Calmer Lukyanuk wants more ERC joy

Lukyanuk began his 2018 title bid with an impressive first place on the Azores Airlines Rallye last month and will be a favourite to bag a second successive triumph this season and in Gran Canaria when the Tarmac counter takes place from 3-5 May.

“I tried to suppress my open way to drive, my feelings and my intention to push harder all the time,” said the Russian Performance Motorsport driver. “It was a really tough rally for me having to control myself but everything worked and it paid off. Thank you for the team and sponsors and everybody who supports us. We’ll keep going like this I hope.”

Lukyanuk claimed an emphatic victory on Rally Islas Canarias last season. Although injuries sustained in a testing crashed ruled out his participation on the next two events, his latter campaign was undone by a spate of non-finishes, which has promoted a calmer approach for 2018.