Sibiu Rally leader Andreas Mikkelsen has transferred his blistering speed on gravel to asphalt by topping the times on the 10.00-kilometre all-Tarmac Paltiniș night stage, his sixth consecutive fastest run.
François Delecour, the 49-year-old French rallying legend, was second quickest, 4.4s down on ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 driver Mikkelsen in his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 with Sepp Wiegand 0.4s further back. Delecour has trimmed Wiegand’s advantage in second place to 27.3s in the process. Patrik Flodin was fourth quickest in his Petter Solberg Engineering M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.
Crews are now reverting back to gravel for the day-closing 16.00-kilometre Șanta stage prior to final service in Sibiu.