Érdi Jr’s ERC bad luck strikes again

Érdi Jr appeared to have won the showroom division for the second time in 2017 – and boost his title challenge in the process – but a broken engine at the stopline of the final stage wrecked his hopes in an instant as he was unable to reach the finish.

“The motor cut out and when we tried to start it again it didn’t start,” said the Hungarian Mitsubishi Lancer driver. “It’s the second time it’s happened because it was also the same on the Acropolis Rally [in 2014] when I won the last stage but didn’t go to the finish. It’s crazy.”

Zelindo Melegari, who inherited the ERC2 win and now leads the standings by 53 points ahead of Érdi Jr, said: “I am sorry for Tibor because he was fast in this race. It was a very difficult race.”