Monte Carlo Rally 2014
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Mads Ostberg slots in between Sordo and Ogier as third quickest on the stage so far, pulling further ahead of Ogier in their battle for what was eighth place before lunch.
Ostberg admits to taking it relatively easy in his first taste of the Citroen on these tyres and in these conditions. He doesn't want to repeat the "stupid spins" he had this morning.
Ostberg admits to taking it relatively easy in his first taste of the Citroen on these tyres and in these conditions. He doesn't want to repeat the "stupid spins" he had this morning.
The popular Spanish 'hottie' and his Hyundai are second quickest of those in so far, 11s down on Latvala.
The comparison to watch with Sordo is Meeke and Kubica, the former 27s ahead of him overall, the latter just one second behind.
The comparison to watch with Sordo is Meeke and Kubica, the former 27s ahead of him overall, the latter just one second behind.
Dani Sordo
AUTOSPORT's David Evans had an interesting chat with Dani Sordo in service: "after admitting I'm not so keen on the colour of his car, I did add that he looked good behind the wheel – only for Sordo to ask if I'm married!"
Looking back at the splits elsewhere on the stage and while Latvala looks a likely stage winner, there's good pace coming from Sordo and Kubica.
Mikko Hirvonen completes 28s slower than Latvala. The M-Sport driver admits he was too cautious.
Stopwatch
Latvala is 21s faster than Ogier as he finishes the stage. He's using winter tyres all round.
"The feeling is better," he says. "We changed the set-up and we changed the tyres, and they are absolutely correct.
"It was very, very muddy, very slippery but the tyres were working really well.
"At least I feel a bit more confident now."
The Finn also compares conditions to the very, very wet and muddy 2009 Rally Ireland.
That time will surely get Latvala a little higher than his current 18th place.
"The feeling is better," he says. "We changed the set-up and we changed the tyres, and they are absolutely correct.
"It was very, very muddy, very slippery but the tyres were working really well.
"At least I feel a bit more confident now."
The Finn also compares conditions to the very, very wet and muddy 2009 Rally Ireland.
That time will surely get Latvala a little higher than his current 18th place.
Quote
Ogier completes the stage. He's got a crossover tyre choice of two slicks and two winter tyres.
"It looks like it's maybe not the best, but we have to wait for the full loop," he says.
"It looks like it's maybe not the best, but we have to wait for the full loop," he says.
If it's anything like this morning, it will take some time for the full leading order to become clear.
That's largely due to the amazing things that WRC3 champion Sebastien Chardonnet is achieving in his humble two-wheel-drive Citroen.
He is currently sixth overall, running 33rd on the road.
That's largely due to the amazing things that WRC3 champion Sebastien Chardonnet is achieving in his humble two-wheel-drive Citroen.
He is currently sixth overall, running 33rd on the road.
Stopwatch
Early splits show Ogier slower than Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen, with the champion 12s down on his team-mate. Has he taken an incorrect tyre gamble?
Jaroslav Melicharek
The third early retirement among the World Rally Car runners was Martin Prokop, whose Ford's battery died during the first stage of the day.
But though his weekend is over, it's worth him hanging around. His team has expanded to a second car this year, under the Slovakian World Rally Team banner, for rookie Jaroslav Melicharek.
The newcomer has made a very encouraging start, running seventh after SS1 and holding 10th at lunchtime. That puts him ahead of the vastly more experienced Mikko Hirvonen, Andreas Mikkelsen and Latvala.
Stopwatch
First split time shows Jari-Matti Latvala a second faster than Ogier.
Latvala's start to the season could have been worse, had he crashed out already.
Being 18th and three minutes off the pace after three stages is pretty bad, though. Yet again his confidence is wavering.
Latvala's start to the season could have been worse, had he crashed out already.
Being 18th and three minutes off the pace after three stages is pretty bad, though. Yet again his confidence is wavering.
Using that shot of Vatanen in the service park this morning meant we couldn't use a pic of his Peugeot 205 T16 on this occasion. Don't worry, we'll make up for that as the weekend goes on.
Breaking news
Ari Vatanen
AUTOSPORT almost missed Neuville's explanation of his early bath on the opening stage – but for a good reason... We bumped into superhero Ari Vatanen.
