Wrc.com stage summary
Stage data: SS11, Su Filigosu 1 (14.21 kilometres)
Stage description:
By Ford Abu Dhabi Team co-driver Miikka Anttila: “Again this stage has a soft and sandy base, but is slightly faster and wider in places than the previous one. At the end of the stage there is a big water splash, one kilometre before the end of the stage. Actually I wouldn’t say it’s deeper - it’s probably just wider. Because of this we have a system to close the air intake so it is not sucking the water into the engine. It’s called a water splash valve and we have to use this on the river crossings.”
How the action unfolded:
Mikko Hirvonen has climbed from fourth to second on Rally d’Italia Sardegna.
Although the Finn was beaten to the fastest stage time by factory Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, he was quicker than rivals Sebastien Ogier and Petter Solberg to move to within 35.4s of overall leader Sebastien Loeb, who is being hampered by cleaning the road of the loose-surface gravel.
“The stage went really well, I hope I can take some more time,” said Hirvonen.
Latvala was quicker than Hirvonen by one second to complete his hat trick of stage wins on Saturday morning.
Kris Meeke failed to start the stage after his MINI John Cooper Works WRC suffered a water leak on the previous test. However, his team-mate Dani Sordo holds sixth overall in the second factory machine.
Crews are now heading back to Olbia for the regroup and midday service. Stage 12, Coiluna 2, is due to get underway at 14:39hrs local time.
Key moment:
Hirvonen up to second in Sardinia.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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