GRYAZIN TAKES WRC2 VICTORY IN ITALY
Nikolay Gryazin grabbed WRC2 victory at Rally Italia Sardegna, navigating Sunday’s four final stages error-free to stand atop the podium.
The Toksport WRT driver moved into the lead on Saturday morning’s final test when defending champion Andreas Mikkelsen retired his identical Fabia from the lead. By day’s end Gryazin had developed a comfortable 44.9sec lead over Jan Solans.
That gap enabled him to ease off on Sunday morning and focus on not making any errors. He eventually won by 28.0sec as well as finishing eighth overall.
Before Sunday, just 2.3sec divided Toksport WRT driver Chris Ingram and Jari Huttunen, who suffered two punctures earlier in the rally. Ingram, also finished third in the WRC2 Junior category behind Gryazin and Solans.
Rounding out the top five with an impressive debut was another Toksport WRT driver and FIA Junior WRC champion Sami Pajari, who finished just 1min 38.5sec off the leading pace in another Škoda.
