The WRC points leader was sitting third heading into stage eight [Tula], the final test of the morning loop, when he went off the road and into retirement.Neuville’s i20 N carried too much speed into a tight right-hander, which resulted in his car becoming beached…

Tanak became embroiled in an intense fight with overnight leader Sebastien Ogier (Toyota) across the morning’s rough gravel stages with the lead changing hands twice, before Tanak ended the loop with a 3.5s lead.However, a stage eight exit for Neuville from third position was the biggest…

The eight-time world champion claimed two of Friday afternoon’s four gravel stages that made up a much shorter leg than usual courtesy of the WRC’s trial of a new event format.Starting fifth on the road, Ogier made the most of his road position and managed…

Italian helmet supplier Stilo has created a helmet which incorporates an onboard camera, similar to those in operation in F1, to provide a raw drivers’ eye view to the WRC’s television coverage.Stilo is working in conjunction with the WRC Promoter to develop a helmet camera…

The WRC is conducting a trial of a new shorter format at the Italian Island gravel rally which it hopes could offer event organisers more flexibility and help improve the promotion of the championship. A move to vary event formats, to include endurance and sprint…

Toyota part-time driver Ogier made the most of his favourable road position to win one of the two afternoon tests to lead Hyundai’s Tanak by 1.8s.M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux completed the loop in third [+10.5s], ahead of Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta [+13.5s], with the third Hyundai…

The WRC2 title contender had been set to tackle the 16-stage gravel rally, although the Swede was not registered to score championship points. However, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson have been forced out of the rally before the opening stage. Solberg is understood to be suffering from…

Last week, 2003 world champion Petter Solberg announced plans to come out of retirement to contest the Royal Rally of Scandinavia (13-15 June), which will mark his first full rally since Wales Rally GB in 2019. Petter is set to drive a family-owned Volkswagen Polo,…

Lancia announced this week that it plans to return to rallying after more than 30 years away following a commitment to a Rally4 programme with its new Ypsilon hatchback.Two-time world rally champion Biasion, Lancia’s most successful driver in the WRC with 16 wins and two…

The Italian brand leaned into its history during Monday’s announcement where it confirmed a return to the stages through a Rally4 programme with its new Ypsilon hatchback. A version of its new offering was unveiled in a livery that recaptured the iconic Martini Racing stripes,…