Adrien Fourmaux Reveals Drama That Cost His Rally Sardinia Victory

Adrien Fourmaux shared the story behind the setback that cost him a potential first World Rally Championship victory at Rally Italy Sardinia. The Hyundai driver was engaged in a close contest for the lead with Sebastien Ogier of Toyota, holding the top spot on Friday morning and ending the day just 2.1 seconds behind Ogier.

On Saturday, Fourmaux pushed hard to stay in the fight before disaster struck on stage eight, known as Lerno – Su Filigosu, which covers 24.34 kilometers. A front left puncture ended his hopes, forcing him to stop and change the wheel.

The decision to stop came after Fourmaux tried to keep driving while managing the punctured tire, but the strain became too much for the car. He didn’t want to see a repeat of previous events this season, so he pulled over to handle the problem.

Soon after, he had to stop again and allow Ogier to pass, as Ogier was stuck in Fourmaux’s dust. These issues combined caused Fourmaux to lose nearly four minutes, dropping him out of victory contention.

It was a familiar scene for the Frenchman, who suffered a mechanical failure from second position at Rally Portugal the month before, and a technical problem during the opening stage of Safari Rally Kenya that cost him valuable points. Fourmaux reflected on the string of bad luck, saying, “No, it seems like we cannot get any good luck, but it will turn.”

He recalled setbacks on different days at each recent event and kept a positive attitude about future rallies. Detailing the moment of the puncture in Sardinia, Fourmaux explained he felt a rock on the braking line but did not see it, leading to immediate tire damage.

The troubles did not end there for the Hyundai crew as the day continued to worsen on stage nine. During stage nine, Fourmaux ran off the road after a surprise from a jump sent him off line.

Thick dust entered the cockpit, making visibility tough and causing distraction as he checked if his co-driver’s door remained closed. While trying to avoid rocks between the road and a nearby field, Fourmaux steered across open ground, even striking a remote TV camera before returning to the stage.

These events dropped him to ninth overall, 4 minutes and 46.6 seconds behind the leader, Ogier, by the end of the day. Despite frustration and disappointment, Fourmaux has remained hopeful.

He acknowledged that while much of the damage was done by the earlier puncture and time losses, his mistakes in stage nine were compounded by difficult conditions and the stress from earlier events. Still, he expressed determination to move past these unlucky rounds as the season heads into its next phase.

Fourmaux’s drive in Sardinia may not have delivered the victory he hoped for, but his resolve to keep fighting in the WRC remains clear. As the championship continues, he aims to turn his fortunes around, learning from the challenges faced in recent rallies.

The next rounds will be important chances for Fourmaux and his Hyundai team to regroup and chase a long-awaited breakthrough win, much like the Hamilton Ferrari breakthrough seen in Formula 1.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.