As we enter into European summer – the FIA World Rally Championship title fight has begun to heat up ahead of its next round – Rally Italia Sardegna.
Picturesque mediterranean island of Sardinia plays host to theItalian round, and is the second in a trilogy of hot, dusty and demanding events with Rally Portugal laying the foundations in May.
The heat and intensity goes up a notch in preparation for the cauldron that is the Acropolis Rally later this month.
Championship leader Elyn Evans was on the ropes during a difficult weekend in Portugal which saw his points lead slashed from 43 to 30 at the summit of the table. The British driver in his Toyota Yaris Rally1 car, had the unenviable task of running first on the road, thanks to his championship lead status.
Hunting the Welshman down is Toyota teammate Kalle Rovanperä who was only just behind Evans on the road in Portugal.
Rovanperä looked out of sorts at the start of the season, but since the Canaries has really switched on his form – got his head around the new for 2025 Hankook tyres and is now delivering the pace from his title winning prowess of two seasons ago.
Sébastien Ogier – the eight-time world champion who won last time out in Portugal has elected Sardinia as another round in his part season campaign.
Despite only doing selected rounds – the Frenchman in his Toyota is remarkably third in the standings and should never be discounted from the race to victory on any rally he enters.
Hyundai are in a buoyant mood, as they feel they have started to crack title rivals, as an upturn in pace from their i20 Rally1 cars on the gravel make them potential favourites heading into a string of gravel events on the WRC calendar.
Lead drivers Ott Tänak finished second in Portugal and reigning WRC champion Thierry Neuville, fourth – are both optimistic of another strong showing this weekend. The Hyundai pairing are on the coattails of inform Rovanperä in the points and an island escapade could well ignite their title hopes further.
Adjusting to the Puma Rally1 car nicely, McErlean will be pushing for his first top six result of the season on the Italian gravel.
Several drivers all have a point to prove this weekend after a torrid start to the season, including Hyundai ace Adrien Fourmaux who has shown much promise – but missing the results to back up the pace.
The same could be said for Toyota star Takamoto Katsuta who equally has shown flashes of brilliance, but mechanical woes and lapses in concentration have been the Japanese drivers downfall.
