Hyundai driver Neuville produced head turning speed on the fast gravel roads to leap into a 6.8s lead over championship leader Kalle Rovanpera, having started the day sitting fourth overall.
Rovanpera produced an impressive damage limitation drive considering the Toyota driver had to open the loose gravel stages.
However, it was a determined Tanak, hit by a five-minute engine change penalty yesterday, who is yet to be beaten in the event’s four stages to date. The Estonian is 4m50s behind.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans headed to mid-point service in third (+13.0s) ahead of Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi (+14.3s), who was hampered by a hybrid issue.
Hyundai’s Teemu Suninen ended his first morning driving a Rally1 car in fifth (+19.6s) in front of Takamoto Katsuta (29,7s), who lost time to a junction overshoot, and M-Sport's Pierre-Louis Loubet (+30.5s). Oliver Solberg led WRC2 in eighth overall.
Fired up by yesterday’s disappointment, Tanak produced a stunning drive to win the morning’s first stage (Peipsiääre, 24.35km), the longest of the rally.
The Ford driver, spurred on by huge crowds, chalked up a second stage win of the event with a time 5.0s faster than Neuville, despite starting third on the road.
Source: Autosport