Lappi held a slender benefit over the Estonian driver following Friday’s punishing leg, and entered the primary cross of Tempio Pausania 0.7sec in entrance.
However, the Finn’s Yaris bought out of line following a heavy compression 10.4km into the primary stage of the day and struck a rock to the best of the highway.
The automobile then bounced right into a rock on the opposite facet, ripping off the rear left wheel and suspension parts, earlier than coming to relaxation in the undergrowth.
It’s the second successive rally from which Lappi has retired – he additionally clipped a rock on his final outing on the Croatia Rally.
Watch: Leader Lappi crashes out
Overnight chief Esapekka Lappi has crashed out 10.3km into Tempio Pausania, Saturday morning’s first take a look at, leaving the highway …
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“It’s really hard to take this one,” mentioned Lappi. “I actually felt that we weren’t taking any dangers on the stage. I ought to have braked in all probability much less in this nook as a result of there was a stone on the bottom which we caught on the [sump] guard and it threw us off the road.
“I believe if I had braked less, then the front of the car would have been higher and we probably would have survived this.”
Lappi’s demise left Tänak comfortably in entrance, though there have been no indicators of easing from the Hyundai i20 N driver. He went on to win three out of 4 levels to finish the loop with a 30.9sec lead.
Craig Breen was Tänak’s nearest challenger. The Irishman moved into the runners-up spot after M-Sport Ford colleague Pierre-Louis Loubet punctured a entrance proper tyre on SS10, however confronted fixed stress from third-placed Dani Sordo.
Sordo decreased the deficit to 1.5sec by the top of Tempio Pausania 1, however Breen responded with a convincing stage win at Erula – Tula and stretched his benefit to 10.3sec. Loubet was one other 14.0sec down and took a cautious method following his puncture.
Adrien Fourmaux was sixth in a 3rd Puma, adopted by Kalle Rovanperä, who overtook his Yaris team-mate Takamoto Katsuta when the Japanese hotshot stalled on SS11. Gus Greensmith and WRC2 runners Nikolay Gryazin and Jan Solans accomplished the leaderboard.
VIDEO: Neuville rolls in SS12
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville had been concentrating on a climb up the leaderboard after ending Friday ninth following transmission woes. However, the Belgian’s luck ran out on the third stage when a rollover put him out for the day.
- Full protection from Rally Italia Sardegna is on the market on WRC+ All Live right here, together with each stage broadcast because it occurs in addition to key interviews, options and knowledgeable evaluation from the service park.