Neuville Wins A Thriller In Poland

Treacherous conditions, 11 changes of lead, drama on the penultimate day – this year’s Orlen 74th Rally Poland had it all

- Christopher Chaves

After registering a convincing victory at the 2017 Rally Italia Sardegna, Estonian driver Ott Tanak was in fine form in Round 8 of the championship in Poland. The M-Sport Ford driver was in the lead on the Saturday afternoon stage, but the chance of a second straight WRC win ended on the next stage, when he clipped a bank and spun, damaging his Ford too much to continue, given the lack of service on the final morning.

What began as an epic four-car battle for the win had eventually filtered down to Neuville’s Hyundai versus Ott Tanak’s M-Sport Ford, after Sebastien Ogier dropped back, struggling with the route conditions while running first on the road and then picking up damage from punctures. Jari-Matti Latvala’s Toyota – another long-time leader – suffered a clutch failure. For Tanak, it marked the second straight year of heartbreak in Poland as he would have clinched victory here last season if not for a puncture in a penultimate-stage.