Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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Ostberg is closer to Latvala and Mikkelsen than at any point so far, he's only eight tenths down on Latvala at the first split.
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So, it's Ogier and not Meeke who leads into the afternoon. Our morning report is below and re-join us just before 1400hrs for the afternoon loop.
http://http:/http://beta.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122559/ogier-takes-monte-lead-from-meeke">Ogier takes lead from Kris Meeke
http://http:/http://beta.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122559/ogier-takes-monte-lead-from-meeke">Ogier takes lead from Kris Meeke
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Mikkelsen is only marginally quicker than Latvala through the first split, but still quicker than Ogier. He's 3.3s down on his champion French team-mate.
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Latvala is 4.1s down on Ogier in the first split. Not great for the Finn who is already adrift of his team-mates.
And here it is, Ogier hits the first split (not literally) in 2m44.1s. Next up will be team-mates Latvala and Mikkelsen.
Latvala has also joined our stage and the first split from Ogier is imminent.
And just like that, we're off again! Ogier is into the stage, which will be a little more drawn out than the last. We have three splits and just over 13 miles.
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Now, just under five minutes before SS4. So while we have second, why don't we find out about this test with rallies editor DAVID EVANS:
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.
At 0700, the temperature was between -4 and -6 and Testoni said: “There’s ice patches for the first six kilometres, with big caution at three kilometres where there’s a lot of ice in the braking area for the bridge. Big caution. From six to 13km, it’s dry with damp patches. From 13.5-15.5km there are ice patches and snowbanks.
"From there to the finish, it’s generally dry with a few ice patches and dirty cuts in some corners.”
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.
At 0700, the temperature was between -4 and -6 and Testoni said: “There’s ice patches for the first six kilometres, with big caution at three kilometres where there’s a lot of ice in the braking area for the bridge. Big caution. From six to 13km, it’s dry with damp patches. From 13.5-15.5km there are ice patches and snowbanks.
"From there to the finish, it’s generally dry with a few ice patches and dirty cuts in some corners.”
Checkered flag
And here's the rally order overall.
1 Meeke 33m40.5s
2 Ogier +6s
3 Mikkelsen +24.2s
4 Latvala +39.9s
5 Neuville +40.5s
6 Ostberg +47.9s
7 Sordo +1m05.6s
8 Lefebvre +1m05.6s
9 Camilli +1m22.6s
10 Tanak +1m25.9s
1 Meeke 33m40.5s
2 Ogier +6s
3 Mikkelsen +24.2s
4 Latvala +39.9s
5 Neuville +40.5s
6 Ostberg +47.9s
7 Sordo +1m05.6s
8 Lefebvre +1m05.6s
9 Camilli +1m22.6s
10 Tanak +1m25.9s
Checkered flag
Here's the times for SS3:
1 Ogier 8m07.5s
2 Meeke +0.9s
3 Latvala +2.1s
4 Mikkelsen +5.1s
5 Neuville +10s
6 Ostberg +13.5s
7 Sordo +14.4s
8 Camilli +16.8s
9 Lefebvre +17.9s
10 Tanak +21s
1 Ogier 8m07.5s
2 Meeke +0.9s
3 Latvala +2.1s
4 Mikkelsen +5.1s
5 Neuville +10s
6 Ostberg +13.5s
7 Sordo +14.4s
8 Camilli +16.8s
9 Lefebvre +17.9s
10 Tanak +21s
Bertelli drops 48.5s to Ogier, which is a small improvement on yesterday. Next up is Camilli, and he beats Lefebvre on this stage to take eighth on this test. He's now ninth overall.
We'll wait for Bertelli and Camilli to arrive, and then run through the order before firing straight into SS4. Ogier is due to start at 1004hrs.
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Bouffier is the next in, and the ex-Monte winner is 24.9s down on Ogier. He's already 1m45.2s behind Ogier in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
We're going to call it a wrap here at Autosport Live.
Join us agin tomorrow morning at 0900hrs for SS3, and the rest of the weekend's action. In the meantime, here's our comprehensive report from the evening.
Join us agin tomorrow morning at 0900hrs for SS3, and the rest of the weekend's action. In the meantime, here's our comprehensive report from the evening.
With our evening report imminent, how is the WRC2 battle coming along?
Elfyn Evans had a puncture on the first stage and ended up 1m17.8s down on Julien Maurin, Tour de Corse WRC2 winner.
However, he has pulled back some time on SS2. While there are still more cars to come in he's pulled the gap to the leader - which has changed to Quentin Gilbert - to 41.7s as it stands. Evans went 26.7s quicker than Gilbert on the stage alone.
Elfyn Evans had a puncture on the first stage and ended up 1m17.8s down on Julien Maurin, Tour de Corse WRC2 winner.
However, he has pulled back some time on SS2. While there are still more cars to come in he's pulled the gap to the leader - which has changed to Quentin Gilbert - to 41.7s as it stands. Evans went 26.7s quicker than Gilbert on the stage alone.
