Yalta - IRC news before SS9

Tempestini vows to attack on final day

Marco Tempestini says that he will push to try and regain his lead in the IRC Production Cup on the final day of today’s Prime Yalta Rally, round 10 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The Romanian driver had a drama-filled day yesterday after a series of brake problems followed by a broken gearbox lever on his Subaru Impreza R4 STI. Tempestini incurred a further 90 second penalty at the end of the day for being late into service.

The incidents meant that Tempestini lost his lead in the IRC Production Cup, and he is now three minutes adrift of category leader Robert Consani.

“We had a lot of problems yesterday but so did everyone from what I have heard and seen in the service park,” said Tempestini. “I like the stages a lot more today so if the car is fine, then I think we will push. On this rally, I always take it carefully on the first leg and then attack on the last day. The stages today are very nice.”

This morning’s opening test, the 18.95-kilometre Opolznevoje 1 stage, begins at 08:09hrs local time.

Avci will not challenge leading Protasov

Yağiz Avci says he will not challenge fellow Intercontinental Challenge Rally driver Yuriy Protasov on the final leg of today’s Yalta Prime Rally.

Turk Avci is currently second on the leaderboard following an impressive drive at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. Despite having limited experience competing on asphalt, the driver has already racked up one quickest stage time.

“Yesterday was a real challenge,” said Avci at this morning’s service in Yalta. “It was very good for us improving ourselves on asphalt but Protasov and his turbo car is very quick: it is impossible to challenge them."

The Castrol Ford Team Türkiye driver added: “We are in a good position today so we will try and keep our position. It is good to gain experience here in Yalta: the stages are the perfect training ground.”

Avci is currently 38.3s behind Protasov in the overall classification.

“I drive my own rally,” says Consani

Robert Consani says he will concentrate on reaching the finish on tomorrow’s Prime Yalta Rally and will not be concerned with the actions of the other Intercontinental Rally Challenge competitors.

The French ace and co-driver Nicolas Klinger are currently leading both the IRC Production Cup and the IRC 2WD Cup at the wheel of a Renault Mégane RS.

“The stages are very tricky here but I’m feeling happy with how everything has gone today,” said Consani at the overnight halt in Yalta. “We had a problem with the brakes about 10km towards the end of the last stage this morning and then this afternoon it was difficult to know where to take a good line. If you choose to take the cuts in the road then you risk a puncture but if you avoid them, then you risk driving into the trees. It is very difficult.”

Tomorrow’s third and final leg begins at 08:09hrs local time with the 18.95-kilometre Opolznevoje 1 stage.

“Yalta is rougher than I expected,” says Honda’s Ostapchenko

Ukraine’s Ivan Ostapchenko says the 10th round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge is much rougher than he had anticipated.

Ostapchenko, who is driving a Honda Civic Type R, alongside Dmytro Tsyro said a lot of gravel had been pulled onto the road during the 28.95-kilometre Orlinojie stage.

“We had a double puncture on this morning’s pass,” explained the IRC 2WC Cup driver. “We had no chance as there was so much gravel. It was very difficult.”

Fellow Honda Civic driver Oleksiy Panov is currently third in the IRC 2WD Cup standings.