MIE Tänak Triumphs in Belgium

 The Ypres Rally Belgium was won by Ott Tänak on Sunday afternoon, giving him back-to-back victories in the FIA World Rally Championship

- Kurt Morris RM BIS FENES

THE BELGIAN DRIVER'S hopes of a repeat home victory were dashed when his Hyundai 120 N teammate and long-time leader, Thierry Neuville, understeered off the road and into a ditch late on the penultimate day. The Estonian driver took over the lead. With four quick and crisp asphalt speed tests in the Flanders region for Sunday's last stage, Secto Rally Finland champion Tänak had an 8.2-second lead over Elfyn Evans.

Evans, the hero of the Toyota GR Yaris, was not going down without a fight. He set the quickest timings on the first two stages, but he was unable to overtake the leader. Similar events occurred in the afternoon and, although outrunning his competitor by 2.2 seconds near the finishline, the Welshman was unable to surpass Tänak who won by 5.0 seconds.