Checkered flag
And the rally order overall:
1 Meeke 25m32.1s
2 Ogier +6.9s
3 Mikkelsen +20s
4 Neuville +31.4s
5 Paddon +34.9s
6 Ostberg +35.3s
7 Latvala +38.7s
8 Kubica +45.8s
9 Lefebvre +48.6s
10 Sordo +51.8s
1 Meeke 25m32.1s
2 Ogier +6.9s
3 Mikkelsen +20s
4 Neuville +31.4s
5 Paddon +34.9s
6 Ostberg +35.3s
7 Latvala +38.7s
8 Kubica +45.8s
9 Lefebvre +48.6s
10 Sordo +51.8s
Checkered flag
Here's the top 10 for SS2:
1 Meeke 13m06.1s
2 Ogier +11s
3 Mikkelsen +14.7s
4 Paddon +17.2s
5 Ostberg +21.3s
6 Neuville +23.8s
7 Lefebvre +26.8s
8 Kubica +27.9s
9 Sordo +29.5s
10 Latvala +31.6s
1 Meeke 13m06.1s
2 Ogier +11s
3 Mikkelsen +14.7s
4 Paddon +17.2s
5 Ostberg +21.3s
6 Neuville +23.8s
7 Lefebvre +26.8s
8 Kubica +27.9s
9 Sordo +29.5s
10 Latvala +31.6s
Stopwatch
Kubica puzzled as he feels he's down on power in his Fiesta WRc. He ends the stage 27.9s down on Meeke.
Lefebvre is also in 26.8s down on Meeke.
Lefebvre is also in 26.8s down on Meeke.
Tanak is in and slowest so far, ninth on the time sheets.
Paddon got a huge cheer at stage end and rightly so, he's fourth on this stage so far.
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Sordo and Paddon are next in. Paddon - in the 2015-spec car - is just 6.2s down on Meeke. Sordo - in the brand new 2016 i20 - is really struggling, 18.5s down on that stage.
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Neuville is next in while we catch our breath at that brilliant Meeke time. Neuville is 23.8s down on Meeke.
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MEEKE: The Northern Irishman is in and HE'S 11S QUICKER THAN OGIER.
Meeke will almost certainly lead the Monte overnight. You couldn't have written it, a real shock on the cards.
Meeke will almost certainly lead the Monte overnight. You couldn't have written it, a real shock on the cards.
Stopwatch
Ostberg is the next in and drops 10.3s to Ogier, a touch less than the first stage.
Neuville appears to be going well further back.
Neuville appears to be going well further back.
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Mikkelsen is in and 3.7s down on Ogier. Good work from the Norwegian on a rally which perhaps doesn't suit him as well as others.
Next up will be Ostberg, and then Meeke. Just to reiterate, Meeke was quickest through the second split by 8.2s.
Next up will be Ostberg, and then Meeke. Just to reiterate, Meeke was quickest through the second split by 8.2s.
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Latvala hit a bridge or a stone at some point in the stage where he slid on a slippery piece of road. For the panic in his voice, 20s sounds like a win rather than a loss.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Kris Meeke's second split time is 8.2s up on Ogier. That three year deal is working wonders for the PH Sport driver.
Kris Meeke's second split time is 8.2s up on Ogier. That three year deal is working wonders for the PH Sport driver.
Stopwatch
Latvala is in and has magically lost over 20s having been 2.7s down at the last split. A certain issue for the Finn.
Quote
Ogier is pleased with his nights work, but he isn't leading just yet..
"It's tricky those night stages," he says. "This one was fine. the last part is very slippery and icey."
"It's tricky those night stages," he says. "This one was fine. the last part is very slippery and icey."
Stopwatch
Neuville matches the second fastest first split time, so that's encouraging for the new Hyundai i20.
Ogier is through the stage in 13m17.1s.
Ogier is through the stage in 13m17.1s.
Having been down in the first split, Mikkelsen is through the second split, 0.6s up on Ogier. This really is an intriguing stage...
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the answer is yes he can! At the second split Latvala is 2.7s down on Ogier and normality is seemingly restored.
BUT...
Kris Meeke is 2.3s up on Latvala through the first split. The Northern Irishman is on fire.
BUT...
Kris Meeke is 2.3s up on Latvala through the first split. The Northern Irishman is on fire.
Ogier hits the second split in 7m52.8s. Can he claw back that 0.4s lost to Latvala?
Up next through the first split is Ostberg.
He's 1.8s down on Latvala's benchmark, which is closer than he was on the first stage.
He's 1.8s down on Latvala's benchmark, which is closer than he was on the first stage.
The four tenths give, and the four tenths taketh away. Latvala 0.4s up on Ogier, Mikkelsen is 0.4s down at the first split.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Stopwatch
And finally, someone goes quicker than Ogier! Latvala is a titanic 0.4s up on the Frenchman through the first split.
Ogier's first split is in, 2m50.1s is the time. Latvala and Mikkelsen to follow.
Two splits in this stage so hopefully the times aren't too spread out and we can get some quick fire comparisons in.
By: Matt Beer
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