Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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Good start for Meeke - he's six tenths faster than Ogier at split one. He trailed the leader by 5s beginning this one.
Latvala and Mikkelsen are both keeping pace with Ogier here, only a second or so off. Ostberg is 5s slower than the VWs at the first split.
Latvala is gaining on Mikkelsen a touch as the Norwegian's splits begin to filter through.
Lead contender Meeke will be fifth on the road. He's waiting on the startline now.
Lead contender Meeke will be fifth on the road. He's waiting on the startline now.
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A happy Citroen junior:
As the early splits come in, Latvala has dropped another second to Ogier. That doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, Latvala isn't looking too hard at his world champion team-mate this week (but, should he be...?), it's all about gathering maximum possible points on a rally that isn't his strong point.
Latvala began this stage 16s behind VW team-mate Mikkelsen in fourth.
Latvala began this stage 16s behind VW team-mate Mikkelsen in fourth.
Main thing to watch on this stage is obviously whether Meeke can strike back at Ogier, then there's a big gap back before the quite close Mikkelsen/Latvala/Neuville gaggle fighting for third, with Ostberg giving chase. And as usual on the Monte, it's also something of a survival mission on those ice patches.
Green flag
Ogier is onto the stage, it's 16 miles long. The world champion leads a field of 10 surviving World Rally Cars now Camilli and Bertelli have joined the retirement list.
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And more details of the stage that's beginning now:
SS4 Apres-les-Corps – Chauffayer
Not much change in altitude in this stage which runs up one side of valley and down the other after crossing the river just outside St Maurice-en-Valgodemard. Starting at 968 metres, it peaks at 1105 soon after the start before finishing at 932.
SS4 Apres-les-Corps – Chauffayer
Not much change in altitude in this stage which runs up one side of valley and down the other after crossing the river just outside St Maurice-en-Valgodemard. Starting at 968 metres, it peaks at 1105 soon after the start before finishing at 932.
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Confirmation from Bertelli and his profane twitter account that he crashed as well...
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Nearly time for SS7, here's the latest information on conditions from Pirelli tyre engineer Terenzio Testoni via DAVID EVANS:
"At 1315 the temperature was between four and six degrees. The ice at the bridge three kilomertes in is still there. Between kilometre six and 14, the road is dry but damp in a few places with some wet and muddy cuts. Just after that thew road is damp with icy patches and snow banks. From there to the finish the road is damp, but with less ice and more dirty cuts."
"At 1315 the temperature was between four and six degrees. The ice at the bridge three kilomertes in is still there. Between kilometre six and 14, the road is dry but damp in a few places with some wet and muddy cuts. Just after that thew road is damp with icy patches and snow banks. From there to the finish the road is damp, but with less ice and more dirty cuts."
Stopwatch
SS6 RESULTS:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 8m05.4s
2 Meeke +3.5s
3 Latvala +7.6s
4 Mikkelsen +7.6s
5 Sordo +13.1s
6 Neuville +13.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Meeke +5.0s
3 Mikkelsen +45.4s
4 Latvala +1m01.1s
5 Neuville +1m10.1s
6 Ostberg +1m26.9s
7 Sordo +1m55.5s
8 Lefebvre +2m08.5s
9 Bouffier +3m08.4s
10 Tanak +3m54.9s
Stage times:
1 Ogier 8m05.4s
2 Meeke +3.5s
3 Latvala +7.6s
4 Mikkelsen +7.6s
5 Sordo +13.1s
6 Neuville +13.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Meeke +5.0s
3 Mikkelsen +45.4s
4 Latvala +1m01.1s
5 Neuville +1m10.1s
6 Ostberg +1m26.9s
7 Sordo +1m55.5s
8 Lefebvre +2m08.5s
9 Bouffier +3m08.4s
10 Tanak +3m54.9s
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David Evans
Elfyn Evans might have had his issues – a puncture last night and bouncing off Robert Kubica’s Fiesta on SS4 this morning – but there’s no doubt his relationship with new co-driver Craig Parry is warming up nicely.
“I’m singing the notes to him a bit now,” said Parry, “it’s going well.”
The only frustration for Evans this morning was everybody talking to him while he was trying to peel his pre-lunch satsuma.
“I’m singing the notes to him a bit now,” said Parry, “it’s going well.”
The only frustration for Evans this morning was everybody talking to him while he was trying to peel his pre-lunch satsuma.
And that video shows both the spot, and why Kubica's car ended up a bit more damaged than expected.
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Ford privateer Bertelli is also static on the tracking system.
TV crews are reporting that Camilli has stopped four miles onto the stage, in a similar spot to where Kubica had his shunt earlier.
Looks like we might've lost M-Sport's debutant Camilli. WRC2 runners Gilbert and Maurin have come through first.
Bouffier is through, 20.6s down on Ogier. The former-winner is out of the top 10.
Stopwatch
Camilli is a fairly hefty 5.6s down on Ogier in the first split. That's not a continuation of pace from this morning's apparent breakthrough.
Then again, he's isn't going to crowned a world champion in a day, it's all about learning for the inexperienced Frenchman.
Then again, he's isn't going to crowned a world champion in a day, it's all about learning for the inexperienced Frenchman.
Lefebvre completes in 8m25.9s, that's 20.5s off Ogier.
Next up Bouffier, Bertelli followed by Camilli - who depending on how hard he's pushed on this one - could end up moving upwards from eighth overall.
