Teemu Suninen has a golden chance to seal the European Rally Championship title this weekend. The Finn sits second at Rali Ceredigion in Wales after Saturday's stages, trailing only veteran Kris Meeke who has been supreme on the asphalt.
Throughout the day, Suninen in his Skoda was locked in a close fight with Meeke. However, Meeke gained the upper hand on the afternoon loop, stretching his lead to 20 seconds — a margin big enough to make a pure pace catch on Sunday's stages difficult.
Strategic Dilemma: Chase Meeke or Secure the Title?
For Suninen and co-driver Antti Haapala, the focus is not merely a single rally victory. They have the opportunity to clinch the ERC crown at the penultimate round of the season, and that changes their approach to the race.
In the live standings, Suninen holds a 36-point advantage over Italy's Andrea Mabellini, who sits seventh. That margin is just enough to keep his title hopes on course, but bonus points on the Power Stage could ultimately decide whether the Finnish pair takes the championship trophy home this weekend.
"For the championship, we're in a good position and exactly where we want to be. It has been an honour to compete against Meeke. I would be tempted to drive at the same level, but we have to be clever," Suninen stressed.
Meeke: Best Day on Tarmac
Meeke has nothing at stake in the ERC, as the Northern Irishman is only contesting this round. Yet the five-time WRC winner has thoroughly enjoyed his battle with Suninen.
"That is probably one of the most enjoyable days of tarmac rallying I have ever done. The stages are incredible and there are so many interesting things in there. There are bumps and jumps, technical sections and flat-out sections," the 47-year-old Meeke enthused.
Another Finnish driver, Ville Vatanen, could also secure a championship here. He leads the ERC3 class at the end of Saturday and has a firm grip on the class title.
The ERC round in Wales concludes on Sunday with four stages remaining.
Read Also
Kris Meeke wins Rali Ceredigion while Teemu Suninen clinches the 2026 ERC title with a round to spare. Full report and analysis here.
Tom Fowler issues ultimatum: WRC must change sporting rules to eliminate road position advantage equivalent to 100 horsepower. Full analysis inside.
Safari Rally Kenya is at risk of losing its WRC spot for 2027 due to a funding crisis. The promoter has issued an ultimatum, will this legend survive?
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!