Friday, June 25th, 2021 — The start line was moved by 30 metres because of deterioration after the first pass this morning and the stage start was slightly delayed until 16.05hrs.
Car 1. OGIER/INGRASSIA
“It was a disaster in this stage. So much fesh-fesh – my radiator is blocked. We had a bit
of overheating. We had to back off at the end.”
Car 11. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
Delaminated left-rear tyre on the stage, and a front puncture and he dropped 39.8
seconds to Ogier. “The biggest issue was the tyres in this stage. Obviously we got to the
end but we have to get back to service now. There are some things to check.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
Front-left puncture and he drove on the rim to the finish with the loss of 54.9 seconds to
Ogier.
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
Stuck deep in the fesh-fesh as the final stage drama continued. The Finn was towed off
the special and the stage was stopped while the Yaris was moved. He was able to
continue without time penalties, as per a bulletin explaining that towing on the Safari was
not classed as outside assistance. But the crew opted not to continue and would incur
10 minutes of penalties later on for not completing the last stage.
Car 18. KATSUTA/BARRITT
“That’s a surprise (second place). I was almost four times stopped on the stage. I never
use wiper before other than rain and not for dust. Ruts are like hell. I am happy to finish
this stage.”
Car 44. GREENSMITH/PATTERSON
“Going up that hill I feel for Kalle. You get there and can’t see anything. I had the hindsight
of knowing what happened to him. I just put the wipers on and went for it.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/JAMOUL
“We decide to be back in the pace. It was a difficult day. I like my pace and I need to keep
this until the end.”
Car 23. PROKOP/JURKA
Crashed near the finish of SS6 and lost out on eighth place. Jurka was taken to hospital
for checks on back pain.