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Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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Green flag
And just like that, we're back underway. Ogier is into the stage.
Delecour watch: Over the weekend we'll definitely be keeping an eye on one of the better asphalt drivers of his generation. Francois Delecour is driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 this weekend.
It's a shame to see the former winner not in an up-to-date car, but it will make for an interesting weekend both for him and those watching.
He was 20th overall on the first run, a brilliant time for the older-spec car. #DelecourWatch.
It's a shame to see the former winner not in an up-to-date car, but it will make for an interesting weekend both for him and those watching.
He was 20th overall on the first run, a brilliant time for the older-spec car. #DelecourWatch.
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Just over 10 minutes to go until SS2 goes live. Here's rallies editor DAVID EVANS to talk you through it.
"If there’s going to be any snow tonight, it’s going to come in this one – and most likely nearest to the finish. The stage climbs from 838 metres at the start to the Col de la Bournee at 1459 before short downhill stretch to the finish. Over the col, there’s likely to be a lot of ice, making the hairpins even more interesting than usual."
David has spotted some excellent things while in Monte Carlo. One in particular to follow...
"If there’s going to be any snow tonight, it’s going to come in this one – and most likely nearest to the finish. The stage climbs from 838 metres at the start to the Col de la Bournee at 1459 before short downhill stretch to the finish. Over the col, there’s likely to be a lot of ice, making the hairpins even more interesting than usual."
David has spotted some excellent things while in Monte Carlo. One in particular to follow...
Evans suffered a puncture on the previous test, so he’ll be eager to pull back the 1m17.8s lost to Julien Maurin.
Maurin won the WRC2 category on the Tour de Corse last year and is a French Tarmac champion, so isn’t to be taken lightly as a threat.
Elsewehere in WRC2 Quentin Gilbert has made an excellent start in his first season in an R5, a prize for winning last year’s Junior World Rally Championship.
Teemu Suninen will also be pleased with his sixth place as the Finn is more at home on gravel. He won WRC2 on Wales Rally GB last year.
Maurin won the WRC2 category on the Tour de Corse last year and is a French Tarmac champion, so isn’t to be taken lightly as a threat.
Elsewehere in WRC2 Quentin Gilbert has made an excellent start in his first season in an R5, a prize for winning last year’s Junior World Rally Championship.
Teemu Suninen will also be pleased with his sixth place as the Finn is more at home on gravel. He won WRC2 on Wales Rally GB last year.
Right, time to catchup on WRC2. Here's the order after SS1.
1 Maurin 13m27.9s
2 Kremer +3.6s
3 Gilbert +9.4s
4 Giordano +23.3s
5 Suarez +29.1s
6 Suninen +39.4s
9 Evans +1m17.8s
1 Maurin 13m27.9s
2 Kremer +3.6s
3 Gilbert +9.4s
4 Giordano +23.3s
5 Suarez +29.1s
6 Suninen +39.4s
9 Evans +1m17.8s
It’s like Wales Rally GB all over again, Ogier plowed through the first stage in the lead but Kris Meeke has him in his crosshairs. Can he realistically take the challenge to Ogier in his back yard? We’re going to find out, and this stage should be a brilliant marker.
Meeke claims he lost eight seconds with a spin on SS1, which would put him around 4s up on Ogier on that first test.
Game on.
Meeke claims he lost eight seconds with a spin on SS1, which would put him around 4s up on Ogier on that first test.
Game on.
Here’s the order after SS1.
1 Ogier 12m21.9s
2 Meeke +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.4s
4 Latvala +11.2
5 Neuville +11.7s
6 Ostberg +18.1s
7 Paddon +21.8s
8 Kubica +22s
9 Tanak +23.6s
10 Lefebvre +25.9s
1 Ogier 12m21.9s
2 Meeke +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.4s
4 Latvala +11.2
5 Neuville +11.7s
6 Ostberg +18.1s
7 Paddon +21.8s
8 Kubica +22s
9 Tanak +23.6s
10 Lefebvre +25.9s
Welcome back to an already intriguing Monte Carlo Rally!
We'll be back for the second stage at 2100hrs.
See you then.
See you then.
Evans is 2m23.8s down and that's well behind the WRC2 frontrunners.
He's had an issue there.
It's a puncture for Evans.
He's had an issue there.
It's a puncture for Evans.
Speaking of Evans, he'll be the next driver in and we have no split times for him so far.
He's driving a works M-Sport Fiesta R5 Evo, upgraded from last year's car.
He's driving a works M-Sport Fiesta R5 Evo, upgraded from last year's car.
Checkered flag
So unless Evans challenges the top 10 in his R5, here's the top 10 from the stage:
1 Ogier 12m21.9s
2 Meeke +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.4s
4 Latvala +11.2
5 Neuville +11.7s
6 Ostberg +18.1s
7 Paddon +21.8s
8 Kubica +22s
9 Tanak +23.6s
10 Lefebvre +25.9s
1 Ogier 12m21.9s
2 Meeke +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.4s
4 Latvala +11.2
5 Neuville +11.7s
6 Ostberg +18.1s
7 Paddon +21.8s
8 Kubica +22s
9 Tanak +23.6s
10 Lefebvre +25.9s
Stopwatch
And here's Camilli, a time we've been waiting for.
It's 12m49.1s, 27.2s down on Ogier and 12th overall.
He's around 9s adrift of Ostberg, which isn't bad for a first competitive stage in a World Rally Car.
"It was quite hard," the Frenchman adds.
It's 12m49.1s, 27.2s down on Ogier and 12th overall.
He's around 9s adrift of Ostberg, which isn't bad for a first competitive stage in a World Rally Car.
"It was quite hard," the Frenchman adds.
Stopwatch
Bertelli is in and over a minute down on Ogier on the first stage of the rally. His time is 13m24.8s.