It's impossible not to have maximum fever for the 1981 world champion. His memories of Gap probably aren't the best, however, it was here that he incurred the famous time penalty in 1985.
Then again, that time penalty did kick-start the sport's best ever fightback, which you read about here...
What makes Monte Carlo so special?
Crash
Thierry Neuville should be second onto the stage in the new Hyundai, but he crashed it after just seven kilometres this morning.
That's the third year in a row that Neuville has ended his Monte Carlo Rally with a very early crash.
That's the third year in a row that Neuville has ended his Monte Carlo Rally with a very early crash.
Lights out
Stage four, Orpierre to St Andre de Rosans, is go. Ogier is first in.
Breaking news
Want a full guide to the 2014 WRC season, technical insight into the all-conquering Volkswagen Polo R WRC, a look back at Paddy Hopkirk's 1964 win for Mini and much, much more?
Here's AUTOSPORT's free 28-page Monte Carlo Rally supplement to browse in digital form.
Here's AUTOSPORT's free 28-page Monte Carlo Rally supplement to browse in digital form.
Francois Delecour
We were all very excited to see how Francois Delecour got on this weekend after his star performances on recent Montes, but he retired on the opening stage with a broken throttle pedal.
The Frenchman's day got even worse when he arrived back in service and couldn't stop the car alarm going off on his BMW five series.
Just been down to Michelin to get definitive tyre info for the afternoon. Here's the list:
Ogier: 2 slicks, 2 winters, 2 winters+studs
Meeke/Ostberg: 4 winters 2 super-softs
Sordo: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
Latvala/Mikkelsen: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
All M-Sport cars: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
That means Ogier takes the biggest gamble on less snow. He left service with the studless winters and super-softs - the studs were in the boot.
Ogier: 2 slicks, 2 winters, 2 winters+studs
Meeke/Ostberg: 4 winters 2 super-softs
Sordo: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
Latvala/Mikkelsen: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
All M-Sport cars: 4 winters, 2 winters+studs
That means Ogier takes the biggest gamble on less snow. He left service with the studless winters and super-softs - the studs were in the boot.
So tyre choice is going to be crucial again. Everyone has packed a mixture of winter tyre types for the afternoon, except Sebastien Ogier, who has included some dry weather (they're not quite slicks in asphalt rallying) tyres among the six he has taken (four on the car, two in the boot).
Rain
Weather news: it's two degrees and pouring with rain here in the service park in Gap.
We understand that up in the mountains it's still snowing, so expect similar conditions on the stages to what crews encountered this morning.
It is due to warm up a little this afternoon, but that's not going to clear the snow, just turn it into slush.
We understand that up in the mountains it's still snowing, so expect similar conditions on the stages to what crews encountered this morning.
It is due to warm up a little this afternoon, but that's not going to clear the snow, just turn it into slush.
Breaking news
Bryan Bouffier
Here's this morning's full report so you can catch up with the glorious Monte madness:
Bouffier takes over Monte lead
Were you tuning in expecting a Sebastien Ogier walkover? That would've been fair enough after all the events of 2013.
But instead you join us with Ogier back in ninth place, 1m19.4s off the lead after three stages.
The leader is Bryan Bouffier in what is probably a one-off appearance, ahead of Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo in the brand new Hyundai.
Robert Kubica is fourth, having led the first two stages, and has fellow rookie M-Sport team-mate Elfyn Evans right on his tail - followed by WRC3 champion Sebastien Chardonnet in his two-wheel-drive Citroen!
Mikko Hirvonen? 13th. Jari-Matti Latvala? 18th!
But instead you join us with Ogier back in ninth place, 1m19.4s off the lead after three stages.
The leader is Bryan Bouffier in what is probably a one-off appearance, ahead of Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo in the brand new Hyundai.
Robert Kubica is fourth, having led the first two stages, and has fellow rookie M-Sport team-mate Elfyn Evans right on his tail - followed by WRC3 champion Sebastien Chardonnet in his two-wheel-drive Citroen!
Mikko Hirvonen? 13th. Jari-Matti Latvala? 18th!
Welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's first event of the 2014 season - the Monte Carlo Rally.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell
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