FIA World Rally ChampionshipOther

Three way battle for FIA Junior WRC runner up spot

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For the final round of the season there will be a three way battle for runner-up in the FIA Junior WRC, between Alastair Fisher, Quentin Giordano and Martin Koči.

Elsewhere, having already secured the title at Rallye de France, Stéphane Lefebvre and Thomas Dubois will compete at Wales Rally GB in a DS3 R5.

Winner of three of the first four events of the season, Stéphane Lefebvre and Thomas Dubois wrapped up the title at Rallye de France-Alsace. Since then, focus has turned towards next year’s programme in the WRC2 category. As in Spain, they will start Wales Rally GB in a DS3 R5.

Northern Irishman Alastair Fisher is well-placed to impress in Wales. His recent win in France and two previous outings in Wales, a podium finish in the WRC Academy back in 2011 and fifth place the following year in the S-WRC, bode well for success this time around.

After finishing tenth in Portugal, Frenchman Quentin Giordano has been on the podium in every round since then. Thanks to his performances in Poland, Finland, Germany and France, he is now only three points behind Fisher.

The final contender for the runner-up spot, Martin Koči is the only other driver – along with Stéphane Lefebvre – to have claimed a stage win at every round on the calendar.

Despite drawing a blank in Germany, the Slovakian is still in the hunt for second place. He needs to make up ten points on Fisher, who holds the the advantage if they finish level on points, and six on Giordano.

Although he can still finish in the top five in the championship standings, Simone Tempestini will above all be aiming to have fun at the final round of the season. The youngest driver in the series, 20 years old, set fastest times in Poland, Finland and France.

After missing the rounds in Germany and France, Molly Taylor returns to action in Wales. Other competitors include the Pole Aron Domzala and his growing potential.

For this final round, the FIA Junior WRC has a new competitor. Finn Henri Haapamäki is set to start his third WRC rally after twice competing in Rally Finland. Earlier this season, he claimed a category win at his home event in a Citroën C2-R2.

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A second year sports journalist at the University of Huddersfield, Tom Errington has spent over a year in the motorsport industry. He spent the 2014 season with SRO on British GT and British F3, even helping out with Blancpain in the Spa 24 Hours, before later becoming a freelancer with the Lotus F1 Team helping with PR and website content.
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