Monte Carlo Rally 2014
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Lights out
The final day is go - Jaroslav Melicherak is on the stage, as are Mikkelsen and Hirvonen.
Slovakian rookie Melicherak is having a sensible run in ninth place on his top-level debut with a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He has been here before in Group N machinery.
Slovakian rookie Melicherak is having a sensible run in ninth place on his top-level debut with a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He has been here before in Group N machinery.
AUTOSPORT
Meanwhile, AUTOSPORT's lap of the Monaco GP circuit...
The lovely Hyundai Santa-Fe might have been some way off the pace (we struggled in traffic...), but the speed difference probably wasn't that much slower on a spirited effort around Loews hairpin.
Breaking news
If you're just joining us, here's a quick recap of how we got here:
* Robert Kubica led the first two stages, slipped back to fourth and was battling for the podium when he crashed on Friday afternoon.
* Wildcard one-off entrant Bryan Bouffier hit the front when the snow appeared and stayed there, holding Sebastien Ogier at bay, until a Friday afternoon spin.
* Ogier had struggled in the changeable conditions of Thursday morning and was 1m20s down in ninth before mounting a charge that took him to the front.
* Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg established themselves in third and fourth.
* Both Hyundais showed great pace but retired early: Thierry Neuville crashed on SS1 and Dani Sordo's battery died when he was running third later on day one.
* Elfyn Evans has held his own in the top six despite his inexperience, but it's been a rough start to 2014 for Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen. Latvala has at least now recovered from his initial 19th place to fifth.
* Robert Kubica led the first two stages, slipped back to fourth and was battling for the podium when he crashed on Friday afternoon.
* Wildcard one-off entrant Bryan Bouffier hit the front when the snow appeared and stayed there, holding Sebastien Ogier at bay, until a Friday afternoon spin.
* Ogier had struggled in the changeable conditions of Thursday morning and was 1m20s down in ninth before mounting a charge that took him to the front.
* Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg established themselves in third and fourth.
* Both Hyundais showed great pace but retired early: Thierry Neuville crashed on SS1 and Dani Sordo's battery died when he was running third later on day one.
* Elfyn Evans has held his own in the top six despite his inexperience, but it's been a rough start to 2014 for Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen. Latvala has at least now recovered from his initial 19th place to fifth.
Parc ferme
Still covered in day two dirt in parc ferme this morning. Will Ogier's Polo be covered in champagne by the end of the event.
Right now we don't have many head to head fights in the lead group - Ogier leads by 51s over Bouffier, then Meeke, Ostberg and Latvala are all pretty spaced out. The only remaining battle is Evans versus Hirvonen for sixth.
But the snow changes everything - it's all about survival this afternoon and evening. And if you think this first run will be tricky with more and more snow falling, just wait until tonight when they have to do it in the dark...
But the snow changes everything - it's all about survival this afternoon and evening. And if you think this first run will be tricky with more and more snow falling, just wait until tonight when they have to do it in the dark...
No messing around from the drivers on tyre choice - everyone has four studded winter tyres.
Most have gone for two studless winter tyres as spares except Elfyn Evans, who has two super-soft asphalt tyres.
Most have gone for two studless winter tyres as spares except Elfyn Evans, who has two super-soft asphalt tyres.
Today's late start has also given AUTOSPORT a chance to hammer round the Monaco Grand Prix circuit in a Hyundai road car. We took a few pictures along the way and might slip those in during quiet moments...
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for the final day of the Monte Carlo Rally (and a few Dakar Rally showdown updates).
It's very, very wet in Monaco again, but we understand there's snow up on the Col - and that's where the WRC crews are heading for four more stages to decide the 2014 season opener.
It's very, very wet in Monaco again, but we understand there's snow up on the Col - and that's where the WRC crews are heading for four more stages to decide the 2014 season opener.
Breaking news
AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live will be back in action from 1.30pm UK time tomorrow to follow the run to the finish in both this weekend's classics - the Dakar and Monte Carlo. See you then.
Dakar Rally Friday report
Monte Carlo Rally Friday pm report
Dakar Rally Friday report
Monte Carlo Rally Friday pm report
The big remaining fight is for the final top six spot. Hirvonen is 29.2s behind his enormously less experienced M-Sport team-mate Evans, and for the sake of morale, the Finn really has to end this rally on a more encouraging note.
The service park at Gap has now been packed up and we'll be resuming from Monaco tomorrow.
It's a late start, with the first stage not until 2.48pm local time.
