Rally

Rebenland threw up many aces, champions kept their cool

Julian Wagner crashed but, like his co-driver, remained uninjured(Bild: zVg)

The slippery track in southern Styria proved to be the undoing of several top drivers in the decisive phase of the Rebenland Rally. State champion Simon Wagner held his nerve, while Styrian Fabian Zeiringer impressed on his debut in the new car.

The Rebenland Rally around Leutschach turned into a real slippery affair on Saturday after rain showers fell over southern Styria in the morning. Instead of the expected one-second thriller for victory, the fans were treated to an elimination race along the special stages.

Three-way battle quickly defused
Simon Wagner, his brother Julian and championship leader Michael Lengauer were separated by just 14.7 seconds at the start of the deciding day. The damp track quickly turned the three-way battle into a solo run.

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In difficult conditions, reigning national champion Simon Wagner won all four classifications in the morning. In the afternoon, things went from bad to worse: first Lengauer crashed on SS12, followed by Julian Wagner one special stage later. All occupants were uninjured.

Way clear for national champion
The list of prominent retirements in the Rebenland was long. Hermann Neubauer had already retired on the first special stage on Friday after an accident, followed by Günther Knobloch from Graz on Saturday afternoon after a faulty starter on his Porsche.

Simon Wagner, on the other hand, didn't let things get out of hand despite a puncture and finished 1:36 minutes ahead of Luca Waldherr. The podium was completed by 64-year-old evergreen Raimund Baumschlager. The best Styrian was Fabian Zeiringer, who was delighted with fifth place on his debut in the Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Rebenland Rally, final standings: 1. Simon Wagner (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:31:52, 2. Luca Waldherr (Citoren C3 Rally2) +1:36, 3. Raimund Baumschlager (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:05, 4. Albert von Thurn und Taxis (D, Skoda Fabia Rally2) +4:48, 5. Fabian Zeiringer (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +5:31. 2WD: 1. Mark Skulj (Slo, Opel Corsa Rally4). Juniors: 1st Lukas Dirnberger (Ford Fiesta ST).