NEWLY-CROWNED WRC 2 CHAMPION PONTUS TIDEMAND ENDED HIS 2017 SEASON IN STYLE AS HE CRUISED TO HIS FIFTH VICTORY OF THE YEAR AT DAYINSURE WALES RALLY GB ON SUNDAY.
After steadily building up a comfortable lead on the first two days, he eased to a 1m 54.4sec victory on Sunday.The Swede was never headed during three days of tough competition on the wet and muddy forest stages that characterise the final European event on the WRC calendar.
"It's been a very good weekend," the Skoda Fabia R5 driver said. "The car has been working well and I've been happy with my driving performance as well."
Britain's Tom Cave started the final day in second place, but with Eric Camilli breathing down his neck, he knew he couldn't slacken his pace.
Unfortunately for Cave, a spin close to the start of the Gwydir stage gave Camilli the opening he was looking for and he moved ahead to take second after 21 stages.
The result also ensured Camilli finished as runner-up in the WRC 2 category this season.
Cave, driving a Ford Fiesta R5, ended the event 8.9sec behind his French rival.
Scotland's David Bogie scored the best WRC result of his career as he guided his Skoda Fabia R5 to fourth place, albeit another 32.8sec behind Cave.
Eyvind Brynildsen was applying some significant pressure to Bogie at the start of the day as he attempted to wrestle fourth place away from his rival.
But, with the gap between the two down to 2.5sec, the Norwegian noticed blue smoke coming from his car's engine at the end of the first Brenig stage.
He continued to the following Gwydir test, but his Fiesta's engine became terminally sick on the road secion and he was forced to retire before the time control.
Juuso Nordgren filled fifth place overall after the Power Stage, while Gus Greensmith completed the top-six in his Ford Fiesta R5. The Briton was 4m 32.1s behind winner Tidemand.
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