Bulacia retains WRC3 lead with third podium of the year

World Rally Championship - Sardegna

Aged just twenty, Marquito Bulacia continues to show maturity way beyond his years. After winning in Mexico at the start of the season and recently finishing as runner-up in Turkey, the young Bolivian once again demonstrated impressive consistency at what is one of the most demanding events of the season to grab third place in the WRC3. A third podium this year, which ensures he remains top of the championship standings. Although the weekend got off to a poor start for the Tagai Racing Technology team’s C3 R5 driver with a puncture on SS2, he refused to give up. His persistence was rewarded as he moved back up the standings, collecting a stage win en route, to end on the podium. A podium that might have been shared by several other Total-backed C3 R5s had things worked out differently. Eric Camilli, for example, made a very strong start on his return to the category, whilst Yohan Rossel (four) and Nicolas Ciamin (two) shared six stage wins between them and were running second and third when they suffered mechanical issues at the start of the second leg. In the WRC2 too, Mads Østberg’s C3 R5 was among the front-runners and finished as top performer in winning eleven out the sixteen stages, having also been hampered by a technical issue on the opening loop. The time lost meant he ended fourth overall in the category, nonetheless collecting precious points in the title race.

WRC championship update

Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC) made the most of starting well down the order to take the lead on SS4. He kept ahead of his rivals to the finish to secure his second win in Sardegna, after his victory here last year. The next two podium spots were the subject of a very close, engrossing battle between Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC) and Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris WRC), the Belgian nicking second place from the Frenchman by just one second on the final stage. The championship standings are tighter than ever with just two rounds of the season remaining: Elfyn Evans, fourth on the Italian island, still leads but Ogier now trails his team-mate by just fourteen points with Neuville twenty-four points behind.

Did you know?

As is the case in all the championships in which the group is involved, Total provides dedicated support to teams in the WRC. The support provided is designed meet the requirements of the teams competing, who all use Total Excellium Rally fuel, as well as those of the teams supported by Citroën Racing, who have the brand’s lubricants on their C3 R5s.