Photo: ©willyweyens-rallyworld
Juho Hanninen holds the overnight lead for Skoda after flying through the first four stages of the Rally Russia, as many of the big names are caught out by treacherous conditions.
Having led from the start, Hanninen again set the fastest time as the field came through their second run of the evening in the Kutuzovo stage. He stretched his advantage over teammate Jan Kopecky by another two seconds over the 10.35km forest stage, while Guy Wilks held his advantage over Giandomenico Basso's Abarth in a fine showing for the new Proton Satria Neo.
Anton Alen comes to the overnight halt fifth in the second Abarth, with Aleksandr Zheludov now flying in his Peugeot 207 after fixing the ignition coil after the first loop in sixth. Franz Wittmann's Mitsubishi Evo IX holds seventh overnight despite two punctures - one in SS3 and one on the road to SS4, with Boris Zimin eighth and Kaspar Koilta ninth as the leading 2WD car.
The 70.05km total through the four stages this evening have taken a heavier toll on the local men than on the IRC stars, with reigning national champion Zheludov's engine woes paling as five-time former Russian rally champion Andrey Zhigunov is forced out after suspension damage on SS 2 in his Mitsubishi.
Rally Russia Results Leg 1
1 Hanninen 28m 28.5s
2 Kopecky +27.5s
3 Wilks +46.5s
4 Basso +1m 21.0s
5 Alen +1m 25.0s
6 Zheludov +2m 3.9s
7 Wittmann +2m 45.0s
8 Zimin +3m 52.7s
Source: ircseries.com
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