 2 16.95 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 12:43.4
6 October SS10 Myherin 1 20.28 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 13:16.7
SS11 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 19.95 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 14:41.5
SS12 Dyfi 1 19.48 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 13:26.7
SS13 Gartheiniog 1 11.26 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 8:29.5
SS14 Dyfnant 8.30 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 5:24.6
SS15 Myherin 2 20.28 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 12:55.2
SS16 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 19.95 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 13:48.4
SS17 Dyfi 2 19.48 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 12:55.0
SS18 Gartheiniog 2 11.26 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 8:14.1
7 October SS19 Elsi 10.06 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 8:33.2
SS20 Gwydir 1 14.70 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 11:26.9
SS21 Great Orme Llandudno 1 8.03 km Finland Taisko LarioFinland Tatu Hämäläinen Peugeot 208 R2 5:30.8
SS22 Gwydir 2 14.70 km United Kingdom Tom WilliamsUnited Kingdom Phil Hall Ford Fiesta R2T 11:28.7
SS23 Great Orme Llandudno 2 7.43 km[e] Stage interrupted[f]

Power stage

[edit]

The Power stage was a 14.70 km stage run on the final day of the rally. Additional World Drivers' and Co-drivers' Championship points were awarded to the five fastest crews. As the Power Stage was not the final stage of the rally, crews had to complete the event to be eligible to receive the points.[27]

Pos. Driver Co-driver Car Time Diff. Pts.
1 Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 9:31.6 0.0 5
2 Estonia Ott Tänak Estonia Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 9:32.4 +0.7 4
3 France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 9:36.9 +5.2 3
4 Belgium Thierry Neuville Belgium Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 9:37.3 +5.6 2
5 Finland Esapekka Lappi Finland Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 9:39.9 +8.2 1

Penalties

[edit]

The following crews were given time penalties during the rally.

Stage No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Class Reason Penalty
SS1 97 United Kingdom John Morrison United Kingdom Peter Carstairs United Kingdom John Morrison Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX National 12 minutes late 2:00
SS6 99 United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Fiona Scarret United Kingdom Scott Partridge Subaru Impreza 1 minute late 0:10
SS9 83 United Kingdom Rhys Yates United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson United Kingdom Rhys Yates Škoda Fabia R5 National 5 minutes late 0:50
SS9 91 France Jean-Baptiste Franceschi France Romain Courbon France Équipe de France FFSA Rally Ford Fiesta R2T 1 minute late 0:10
SS9 95 United Kingdom Tony Jardine United Kingdom Tom Cary United Kingdom Tony Jardine Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 3 minutes early 0:30
SS9 99 United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Fiona Scarret United Kingdom Scott Partridge Subaru Impreza 1 minute early 1:00
SS9 109 United Kingdom Stephen Southall United Kingdom Richard Bestwick United Kingdom Stephen Southall Ford Escort MK2 3 minutes late 3:00
SS10 61 Finland Taisko Lario Finland Tatu Hämäläinen Finland Taisko Lario Peugeot 208 R2 WRC-3 3 minutes late 0:30
SS10 106 United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi United Kingdom Stephen Landen United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi MG ZR 1 minute late 0:10
SS11 105 United Kingdom Bart Lang United Kingdom Sinclair Young United Kingdom Bart Lang Ford Fiesta R2 National 3 minutes late 0:30
SS18 93 United Kingdom Tom Woodburn United Kingdom James Williams United Kingdom Tom Woodburn Vauxhall Adam R2 National 8 minutes late 1:20
SS22 106 United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi United Kingdom Stephen Landen United Kingdom Saleh Hijazi MG ZR 1 minute late 0:10

Retirements

[edit]

The following crews retired from the event. Under Rally2 regulations, they were eligible to re-enter the event starting from the next leg. Crews that re-entered were given an additional time penalty.

