Friday’s stages of the Central European Rally brought heartbreak for Hyundai’s Andreas Mikkelsen, as he crashed out on SS5, while his team-mate Thierry Neuville surged to the top of the leaderboard.
Mikkelsen, who had struggled with grip and confidence throughout the morning, lost control on a damp, treacherous section, crashing through a fence and blocking the road with his steaming Hyundai i20N. The stage was halted, and both Mikkelsen and co-driver Torstein Eriksen exited the car safely. Reflecting on his earlier stages, Mikkelsen admitted he had been overly cautious: “I was too much on the careful side… you can drive much faster than you think, so we just have to adjust.”
Meanwhile, Neuville seized the opportunity, moving into the overall lead after a strong showing. The Belgian, who is eyeing a championship win this weekend, capitalized on his early road position, finishing SS5 just ahead of his title rival Ott Tänak by 0.3s. Neuville also reported tricky conditions, noting the unpredictable grip levels and balance issues with his car. However, he maintained a slim lead of 2.7 seconds over the pursuing Sébastien Ogier.
Toyota’s Ogier had started the day by extending his lead over Neuville on SS3 but encountered difficulty as the stages progressed. The slippery, leaf-covered roads made for an unpredictable surface, and Ogier lost time after running wide and clipping a tree. Despite these setbacks, the eight-time world champion remains firmly in contention, trailing Neuville by just 2.7s.
Elfyn Evans, driving for Toyota, was also in the mix, but a cautious approach through the treacherous leaf-strewn sections saw him drop time, leaving him 6.3 seconds off the overall lead and in fourth place.
Takamoto Katsuta, also driving a Toyota, is fifth overall, while Sami Pajari, the fourth Toyota entry, managed to hold onto sixth despite suffering a hybrid power issue early in the day. Hybrid problems plagued several drivers, including Mikkelsen, and M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster, all of whom lost hybrid boost after heavy landings on a jump during SS4.
As the rally progresses, Neuville’s lead is precarious, with the top four drivers separated by just 6.3 seconds. With conditions expected to remain unpredictable, the battle for victory is wide open.
