Customer racing bulletin Rally2

Portuguese Rally Championship

Dani Sordo dominated Rali da Água (September 19-20), taking victory in his Team Hyundai Portugal-run i20 N Rally2. Sordo, with co-driver Cándido Carrera, won seven of the nine stages on the tarmac event and won by 25 seconds. The victory, Sordo’s second of his first full season with the Hyundai Portugal-supported team, reignited his championship challenge with just one round remaining; next month’s Rali Vidreiro Centro de Portugal.

Danish Rally Championship

In his first start in the Danish Rally Championship this season, i20 N Rally2 driver Simon Vallentin was the narrow winner of Rally Midtsjælland (September 20). Together with co-driver Karsten Isaksen, Vallentin exchanged the lead with his rival over the first pair of two-stage loops. From then on, Vallentin and Isaksen held the lead – winning the final four competitive stages – but were kept under constant pressure by the chasing crews, ending the rally with a margin of only eight seconds.

Czech Rally Championship

Rally Pačejov (September 19-21) brought Simon Wagner’s season in the Czech Rally Championship to a close. The Austrian driver, who started the final round in title contention, was on pace throughout the rally. He and co-driver Hanna Ostlender held the lead early but slipped back to third during the Saturday afternoon stages. They remained in that position until the end of the rally, claiming a fourth podium of the six-round season to secure second place in the championship.

Turkish Rally Championship

Kerem Kazaz continues to lead the Turkish Rally Championship standings despite only finishing fourth at the ESOK Rally (September 12-14). The young Turkish driver and Corentin Silvestre, his French co-driver, were second after the early stages but dropped more than three minutes – and down to sixth place – after damage from hitting a rock forced him to complete the afternoon stages with only two-wheel drive. The second day of action offered only three stages, but the i20 N Rally2 crew took full advantage – winning two of them to reclaim two positions and potentially valuable points in Kazaz’s title defense.

Rally La Palma Isla Bonita

Fernando Cruz was incredibly consistent on his way to victory on Rally La Palma Isla Bonita (September 19-20). Cruz, a regular with the i20 N Rally2 on the stages of the Canary Islands Rally Championship won two stages of the 11 run, but was only outside of the top three times once – that coming on the short final stage as he managed risks to protect his 40-second lead and secure victory. In the final standings Cruz and co-driver Juan Ricardo Luis won by over 33 seconds.