The sensational battle for victory on round two of the FIA European Rally Championship has taken another twist after Esapekka Lappi retook the lead from Vasily Gryazin on Rally Liepāja.

- Esapekka Lappi (Aigars Tīdmanis, www.go4speed.lv)

Lappi, from Finland, was 4.1s quicker than his Russian rival through the 16.16-kilometre LDz Cargo stage. It means the ŠKODA Motorsport driver is now back in front by 3.3s with four stages remaining.

“It’s good, it’s a good fight and I’m really enjoying it,” said Lappi. “Yesterday we had a different reason why we were slower but this stage was nice and everything is okay.” Gryazin said: “Lappi is fast, I think my time is good and I do my best.”

- Vasily Gryazin (Aigars Tīdmanis, www.go4speed.lv)

Craig Breen was third quickest for Peugeot Rally Academy, despite reporting a loss of studs from his Michelin tyres. Kajetan Kajetanowicz set the fourth best time in his Ford Fiesta R5.

A suspected power issue slowed Hermann Neubauer’s Subaru Impreza, Robert Consani recovered from an off-road moment close to the start, while Jaromír Tarabus overshot a hairpin. Meanwhile, Vitaliy Pushkar went off in a slippery fast right-hander and damaged the left-rear of his Mitsubishi Lancer.

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