We're keeping a close eye on Elfyn Evans' return to WRC2 this weekend.
As if the timing Gods were expecting as much, his first split time hasn't arrived. Likely a timing glitch.
As if the timing Gods were expecting as much, his first split time hasn't arrived. Likely a timing glitch.
Stopwatch
Bouffier finishes the stage and is 49.5s down on Ogier. That's unusual for a driver so good on the Monte. He's a past winner after all.
Stopwatch
Next up: Bouffier, Bertelli, Camill.
Camilli is a driver many will be watching this weekend. He's 6.4s down on Ogier at the first split, which compares to Ostberg who was 5.3s down at the same point.
Camilli is a driver many will be watching this weekend. He's 6.4s down on Ogier at the first split, which compares to Ostberg who was 5.3s down at the same point.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is in. His first split time was just under 3s slower than Ogier - which would be enough to place him around fifth at that point. But at the end of the stage he's 25.9s down overall.
He's hit a rock and has a puncture is the report at the stage end.
He's hit a rock and has a puncture is the report at the stage end.
Quote
"It was OK, no big drama," says Kubica. The Polish driver seems happy with the time,
Stopwatch
Tanak is reporting that snow has been pulled onto the stage in the second half of the test, which could explain some of the calls of lack of grip. Tanak drops in ninth so far.
Kubica has just clocked in and goes eighth on the stage, 22s down.
Kubica has just clocked in and goes eighth on the stage, 22s down.
Quote
Paddon is also in now - but he's still in the 2015-spec Hyundai. He's quicker than Sordo, but 21.8s down on Ogier.
"We were trying to feel our way into the stage," says Paddon. "Every seven or eight corners the grip just disappears."
"We were trying to feel our way into the stage," says Paddon. "Every seven or eight corners the grip just disappears."
Quote
Sordo reported no particular problems in the stage, which is baffling considering the Spaniards prowess on asphalt.
Stopwatch
Wow, Sordo is 26.4s down on Ogier's time at the end of the stage. He's also in the new i20.
Stopwatch
Neuville is through in the first competitive stage for the new Hyundai i20. He's 11.7s down.
"For the first stage with the car, that's OK," he says.
"For the first stage with the car, that's OK," he says.
Quote
Massive encouragement for Meeke and Meeke fans. He was 4.1s down on Ogier, but here's why.
"I caught a lip and had to do a 360 near the start of the stage, we lost seven or eight seconds at a hairpin."
Definitely game on!
"I caught a lip and had to do a 360 near the start of the stage, we lost seven or eight seconds at a hairpin."
Definitely game on!
Stopwatch
Of course, commentator's curse strikes!
Meeke goes second on the stage and ahead of Mikkelsen and Latvala!
He's just 4.1s down on Ogier. Game on?
Meeke goes second on the stage and ahead of Mikkelsen and Latvala!
He's just 4.1s down on Ogier. Game on?
Ostberg finishes his first stage in the latest spec Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He's 18.1s down on Ogier.
Meeke's second split looks a little more encouraging but he won't be challenging the VWs on this test.
Meeke's second split looks a little more encouraging but he won't be challenging the VWs on this test.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen next, he's 9.4s down on Ogier. He also doesn't sound too downbeat which tells us that Ogier has put in a fantastic effort there. The team-mates may well be in awe...
Further back in the stage, Sordo and Neuville are both around 2s down on Ogier's benchmark at that point.
Further back in the stage, Sordo and Neuville are both around 2s down on Ogier's benchmark at that point.
Stopwatch
Latvala also hits the end of the stage now, 11.2s down overall. He doesn't seem too downbeat.
"Seb has been driving very well, I have to say i didn't take any risks."
The difference may could have come from a cautious tyre choice to Ogier.
"Seb has been driving very well, I have to say i didn't take any risks."
The difference may could have come from a cautious tyre choice to Ogier.
Ostberg is through the first split, 11.3s down on Ogier.
Meeke will be the next car through the third split.
Meeke will be the next car through the third split.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is quicker through the the second split than Latvala, so it looks like those two will fight for second.
Ogier completes in 12m21.9s. He says it took it very cautiously. Of course, Seb! If that's cautious then everybody else may as well pack up and go home! He's on four super soft Michelins.
Ogier completes in 12m21.9s. He says it took it very cautiously. Of course, Seb! If that's cautious then everybody else may as well pack up and go home! He's on four super soft Michelins.
Stopwatch
We definitely should have had Mikkelsen's first split time by now, but perhaps there is a glitch with the timing systems.
Just as we say that, the next first split time we have after Latvala is Meeke, who is already down by 4.7s. Not a great start for the Dungannon man.
Just as we say that, the next first split time we have after Latvala is Meeke, who is already down by 4.7s. Not a great start for the Dungannon man.
Stopwatch
At the second split, Latvala is 4.4s down on Ogier. Through a relatively dry stage, that's quite a hefty chunk of time.
Ogier's second split comes in 7m33.4s, with Latvala up next.
Meeke is now also into the stage, but we're still waiting for Mikkelsen's first split time.
With Ostberg into the stage, the rest of the order is as follows:
Meeke
Neuville
Sordo
Paddon
Tanak
Kubica
Lefebvre
Bouffier
Bertelli
Camilli
Meeke
Neuville
Sordo
Paddon
Tanak
Kubica
Lefebvre
Bouffier
Bertelli
Camilli
Ostberg - now at M-Sport - is the fourth car into the test and he's go too.
Here we go, Latvala's first split is in. He's 0.8s down on Ogier, not too much of a deficit for the Finn so far. Mikkelsen is the third car into the stage.
First split is in for Ogier, a 3m06.7s. We can't give you any benchmark until Jari-Matti hits the same split point.
By: Matt Beer
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