Rovanpera takes Estonia Rally lead as penalised Tanak dominates / Photo: Timo Anis - AFP
-
Missing passengers likely went down with sunken ferry: N.Cyprus official
-
George Clooney says US run by 'least qualified people'
-
Premier League clubs splash cash to smash transfer record
-
China's Xi urges against Mideast interference in rare Egypt visit
-
Melting glaciers an 'immediate' climate risk: author of UN report
-
Venice to roll out red carpet for 'lucky' Clooney on opening night
-
Folarin Balogun's move to Everton collapses
-
'Humiliated' Aubameyang quits Gabon national team
-
Pacific islands to face food shortages over global warming: scientists
-
France sees limited economic hit from drought, heatwaves
-
Venice jury head Maggie Gyllenhaal questions lack of women directors
-
Bus crash in Egypt's Sinai kills 22, including 10 Jordanians
-
Stocks drop, bond yields rally on Mideast flare-up
-
UN says world must navigate 'reality' of 1.5C overshoot
-
China expands Egypt investments in first Xi visit in a decade
-
Taliban govt defends ban on protest, citing Islamic law
-
Messi departure leaves Argentina facing rebuild after golden era
-
10 missing as Turkish cargo ship sinks after collision off Istanbul
-
Ourbit SuperCEX Launches "Cosmic Wheel Season 3. Oracle Realm" on September 2 with 3M USDT Prize Pool
-
easyMarkets Expands Commodity Offering with 24/7 Gold, Silver and Oil Trading
-
Ebola death toll passes 3,000 in DR Congo: official data
-
Australia defends Pacific climate meeting despite doubts on attendance
-
Hong Kong democracy activist Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion
-
Iran attacks US sites after American strikes, wedding deaths
-
World record prize winner Romantic Warrior retires from horse racing
-
Stocks drop, yields at three-decade highs on Mideast flare-up
-
5,000 US sailors arrive in Thailand after months at sea
-
EU summons Russian envoy, eyes sanctions after Germany drone 'attack'
-
Joshua Wong, Hong Kong's pro-democracy poster child
-
Stocks drop as yields and oil prices spike on Mideast flare-up
-
Nepal tunnel rescuers seek trapped workers but hit dead ends
-
Cricketers to get best rooms at Asian Games, says Japan chief
-
Zverev wins wild five-setter, Rybakina and Gauff ease through at US Open
-
Zverev out-lasts Sonego in wild five-setter to advance at US Open
-
US energy secretary arrives in Venezuela to discuss oil deal
-
Amid war, Ukrainian soldiers celebrate love at ritual wedding
-
Meloni government becomes Italy's longest-lasting
-
Venice to roll out red carpet for Clooney on opening night
-
Funerals in Nepal for missing, a week after deadly floods
-
Hong Kong democracy activist Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion: AFP
-
US aircraft carrier arrives in Thailand after months at sea
-
Stocks sink, yields at multi-decade highs and oil spikes on Mideast flare-up
-
US aircraft carrier approaches Thai port after months at sea
-
US defends Trump Venezuela oil deal as energy secretary lands in Caracas
-
Nepal's young PM faces gravest test after flood catastrophe
-
Jubilant Monfils celebrates birthday with US Open win
-
What rainbow? LGBTQ Indonesians on edge as hostility mounts
-
The Japanese idealist behind the last deradicalisation NGO in Somalia
-
O'Connor eyes Wallabies World Cup swansong after Force return
-
Rybakina, Gauff advance as Zverev launches US Open campaign
Rovanpera takes Estonia Rally lead as penalised Tanak dominates
World champion Kalle Rovanpera swept into the lead in the Estonia Rally on Friday taking the two stages that desperate local driver Ott Tanak failed to win.
The Finnish Toyota driver swept into the lead when he won the penultimate stage of the day.
Rovanpera, the championship leader, ended the day 3sec ahead of Belgian Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai.
Esapekka Lappi, a Finn in a Hyundai, was 12.2 seconds back with Welshman Elfyn Evans of Toyota, the overnight leader, fourth 14.1sec off the lead.
"Not such a bad day overall," Rovanpera said at the finish.
Estonian Tanak started the race with a five-minute penalty after his team changed the damaged engine in his Ford just before Thursday's first stage.
Despite winning five of the day's seven stages he ended in 11th overall, 4min 47sec behind Rovanpera.
"Obviously the positions haven't really changed much but if you are not fighting for the rally it's tricky," he said.
"At the start of the day my mood hasn't been the best but I am slowly getting used to it and it's not so bad at the moment. The support is massive and that's why we keep pushing."
"My son cheered me on at the start, so I had to go for it," he added.
Rain fell on Friday, reducing dust on the narrow tree-lined course around Tartu but creating ruts.
B.Mahmoud--SF-PST