Nicolas Fuchs has set up a thrilling six-way fight for the Production Car World Rally Championship in Spain next month with a first win in the class on Rally Italia Sardegna today.
Fuchs, from Peru, overcame brake issues and two punctures to take victory and 25 points in his Symtech Racing Subaru Impreza to move into fourth place in the title standings, 13 adrift of leader Benito Guerra, who languished in eighth place following his exit on Thursday night.
“It’s been a difficult rally for me first time here,” said Fuchs, who was co-driven by Argentine Fernando Mussano. “On the first day I had problems with brakes but when I have no problems I go very fast.”
Argentina’s Marcos Ligato, in a Top Run Motorsport Impreza, kept his title hopes alive in second place with Valeriy Gorban doing likewise for the Mentos Ascania Racing team from Ukraine.
“I tried to win but second place is still good for the championship,” said Ligato, who was 30.4s behind Fuchs at the finish of the Gallura Power Stage. “It’s still open and we will work a lot for the last round in Spain.”
Subhan Aksa overcame a few off-road moments and a brake issue on Saturday morning to bag fourth place alongside Italian co-driver Nicola Arena. The Indonesian can still take the championship spoils but will need his rivals to falter on the mixed-surface finale.
Oleksii Kikireshko scored his first PWRC points of the season in fifth with Michal Kosciuszko sixth. The Pole will start the final round 11 points behind Ralliart Italia team-mate Guerra, who has calculated that he can become champion by finishing third in Salou in his Mitsubishi Lancer.
Louise Cook battled the pain barrier to finish 10th behind Gianluca Linari after she aggravated an old collarbone injury. The Briton had restarted under Rally 2 rules following her retirement on Saturday with a broken driveshaft.