Thierry Neuville of Hyundai looks poised to extend his lead in the World Rally Championship after dominating the penultimate leg of Greece's Acropolis Rally on Saturday. Neuville ended the day with a 53.7-second advantage, moving from third place at the start to the top spot. His ascent to the lead was facilitated by the misfortunes of his teammates, Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo, who experienced significant setbacks during the demanding stages.
Estonian driver Tanak, who had been leading after Friday’s stages with a 21.8-second lead, encountered severe difficulties when he had to stop twice to change wheels due to front and rear punctures. This unfortunate turn of events saw him drop to fourth place after losing four minutes. Dani Sordo, who briefly took the lead, also faced challenges after hitting a rock on stage nine, which resulted in a rear tire change that cost him about 50 seconds, allowing Neuville to seize the top position.
Neuville’s main competitor, Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier, is currently in third place, trailing by one minute and 20.9 seconds. Ogier, an eight-time world champion, won three of Saturday's six stages but started the weekend 27 points behind Neuville, with only three rounds remaining in the championship. Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, another contender, had to retire after experiencing turbo issues and then rolling his car on the 11th stage.
Neuville expressed cautious optimism about his performance, noting the importance of adapting his driving style to handle the challenging conditions. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of rally racing and the need to manage various factors, including weather conditions, as they prepare for the final day’s three stages on the rough and rocky gravel roads.
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