Ugur Soylu and Aras Dincer (Skoda Fabia Rally2) took the lead after the first leg of Monbat Rally Sliven, third round of the FIA Balkan Rally Trophy. Evofone Rally Team crew won the first stage but faced a strong response from Miroslav Angelov and Georgi Gadzhev (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) who set the fastest time on the next special stage “Ichera”.

But big drama unfold on the third stage “Karandila”. Angelov was seven tenths back when the gearbox of his Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo stuck on forth gear. The two times winner reach the service park at the end of the day almost minute and a half back from the leader Soylu. Unfortunately, the Megaport Racing crew didn’t have a spare gearbox and Angelov retired.

Mustafa Cakal and Ozgur Akdag (Hyundai i20 NG R5) won the super special stage at the end of the day and finished leg one second, 24.4 seconds back. Georgi Vasilev and Sefan Dobrev (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) are third fastest 11,1 seconds adrift from Cakal.

The favourites for the first place in 2WD category Daniel Popov and Angel Bashkehayov (Peugeot 208 Rally4) walked away from an enormous crash on the first right hander of the opening stage Ablanovo. The retirement of the Jasen Popov Racing crew paved the way for Grigor Grigorov and Petar Sivov (Peugeot 208 R2) to take fifh place in the general standings and first place in RC4 category.

The second leg of Monbat Rally Sliven covers 111,32 km. The first of the seven competitive stages “Trapoklovo” will start in 10:15.