WRC 2016: Mikkelsen handed Poland victory after battle with Tanak

Andreas Mikkelsen has won the Rally of Poland as near the end of the rally, leading driver Ott Tanak, suffered a puncture that dropped him down to second place.

With the way the 2016 Rally of Poland had called it a day on Saturday, it seemed unlikely that anyone could stop Estonian driver, Ott Tanak to claim his maiden victory. Tanak won eight of the 21 stages of the rally and up until SS19 and had a gap of 18.6 seconds over Volkswagen driver, Andreas Mikkelsen.

In the penultimate speed test where heavy rain made sandy roads even more slippery, Tanak suffered a front right puncture and dropped down 40 seconds to hand Mikkelsen the victory. It is the first time since round 3 of the championship in Mexico, that Volkswagen has won a rally.

Tanak recovered only to finish second in his Ford Fiesta RS, 26.2 seconds behind the leader. A mere 2.3 seconds adrift was Hayden Paddon driving for Hyundai who claimed the final spot on the podium.

Championship leader, Sebatian Ogier won two rally stages in addition to the final Power Stage. The final stage win awarded Ogier three bonus points. His Volkswagen team-mate, Jarri-Matti Latvala clocked in the second fastest time in the final stage to take home 2 points, as Thierry Neuville secured the final point in third.

Neuville also finished fourth overall in the rally with Latvala finishing another 4.5 seconds behind him in fifth overall.

The next round of the 2016 World Rally Championship will be the Rally of Finland which is scheduled to take place from July 28-31.