Patrik Sandell has claimed his first stage victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge by going fastest of all on the final stage of Sata Rallye Açores at the wheel of his ŠKODA Sweden Fabia Super 2000.
The Swede was 0.6s faster than Juho Hänninen through the test to secure fifth place in the final standings. “Before the rally I expected much more but I have done quite a good rally here,” said Sandell.
While Sandell celebrated his first stage victory, second place for Hänninen proved to be more than enough for the factory ŠKODA driver to win Sata Rallye Açores, his third victory of the IRC season and the eighth of his IRC career. “It’s been a good weekend and a great result for ŠKODA with three cars on the podium,” said the Finn.
Andreas Mikkelsen completed the stage with the fifth fastest time to secure second place in the overall standings in his ŠKODA UK Fabia.
Overall positions after SS17
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 2h19m03.8s |
| 2 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +42.3s |
| 3 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m46.0s |
| 4 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3m36.2s |
| 5 | Sandell Patrik / Parmander Staffan | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +4m33.3s |
| 6 | Moura Ricardo / Eiró Sancho | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +6m07.0s |
| 7 | Lopes Vítor / Magalhăes Hugo | Subaru Impreza Sti | +9m52.1s |
| 8 | Pascoal Vítor / Ramalho Luis | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | +12m47.3s |
| 9 | Silva Sérgio / Cordeiro Nelson | Subaru Impreza Sti | +14m00.3s |
| 10 | Maciel Paulo / Gouveira Filipe | Citroën Saxo VTS | +18m10.7s |
| 11 | Nutahara Fumio / Ichino Hakaru | Subaru Impreza R4 | +18m10.8s |
| 12 | Raoux Jean-Michel / Mazotti Francis | Renault Clio R3 | +19m44.4s |
| 13 | Costa Carlos / Nunes Fernando | Citroën C2 R2 | +23m32.8s |
| 14 | Paula José / Ribeiro Miguel | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +32m55.0s |
| 15 | Mota Tiago / Pimentel José | Citroën Saxo VTS | +335m59.8s |