Bryan Bouffier is just 9.4s behind Jan Kopecký in the battle for first place on the International Jännerrallye following a stunning performance on the rain and fog-hit eighth stage.
The Peugeot 207 ace shot from fifth to second on the FIA European Rally Championship round by winning the 22.93-kilometre Schönau-St Leonhard test, which took place in demanding conditions.
“It was crazy, really crazy, so slippery in his situation and it was dark so a tough stage for sure,” said Bouffier, who was running a full rain tyre.
“It was the most difficult stage of the rally,” said ŠKODA driver Kopecký, who was 15s slower than Bouffier. “It started to rain heavily, there was aquaplaning, fog and ice in some places. I am really happy to be in the finish.”
Austrian champion Raimund Baumschlager was second quickest, 13.9s down on Bouffier, but drops to third overall behind the rapid Frenchman.
Beppo Harrach suffered a significant time loss when his car’s windscreen misted up and the Austrian struggled to see where he was going. Václav Pech, meanwhile, reported issues with his MINI’s headlights and dropped down the order to fourth. Polish champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz is up to fifth. Jan Černý lost time when he went off the road in his Fabia.
A 20-minute service halt in Freistadt gets underway at 18:00hrs local time prior to stage nine, Pregarten, going live at 18:47hrs.