The itinerary is two runs through La Bolene Vesubie and Sospel, including the infamous Col de Turini, and the second loop takes place after dark.
So while the time gaps between cars have grown, staying on the road - particularly with more snow and ice likely - is going to be a mission.
It's a late start, with the first stage not until 2.48pm local time.
The itinerary is two runs through La Bolene Vesubie and Sospel, including the infamous Col de Turini, and the second loop takes place after dark.
So while the time gaps between cars have grown, staying on the road - particularly with more snow and ice likely - is going to be a mission.
Checkered flag
Here are the results at the end of day two:
SS11 times: 1 Latvala 13m55.8s; 2 Ogier +3.9s; 3 Meeke +12.3s; 4 Evans +22.6s; 5 Hirvonen +24.3s; 6 Bouffier +32.4s.
Overall positions: 1 Ogier; 2 Bouffier +51.1s; 3 Meeke +1m38.6s; 4 Ostberg +2m48.9s; 5 Latvala +6m04.4s; 6 Evans +6m14.5s.
SS11 times: 1 Latvala 13m55.8s; 2 Ogier +3.9s; 3 Meeke +12.3s; 4 Evans +22.6s; 5 Hirvonen +24.3s; 6 Bouffier +32.4s.
Overall positions: 1 Ogier; 2 Bouffier +51.1s; 3 Meeke +1m38.6s; 4 Ostberg +2m48.9s; 5 Latvala +6m04.4s; 6 Evans +6m14.5s.
Crash
Yuriy Protasov's WRC2 lead has grown again, main rival Armin Kremer is off the road on this stage.
Unsurprisingly that cost Bouffier a lot of time. He drops half a minute to Ogier and ends day two 51s behind.
Bit of a dramatic finish for erstwhile leader Bouffier - he somehow missed part of the route on the recce so had to borrow pace notes from Francois Delecour!
Over in the South American desert, and the leaders have completed today's Dakar stage... and despite the team orders declaration, Stephane Peterhansel is back in the lead over Nani Roma, by just 26s with one stage to go.
Quote
Meeke has a safe run through and stays third, but don't dare tell him he's set for the podium...
"You're not on the podium until the finish line. That was a little sting in the tail tonight - it was so much colder and more slippery.
"We've got another tough one tomorrow night with the Turini. Something always happens there. We need to make sure it doesn't happen to us."
"You're not on the podium until the finish line. That was a little sting in the tail tonight - it was so much colder and more slippery.
"We've got another tough one tomorrow night with the Turini. Something always happens there. We need to make sure it doesn't happen to us."
A slow but safe run through for Ostberg, and now Ogier is in as well. He's slightly slower than Latvala.
"Not too many risks to finish the day, it's getting very dirty on that stage and I preferred to keep it easy," says the rally leader.
"Today was much better than yesterday, but tomorrow looks like it's going to be a difficult one again with snow on the Turini."
Ogier also shows off his expanded snow-related English vocabulary and says "hopefully there won't be too much slush."
"Not too many risks to finish the day, it's getting very dirty on that stage and I preferred to keep it easy," says the rally leader.
"Today was much better than yesterday, but tomorrow looks like it's going to be a difficult one again with snow on the Turini."
Ogier also shows off his expanded snow-related English vocabulary and says "hopefully there won't be too much slush."
Stopwatch
Latvala is our pacesetter so far, beating Evans by 22.6s and passing the Welshman for fifth overall in the process.
Hirvonen completes the stage 9s faster than Mikkelsen but is set to lag far behind Latvala's time.
"These two days have been really tough," Hirvonen admits.
"One more day to go so hopefully tomorrow we can have better pace and I can really start to enjoy driving again."
At AUTOSPORT International last week, Hirvonen's M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson talked about the chances of "reigniting" his Finnish star again this year. It hasn't happened just yet...
"These two days have been really tough," Hirvonen admits.
"One more day to go so hopefully tomorrow we can have better pace and I can really start to enjoy driving again."
At AUTOSPORT International last week, Hirvonen's M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson talked about the chances of "reigniting" his Finnish star again this year. It hasn't happened just yet...
Quote
Mikkelsen took it very easy through there after his earlier slip-up when he was on the cusp of getting into the top six.
"We were having a good run and it was my mistake, but you learn from these conditions and it's my first time here," said Mikkelsen.
"Now we're being really, really careful - it's easy to get caught out win there."
It's not the first time Mikkelsen has done the Monte, but his only previous attempt in 2011 was very shortlived as he
"We were having a good run and it was my mistake, but you learn from these conditions and it's my first time here," said Mikkelsen.
