Just 2.2sec had separated the pair overnight, but Korhonen wasted little time in turning the tables aboard his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The Finn took 4.6sec out of Greensmith on Saturday’s opening Lerno – Sa Conchedda – Monti di Alà test, enough to move ahead by 2.4sec, before extending that advantage significantly on Coiluna – Loelle.
Greensmith responded on the new Solorche stage before midday, clawing back 6.1sec, but Korhonen still returned to service with an 8.9sec advantage. The battle remained close when action resumed in the afternoon. Korhonen edged Greensmith by 1.5sec on SS11 before gaining another 4.4sec across the rough second pass of Coiluna – Loelle. A further 4.8sec on Saturday’s final Solorche test increased his overnight cushion to 19.6sec, leaving four stages and 61.62 competitive kilometres between Korhonen and his first WRC2 victory since Rally Sweden.
Behind the leading pair, Teemu Suninen produced one of the day’s strongest recoveries. The Finn had started Saturday seventh in WRC2 and 2min 41.0sec from the lead after stopping to change a damaged tyre on Friday evening. He immediately began working his way back through the order and was fastest of the leading WRC2 runners on SS11. By Saturday night Suninen had climbed to third, 1min 23.6sec behind Korhonen, completing an impressive recovery and putting himself back into podium contention.
Newly crowned WRC2 champion Robert Virves also demonstrated strong pace after his own puncture-hit Friday. The Estonian won both of Saturday morning’s opening stages, including SS8 by 12.4sec from Jan Solans, before again setting the category benchmark on Coiluna – Loelle. His earlier delays mean he remains fifth overall in WRC2, 1min 56.5sec from the lead, but his speed underlined what might have been without Friday’s tyre trouble.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz occupies fourth, 1min 53.4sec behind Korhonen and only 3.1sec ahead of Virves, setting up another close fight for Sunday. Defending Sardinia WRC2 winner Roberto Daprà holds sixth after a more difficult afternoon. The Italian suffered a front-right puncture on SS11 before losing further time with a small off on the following Coiluna – Loelle test. He ends Saturday 2min 47.8sec from the lead.
Saturday also brought significant attrition further down the WRC2 field. Emil Lindholm, who had begun the day third, was among several crews unable to complete the morning loop, alongside Pablo Sarrazin, Jan Solans, Benjamin Korhola and Rally2 debutant Matteo Fontana.
