Motorsport: Tanak claims maiden WRC win

Ott Tanak in action during Day One of the WRC Italy. Photo / Getty Images

Estonian Ott Tanak has won his first WRC event after holding off the challengers on the final day of WRC Italy in Sardinia.

The M-Sport Ford driver took a 12.3s win over Toyota's Jari-Matti Latvala and moves up to third in the world drivers' championship in the process.

Kiwi Hayden Paddon won stages on the final but suffered a second crash to cap a frustrating rally where he will wonder what might have been.

Tanak inherited the lead on day two after Paddon made a mistake. The 29-year-old managed to hold his lead despite a small error in the dying stages.

"It was a difficult weekend but the first half of this season has been great," said Tanak. "The new car and a strong team-mate is making me push hard. I hope it's the first of many wins because it's all coming together now."

Latvala led a superb performance from the Toyota team with Esapekka Lappi finishing fourth in just his second WRC event with the team while Juho Hanninen was sixth.

Thierry Neuville completed the podium in his Hyundai to draw with 18 points of championship leader Sebastien Ogier, who was fifth.

Paddon crashed out from the lead on day two but restarted under Rally 2 rules. He proved quick again on the final day but made another basic error to leave him scratching his head.

"After Saturday's misfortune, we wanted to use today to get back into a rhythm," the 30-year-old said.

"Things started out well with a stage win, but that was the extent of our positives from today. In the penultimate stage, we had another very strange incident on a 'nothing' corner, where like yesterday I clipped the inside, which sent us wide.

"I don't know why this is happening. I am incredibly disappointed in myself and for the team. I want to learn from this but at the same time put it behind us and look ahead to Poland."

Final Results
Ott Tanak (Ford)
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) +12.3s
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) +1:07.7s
Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) +2:12.9s
Sebastien Ogier (Ford) +3:25.3s
Juho Hanninen (Toyota) +3:38.5s

Championship Standings
Sebastien Ogier 141
Thierry Neuville 123
Ott Tanak 108
Jari-Matti Latvala 107
Dani Sordo 72
Elfyn Evans 53
Craig Breen 43
Hayden Paddon 33