"Now we're being really, really careful - it's easy to get caught out win there."
It's not the first time Mikkelsen has done the Monte, but his only previous attempt in 2011 was very shortlived as he
Stopwatch
Latvala looks a good bet to end the day with a stage win and a climb into the top five.
He has a 12s deficit to Evans to erase and is comfortably quickest on the splits so far.
He has a 12s deficit to Evans to erase and is comfortably quickest on the splits so far.
Melicharek will be first car through, followed by Mikkelsen.
The latter's error on the previous stage means he is now 3m23s behind nearest rival Hirvonen, and there's not going to be a lot he can do about that from driving alone.
The latter's error on the previous stage means he is now 3m23s behind nearest rival Hirvonen, and there's not going to be a lot he can do about that from driving alone.
At 20.77km, this stage is the day's shortest, but darkness has completely fallen and the temperature as dropped, so the chance of ice is growing and the likelihood of seeing it is falling...
Stopwatch
On the early splits, Latvala is blitzing those onto the stage so far.
With a good run through here, he's got a shot at jumping Evans for fifth.
With a good run through here, he's got a shot at jumping Evans for fifth.
Quote
Third place is very much in Meeke's hands now, and he is very keen not to throw it away.
"I'm now more conservative than ever," said the Citroen man, who is still hunting for his first outright WRC podium.
"I'm really, really conscious that I want to get to the finish. I'm taking big confidence lifts.
"It's a strange feeling because we are past the halfway point but when you've still got Turini waiting for you you can't ever say that it's finished."
"I'm now more conservative than ever," said the Citroen man, who is still hunting for his first outright WRC podium.
"I'm really, really conscious that I want to get to the finish. I'm taking big confidence lifts.
"It's a strange feeling because we are past the halfway point but when you've still got Turini waiting for you you can't ever say that it's finished."
Lights out
Right, we're back running again, the first few cars are heading onto an increasingly dark SS11.
Twitter
Plenty of praise spreading around the web for young Elfyn Evans – running a very impressive fifth, and keeping calm while more experienced drivers drop off the radar.
The latest compliment comes from top WRC snapper Colin McMaster.
@ColMcKlein: "He's a bit special, @ElfynEvans. Excellent performance on #WRC Monte in the fog & rain. Just like home @DovenbyHall."
The latest compliment comes from top WRC snapper Colin McMaster.
@ColMcKlein: "He's a bit special, @ElfynEvans. Excellent performance on #WRC Monte in the fog & rain. Just like home @DovenbyHall."
Breaking news
AUTOSPORT understands that Kubica's Fiesta picked up damage to its front end in the crash, so even if he had been able to get back on the road, the car wouldn't have been fit to continue - nor would it have done if this was an event that allowed Rally 2.
Quote
In terms of serious driver news (sorry Seb) – Meeke was first on the scene of the shunt that ended Kubica's rally earlier this afternoon. He talked AUTOSPORT through what he encountered:
“Thirty-two kilometres in, it was a third gear right-hander. The corner was unsighted and our ice note crew told us to brake 100 metres earlier than we would've off our own recce.
“It looks as though he half made the corner then went off and disappeared down a bank.
“I couldn't see the car, just the steam and smoke coming over the ditch and lots of people running around, but obviously they're both OK.
“It was a really nasty place, that whole section was very, very difficult.”
“Thirty-two kilometres in, it was a third gear right-hander. The corner was unsighted and our ice note crew told us to brake 100 metres earlier than we would've off our own recce.
“It looks as though he half made the corner then went off and disappeared down a bank.
“I couldn't see the car, just the steam and smoke coming over the ditch and lots of people running around, but obviously they're both OK.
“It was a really nasty place, that whole section was very, very difficult.”
Rally leader Ogier's mood was 100 per cent different at this afternoon's regroup to how it was earlier when he still had a 35s deficit to Bouffier.
Much more relaxed, he was keen to extend his English vocabulary - asking about the correct word for melting snow, which he'd been calling 'smash' rather than slush...
We think 'smash' sounds better.
Mountains or motorway for our next leg of the journey? That's the question.
The mountains are shorter and undoubtedly more fever, but the motorway might be quicker and offer more opportunity for Mars bars or peanut Lion Bars (the snack of choice this weekend).
A chance meeting with Ari Vatanen's son Kim sorts the job. Mountains, it's got to be – you'd expect that answer from AV's boy. The AUTOSPORT Hyundai Santa-Fe will be winding its way through the Alps shortly.
