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Griebel proves he’s got talent with ERC Junior U28 victory

Marijan Griebel claimed the inaugural FIA ERC Junior Under 28 Championship victory following three days of high drama on the Azores Airlines Rallye alongside co-driver Stefan Kopczyk.

Overnight leader Nicolay Gryazin suffered a puncture and broke his ŠKODA's powersteering on a kerb in the Tronqueira forest stage this morning. That handed Griebel, who was 2.8s behind starting the final day, out in front with Jan Černý and Josh Moffett next up.

Although Moffett made the podium in second place, Černý crashed out on the penultimate stage, hitting a tree and rolling. His misfortune promoted Pepe López to third after the Peugeot Rally Academy driver overcame myriad mechanical issues on leg one.

Gryazin finished fourth with Ralfs Sirmacis next up despite five punctures. Sirmacis had led the class after the opening loop of four stages on Thursday but his hopes of victory would soon be over when he punctured for the first time on Friday morning.

Luís Rego's run to sixth was beset by numerous set-up issues and a brake fault, while José Suárez was second in class when he went off on the second run through Sete Cidades on Friday before continuing. However, his rally would end when he damaged his Peugeot's rear suspension on SS12. Although he attempted running repairs he would go no further.

Tomasz Kasperczyk was sixth in class when he stopped on the re-run of the superspecial with a broken radiator.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com