Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville has taken the lead in Corsica after setting an amazing time on Saturday’s final stage.
The Frenchman had spent much of the day in third, losing 7.4 seconds to the leading pair of Elfyn Evans and Ott Tanak during the morning loop.
But a puncture and the resulting tyre change in the penultimate stage of the day dropped rally leader Tanak down to seventh, setting a time 2 minutes slower than that of stage winner Neuville.
In the final stage of the day Neuville made up 16 seconds on Evans over the 47.18km challenge, taking the lead by 4.5 seconds.
Overnight leader Evans kept Tanak behind him for the opening two stages of the day before relinquishing it to the Estonian on the morning’s running of Castagniccia.
Sebastien Ogier made his way up to third after a much stronger day after Citroen changed the suspension and brakes on the C3’s overnight.
Dani Sordo sits five seconds behind in fourth, ahead of Teemu Suninen who has continues to enjoy a problem-free weekend.
Championship leader Tanak made his way up to sixth in the final stage of the day, 22.4 seconds away from fifth place.
In seventh Esapekka Lappi remained unimpressed with his car despite the modifications made by Citroen but stays ahead of Sebastien Loeb who was suffering from understeer.
Kris Meeke took another stage win on his way to ninth as he continues to recover from Friday’s suspension damage.
Jari-Matti Latvala rounds out the top-10 after his second puncture of the event.
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