Next up Bouffier, Bertelli followed by Camilli - who depending on how hard he's pushed on this one - could end up moving upwards from eighth overall.
Tanak has completed and lost over a minute with his off. That means he will likely drop out of the top 10. Elfyn Evans could well end up in the top 10 or very close after this stage, in his WRC2 Fiesta!
We'll have a gap now while we wait for Bouffier. Tanak should have been between but he's stopped in the stage.
Reports are Tanak is moving again. We'll wait to see where he slots in.
Reports are Tanak is moving again. We'll wait to see where he slots in.
Stopwatch
Sordo can only manage fifth quickest so far. He's 13.1s down on Ogier.
The first stage of this afternoon is minutes away. It's a re-run of SS3, and here's rallies editor DAVID EVANS to tell you about it.
Starting out of the village of Corps, this stage climbs to a peak of 1218m just over three miles in. It then descends steadily to the finish alongside the N85, just south of La Mure. Pirelli’s legendary tyre engineer Terenzio Testoni was in this stage at 0610 this morning to bring Autosport these details of conditions…
"The temperatures was between -4 and -6 with black ice between kilometres six and seven. At 8.9km there’s more ice going into the village. From nine kilometres to the finish, it’s full dry."
Testoni recommended Pirelli’s supersoft winter tyre with no studs.
Starting out of the village of Corps, this stage climbs to a peak of 1218m just over three miles in. It then descends steadily to the finish alongside the N85, just south of La Mure. Pirelli’s legendary tyre engineer Terenzio Testoni was in this stage at 0610 this morning to bring Autosport these details of conditions…
"The temperatures was between -4 and -6 with black ice between kilometres six and seven. At 8.9km there’s more ice going into the village. From nine kilometres to the finish, it’s full dry."
Testoni recommended Pirelli’s supersoft winter tyre with no studs.
Hello and welcome to Autosport Live's afternoon coverage of the Monte Carlo Rally. We're in for an interesting loop.
Just as it seemed Kris Meeke was gaining some momentum, Sebastien Ogier put in a rapid SS5 time to take a 1.5s lead:
Just as it seemed Kris Meeke was gaining some momentum, Sebastien Ogier put in a rapid SS5 time to take a 1.5s lead:
We'll be back in action around 2pm UK time for Friday's next three stages and the continuation of the Ogier/Meeke fight.
Here's the full report from the morning action, with results to follow soon: 
As much as Evans performance is absolutely brilliant in WRC2, so is that of the second-placed man Quentin Gilbert.
The Frenchman won JWRC last year, and his prize is a 2016 drive in a supported Citroen DS 3 R5. In his first proper rally in a four-wheel-drive car, he's adrift of Evans but ahead of the likes of Tour de Corse WRC2 winner Julien Maurin and tarmac specialist Armin Kremer.
The Frenchman won JWRC last year, and his prize is a 2016 drive in a supported Citroen DS 3 R5. In his first proper rally in a four-wheel-drive car, he's adrift of Evans but ahead of the likes of Tour de Corse WRC2 winner Julien Maurin and tarmac specialist Armin Kremer.
Checkered flag
And the overall order after SS5:
1 Ogier 57m06.7s
2 Meeke +1.5s
3 Mikkelsen +37.8s
4 Latvala +53.5s
5 Neuville +56.9s
6 Ostberg +1m11.6s
7 Sordo +1m42.4
8 Camilli +1m46s
9 Lefebvre +1m48s
10 Tanak +2m01.7s
1 Ogier 57m06.7s
2 Meeke +1.5s
3 Mikkelsen +37.8s
4 Latvala +53.5s
5 Neuville +56.9s
6 Ostberg +1m11.6s
7 Sordo +1m42.4
8 Camilli +1m46s
9 Lefebvre +1m48s
10 Tanak +2m01.7s
Checkered flag
Let's give you some times. SS5:
1 Ogier 9m23.6s
2 Latvala +3.3s
3 Meeke +8.2s
4 Mikkelsen +8.2s
5 Neuville +12s
6 Ostberg +14.1s
7 Camilli +14.5s
8 Lefebvre +16.4s
9 Tanak +19s
10 Sordo +21.1s
1 Ogier 9m23.6s
2 Latvala +3.3s
3 Meeke +8.2s
4 Mikkelsen +8.2s
5 Neuville +12s
6 Ostberg +14.1s
7 Camilli +14.5s
8 Lefebvre +16.4s
9 Tanak +19s
10 Sordo +21.1s
Information
What a job by Elfyn Evans! We told you he had taken the lead on SS4, well SS5 the Welshman pulls out an overall advantage of 35.5s. The Dolgellau man is absolutely on the edge and performing brilliantly.
Stopwatch
Camilli slots in a respectable seventh on this test, that leaves him eighth overall and just over three seconds behind the struggling Dani Sordo.
Betelli arrives and he's last so far, way off the pace. Bring us Camilli's time!
Bouffier is in now and 10th quickest. Only Bertelli separates us from Camilli's latest time, will it be a giant killer?
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is in and he's seventh on this stage, 16.4s down on Ogier.
No splits in for Camilli.
No splits in for Camilli.
Stopwatch
A full WRC2 update to come at the end of this stage, but Evans has erased the margin and took the lead on SS4. He was over a minute behind after SS1...
By: Matt Beer
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