Highlights from stage 8 of European Rally Championship, Rally Hungary

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Mads Ostberg defended his Rally Hungary title taking victory on stage eight of the European Rally Championship

Transcript

00:00 The opening action of Rally Hungary got underway at the rather searing Super Special stage

00:05 and a nightmare unfolded for Josh McElean.

00:08 The Irishman clipping a stack of tyres and damaged his front right suspension.

00:13 He made it to the finish but was later forced into retirement.

00:17 A devastating end to McElean's season but Miko Marcik backed up his qualifying win with

00:21 the fastest time in Stage 1.

00:24 Challenging changeable surface conditions awaited the crews on Saturday in Hungary and

00:28 Efren Lorena as the first man on the road was the first to be caught out.

00:33 A right rear puncher and the Spaniard with co-driver Sara Fernandez were quickly into

00:38 action to get the wheel changed.

00:42 Joao Bernato was running in 6th place and starting to show signs of progress before

00:46 a misjudged corner in the afternoon.

00:52 The Canaries winner dropping almost a minute but he was fortunate to still be in the running.

01:00 Marcik meanwhile had maintained his fine start to this challenging rally and does have pedigree

01:05 in Hungary having claimed a second place finish two years before.

01:09 The pole was running 5th before disaster struck with the end in sight on the final stage of

01:15 the day.

01:17 Eric Sais was another with early problems.

01:19 An impact caused the intercom cable to dislodge and co-driver Igor Basigal would resort to

01:25 hand signals to navigate his driver through.

01:28 With the issue resolved they would make a fine recovery fighting their way back up to

01:32 4th.

01:34 A thrilling fight for 2nd would soon unfold between local star Berenza Vincere and Mads

01:40 Osberg.

01:41 The two-time Hungarian champion swapping places twice with the Norwegian through the morning

01:45 stages steering his Skoda Fabia to 2nd by the midday service.

01:50 Osberg though had claimed the win here two years ago and as the reigning Hungarian champion

01:55 the Norwegian also had high hopes of a strong result.

01:58 A heavy impact with the Roncon Saturday's opener would cause real concern but the former

02:03 WRC regular would resume the fight with Vincere getting back to stage winning form and taking

02:09 2nd back in the afternoon.

02:11 Up front though was another local hero in ERC regular Miklos Csomos.

02:15 The Hungarian had shown signs of pace throughout the year but really came to form with a runner-up

02:20 finish last time out in Czechia.

02:22 And after a stunning start in stage 2 he didn't look back.

02:25 Csomos winning 5 stages in total on Saturday it had been an incredible run.

02:32 At the end of Saturday Csomos led by 22.6 seconds from Osberg.

02:36 Vincere made it two locals in the podium places with Sais and Cesc rounding off the top 5.

02:44 So to the final morning of the 2023 ERC season.

02:50 Erik Sais was set to wrap up the season with a best result of 4th place until a challenging

02:55 run through the vineyard roads of stage 10 would put to a tire.

02:59 Forced to stop and change the wheel more than 2 minutes were dropped and 4th became 6th

03:03 by the end of the rally.

03:06 Martin Cesc remained the only driver this season to have claimed more than one rally

03:10 win after taking victory in Poland and on home soil in Latvia.

03:14 The 24-year-old is still honing his skills on sealed surfaces but is proving a quick

03:19 learner.

03:20 A first fastest time of the weekend in stage 10 and he would secure 2nd place in the championship

03:25 with another podium finish.

03:29 Unfortunately though there was late drama at the top of the field.

03:33 Having dominated his home event for 10 stages, Miksy Csomos would go off the road early

03:38 in the 11th.

03:39 A devastating blow with the end of the rally within reach.

03:42 Thankfully both Miklos and co-driver Viktor Band were unhurt but their hopes of a home

03:47 victory were over in an instant.

03:51 The fight for 2nd had suddenly become a scrap for the win but Ference Vincere had started

03:56 to fall back after this Saturday afternoon charge from Mads Osberg.

04:00 There was still a home podium to secure and despite a frustrating run through the lively

04:04 stage 10, the Škoda driver would maintain the pressure on the experienced Norwegian.

04:12 The twisty abrasive vineyard roads of Saga Borges had already had a potentially pitiful

04:16 moment in the first pass.

04:18 Osberg picked up a puncture in there but following Csomos' late exit, the Norwegian would wrap

04:24 things up with a power stage win to add to what was a second victory in the ERC.

04:29 The first coming in Hungary as well, two years before.

04:34 Osberg claimed the win by just under 13 seconds from Vincere with a fourth podium of the season

04:39 for Cesc, Bernato and Turan completing the top five.

04:43 Haydn Padon of course already claimed the ERC title in Czechia but that third place

04:48 finish confirmed Cesc's as the runner up with Osberg finishing in third place after this

04:53 thrilling 2023 campaign.

04:55 ♪♪

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