Unbeatable Tänak leads after opening morning in Italy
Ott Tänak won all four Friday morning speed tests to head a Hyundai i20 1-2 at Rally Italia Sardegna.
The dominant Estonian led team-mate Dani Sordo by 16.9sec after mastering gruelling gravel tests in the north of the Mediterranean island. Sébastien Ogier was a surprise third, 1.8sec further back, despite opening the sandy roads.
Kalle Rovanperä kept the pressure on Tänak with top three times in the opening three tests in his Toyota Yaris. He trailed by just 6.0sec, but the young Finn’s hopes ended when he stopped in the morning’s final stage with front right suspension damage.