Stage No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Class Cause Re-entry
SS1 97 United Kingdom John Morrison United Kingdom Peter Carstairs United Kingdom John Morrison Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX National Engine Yes
SS2 39 Spain Nil Solans Spain Marc Martí Spain Nil Solans Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 Tyres Yes
SS2 43 France Eric Camilli France Benjamin Veillas United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 Punctures Yes
SS2 44 United Kingdom Chris Ingram United Kingdom Ross Whittock Turkey Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS3 94 United Kingdom William Creighton Republic of Ireland Liam Regan United Kingdom William Creighton Peugeot 208 R2 National Mechanical No
SS7 2 United Kingdom Elfyn Evans United Kingdom Daniel Barritt United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC WRC Mechanical Yes
SS7 39 Spain Nil Solans Spain Marc Martí Spain Nil Solans Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 Tyres Yes
SS7 43 France Eric Camilli France Benjamin Veillas United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 Punctures Yes
SS7 44 United Kingdom Chris Ingram United Kingdom Ross Whittock Turkey Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia R5 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS7 96 Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan United Kingdom Liam Fouhy Republic of Ireland Kevin Horgan Škoda Fabia R2 National Mechanical Yes
SS7 111 United Kingdom Neil Andrew United Kingdom Dominic Adams United Kingdom Neil Andrew Subaru Impreza Mechanical Yes
SS8 110 United Kingdom Iwan Evans United Kingdom Sion Williams United Kingdom Iwan Evans Subaru Impreza Mechanical No
SS9 3 Finland Teemu Suninen Finland Mikko Markkula United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC WRC Mechanical No
SS9 102 United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson United Kingdom Glyn Thomas United Kingdom Spencer Wilkinson Subaru Impreza WRX STi National Mechanical Yes
SS11 88 United Kingdom Sacha Kakad United Kingdom James Aldridge United Kingdom James Aldridge Ford Fiesta R5 National Mechanical No
SS11 99 United Kingdom Scott Partridge United Kingdom Fiona Scarret United Kingdom Scott Partridge Subaru Impreza Mechanical No
SS11 101 United Kingdom Finlay Retson United Kingdom Tom Hynd United Kingdom Finlay Retson Ford Fiesta R2 National Driveshaft Yes
SS11 109 United Kingdom Stephen Southall United Kingdom Richard Bestwick United Kingdom Stephen Southall Ford Escort MK2 Driveshaft Yes
SS15 35 Norway Ole Christian Veiby Norway Stig Rune Skjærmoen France PH Sport Citroën C3 R5 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS15 83 United Kingdom Rhys Yates United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson United Kingdom Rhys Yates Škoda Fabia R5 National Off road No
SS15 105 United Kingdom Bart Lang United Kingdom Sinclair Young United Kingdom Bart Lang Ford Fiesta R2 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS16 8 Estonia Ott Tänak Estonia Martin Järveoja Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC WRC Radiator Yes
SS18 100 United Kingdom Peredur Davies United Kingdom Jordan Reynolds United Kingdom Peredur Davies Ford Fiesta R2 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS18 107 United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar United Kingdom Richard Bliss United Kingdom Nabila Tejpar Peugeot 208 R2 WRC-2 Mechanical Yes
SS20 82 United Kingdom David Bogie Republic of Ireland John Rowan United Kingdom David Bogie Škoda Fabia R5 National Mechanical No
SS21 38 France Pierre-Louis Loubet France Vincent Landais Italy BRC Racing Team Hyundai i20 R5 WRC-2 Accident No
SS21 84 United Kingdom Tom Cave United Kingdom James Morgan United Kingdom Tom Cave Hyundai i20 R5 Mechanical No

Championship standings after the rally

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Although some stages contain tarmac sections,[1][2] the rally is classified as a gravel event and tyre suppliers only provide crews with gravel-specification tyres.[3]
  2. ^ The first leg of the rally formed the penultimate round of the British national championship and the second leg was the final round. The third leg did not count towards the championship.[5]
  3. ^ Competitors competing in national events are variously eligible to score points in the British National, British Junior, British Cadet, British Ladies and British 2WD championships.
  4. ^ Kris Meeke had been scheduled to contest the rally with Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT when the route was published, but was fired by the team before the rally.[20][21]
  5. ^ a b c The original length of the stage was 8.03 km, but it was shortened following an emergency incident on the first pass through the stage.[30]
  6. ^ a b The second running of the Great Orme Llandudno stage was interrupted when emergency services attended an incident. The stage could not be completed by all competitors.[30]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Taking it to the streets ..." walesrallygb.com. Wales Rally GB. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Evans, David (16 April 2018). "FIA blocks 'radical final stage plan for 2018 WRC Rally GB". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Rally Aus retains WRC finale in 2018". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Wales Rally GB 2018 Entry List" (PDF). walesrallygb.com. Wales Rally GB. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b "2018 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship calendar announced". msabrc.com. Motor Sports Association. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB" (PDF). walesrallygb.com. Wales Rally GB. 14 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Final Results Rally Wales 2017". ewrc-results.com. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Evans: 'Nobody was getting in the way'". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Breaking News: Ogier wins GB Thriller". wrc.com. WRC. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  10. ^ "WRC 2 in Britain: Rovanperä takes comfortablw win". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  11. ^ Benyon, Jack (16 September 2018). "Rally Turkey: Ott Tanak boosts WRC title hopes with victory". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Veiby leaves Skoda after alleged misconduct". rallysportmag.com. Rally Sport Magazine. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Rally GB — Day 1". 2018 World Rally Championship season. October 2018. WRC Promoter GmbH.
  14. ^ Coch, Mat (22 March 2018). "Organisers confirm extended route for Rally GB". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  15. ^ Evans, David (27 September 2018). "Rally GB co-ordinator: Revised '18 WRC route will 'catch a few out'". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  16. ^ a b Evans, David (30 April 2018). "Rally GB to unveil major route revamp for 2018 World Rally round". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  17. ^ Dale, Will (20 November 2016). "WRC: Andreas Mikkelsen wins 2016 Kennards Hire Rally Australia". foxsports.com.au. Coffs Harbour: Fox Sports. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Closed Roads (England)" (PDF). msauk.org. Motor Sports Association. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Wales gives green light to closed-road motorsport". msauk.org. Motor Sports Association. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  20. ^ Beer, Matt (24 May 2018). "Citroen axes Kris Meeke due to 'excessively high number of crashes'". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  21. ^ Evans, David (25 May 2018). "Citroen WRC team explains decision to axe 'not under control' Meeke". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  22. ^ Evans, David (4 October 2018). "WRC stars Neuville and Breen impressed by new 2018 Rally GB route". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  23. ^ Evans, David (9 May 2018). "New route for 2018 WRC Rally GB a missed opportunity - Elfyn Evans". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  24. ^ Brunsdon, Stephen (5 October 2018). "WRC Rally GB: Toyota's Lappi takes early lead on Thursday night". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Tanak well in control at Rally Great Britain". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  26. ^ Benyon, Jack (6 October 2018). "Rally GB: Tanak retires from lead, title rival Ogier capitalises". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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  33. ^ "Dayinsure Wales Rally GB 2018". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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  35. ^ "Wales Rally GB Results". wrc.com. World Rally Championship. 7 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  36. ^ "74. Dayinsure Wales Rally GB 2018". ewrc-results.com. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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