The 11km long opening stage set the scene for what was to come, a thrilling high-speed blast through the Latvian countryside.
It didn’t take long for the Latvian hero, still basking in the glory from his non-Hybrid debut in Poland a couple of weeks ago, to rise to the occasion , winning stage three outright and moving into second place overall, some 3.3 seconds ahead of some famous bloke called Sebastian Ogier!
The Ford Puma crew set another scratch time in the following stage, admittedly only 0.1 seconds ahead of Kalle Rovanperä’s time, but still, for a first drive in a Rally1 Hybrid, car, he was showing up a number of very capable champions and rally winners.
Remarkably, in spite of having the eight-time WRC Champions breathing down his neck, Sesks and co-driver Renars Francis held second overall throughout the day, upping their game further from their stunning Polish Rally1 debut.
While Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Rovanperä held a ‘semi-comfortable’ 15.7 second overnight lead after eight stages in spite of not being entirely comfortable in his GR Yaris, complaining of understeer.
Sesks was the man under pressure but his assured, mature drive has to place him on everyone’s radar for a fulltime drive sooner rather than later…
Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston were enjoying their drive, the Japanese star at home on fast, loose stages, and was in fourth overall in spite of not committing fully in the fast stages, feeling there is more to come.
First and second is generally where a rally driver would like to be, but it comes with disadvantages. Like road sweeping duties. Both Hyundai Shell Mobis’ Thierry Neuville and martin Wydaeghe as well as TGR’s Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin were hampered by clearing the road which left the Belgians languishing in 9th and the Toyota crew almost as badly off in seventh.
“I don’t know what to say. We are doing what we can”, said Neuville at the end of stage four.
Adrien Fourmaux/Alex Coria were fifth in their M-Sport Ford Puma followed by Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja in the other Hyundai i 20 N.
Down in WRC2, Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson were flying along in their Skoda Fabia RS some 31.1 seconds ahead of Mikko Heikkilä/Kristian Temonen in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Sami Pajari/Enni Mälkönen are nigh 40 seconds off the pace in third.