The Hyundai has been something of a revelation. Super-comfortable and perfect for the autoroute, we'll let you know what she's like through the hairpins later.
The mountains are shorter and undoubtedly more fever, but the motorway might be quicker and offer more opportunity for Mars bars or peanut Lion Bars (the snack of choice this weekend).
A chance meeting with Ari Vatanen's son Kim sorts the job. Mountains, it's got to be – you'd expect that answer from AV's boy. The AUTOSPORT Hyundai Santa-Fe will be winding its way through the Alps shortly.
The Hyundai has been something of a revelation. Super-comfortable and perfect for the autoroute, we'll let you know what she's like through the hairpins later.
Breaking news
For anyone just joining us, the WRC crews are currently on the way to SS11, which gets underway at 6pm local time, 5pm UK time.
Ogier now leads by 22s from Bouffier, Meeke is set for third after Kubica crashed out, and the big battle is for fifth behind Ostberg as Latvala and Hirvonen chase after Evans.
Ogier now leads by 22s from Bouffier, Meeke is set for third after Kubica crashed out, and the big battle is for fifth behind Ostberg as Latvala and Hirvonen chase after Evans.
If only Patterson had been around yesterday, when AUTOSPORT went for a nice sausage baguette and chips for lunch – because we didn’t spot the Andouillette sign quickly enough.
The Andouillette sausage is a bit of a speciality down south – and it consists of pig intestines. And it tastes exactly as you would expect a pig’s intestine to taste.
Stopping at a petrol station on the way to the regroup AUTOSPORT is greeted by the deeply knowledgeable, and not to mention ever-cheerful, Davy Patterson.
Patterson runs DMACK’s operation on the ground – he’s also a man who rode the Sisteron stage on a push-bike last weekend and is able to detail the ice content (as it was last Saturday) for us.
Patterson runs DMACK’s operation on the ground – he’s also a man who rode the Sisteron stage on a push-bike last weekend and is able to detail the ice content (as it was last Saturday) for us.
And, in fairness, Digne is a good idea.
The WRC is very welcome in the capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
The remote media centre is in the middle of the town, overlooking the regroup and the staff couldn't be more accommodating, even supplying a brochure about the place and a small bottle of lavender perfume.
The WRC is very welcome in the capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
The remote media centre is in the middle of the town, overlooking the regroup and the staff couldn't be more accommodating, even supplying a brochure about the place and a small bottle of lavender perfume.
Cars
Following a largely one-side conversation with a marshal near the end of Sisteron, it turns out that AUTOSPORT didn't really want to go to the finish...
Here are the cars abandoned miles out of the village of Thoard, where the end of the stage is located.
The regroup in Digne is a much better idea. Apparently.
Twitter
Earlier we mentioned double British Rally champion and sometime Junior WRC and IRC frontrunner Guy Wilks' Twitter bemusement at Hirvonen's Monte form.
Now here's a wish from Wilks that we all agree with...
"Ok... I want to see Bryan Bouffier fight @SebOgier all the way now. #star #opportunity"
Wilks was part of Peugeot's IRC stable alongside Bouffier and Neuville in 2011.
Now here's a wish from Wilks that we all agree with...
"Ok... I want to see Bryan Bouffier fight @SebOgier all the way now. #star #opportunity"
Wilks was part of Peugeot's IRC stable alongside Bouffier and Neuville in 2011.
And we're already missing the electrifying presence of Robert Kubica in this rally following his SS10 crash.
So to make up for that, here's some onboard video of his amazing final stage on the European Rally Championship-opening Janner Rally in Austria two weeks ago, where he overturned Vaclav Pech's seemingly comfortable last-stage cushion to take his biggest win so far. It's our 'Hot on the web' pick in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.
After his Monte form, AUTOSPORT would put money on Kubica celebrating a WRC win too in the medium-term future...
So to make up for that, here's some onboard video of his amazing final stage on the European Rally Championship-opening Janner Rally in Austria two weeks ago, where he overturned Vaclav Pech's seemingly comfortable last-stage cushion to take his biggest win so far. It's our 'Hot on the web' pick in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.
After his Monte form, AUTOSPORT would put money on Kubica celebrating a WRC win too in the medium-term future...
AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live will slow the pace of updates again until SS11 at 5pm UK time.
To tide you over in the meantime, here's a reminder that our free Monte Carlo Rally magazine supplement can be browsed in digital form here.
To tide you over in the meantime, here's a reminder that our free Monte Carlo Rally magazine supplement can be browsed in digital form here.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell
Published:
Lap:
