Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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That split had suggested Mikkelsen would quickly put this battle to bed, but instead it's still very much alive, as this morning's middle stage is a fair bit longer.
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Mikkelsen has lost time at the end of the stage! He actually drops nine tenths to Neuville so the gap is down to 11.6s.
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"For sure we want to secure the podium," says Neuville, in a hint that he's not willing to bin third trying to get second.
He adds that he had to work quite hard on the car on the road section to resolve a problem. "Something touching," is his explanation. Typical new car minor glitch?
He adds that he had to work quite hard on the car on the road section to resolve a problem. "Something touching," is his explanation. Typical new car minor glitch?
Neuville comes in second fastest, nine tenths behind Sordo's pace. But it's what he does relative to Mikkelsen that matters.
Dominant overall leader Sebastien Ogier and dominant WRC2 leader Elfyn Evans are also onto the stage.
We're a bit short of cars now aren't we?
We're a bit short of cars now aren't we?
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is on it - he's fastest at the split and is adding 2.8s to his advantage over Neuville so far.
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Neuville's first split has him second quickest, eight tenths off team-mate Sordo's benchmark.
On yesterday's last two stages, Neuville tore the gap to Mikkelsen down from 1m04s to 12.5s as he set the pace both times.
You'd therefore think the Hyundai might make light work of the VW this morning, but on straightforward dry asphalt the i20 hasn't been as quick. That burst of pace from Neuville came with snow, ice and winter tyres. Today's conditions seem to favour Mikkelsen, but let's see.
You'd therefore think the Hyundai might make light work of the VW this morning, but on straightforward dry asphalt the i20 hasn't been as quick. That burst of pace from Neuville came with snow, ice and winter tyres. Today's conditions seem to favour Mikkelsen, but let's see.
But then we've got the big focus of the morning: Mikkelsen versus Neuville.
Next through will be Lefebvre then Mads Ostberg. They have big gaps around them in fifth and fourth places and really just need to keep it steady.
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Tanak comes in 18.1s slower than Sordo, he has indeed dropped back to seventh overall.
David Evans
SS14 Col de l'Orme - St Laurent
The first of the stages on the southern Alps takes crews over the famous Col de Braus, which is dealt with after a couple of miles. From then on, it's steep downhill for the remaining five miles. This stage is expected to be completely dry, with a temperature of four degrees on the col.
The first of the stages on the southern Alps takes crews over the famous Col de Braus, which is dealt with after a couple of miles. From then on, it's steep downhill for the remaining five miles. This stage is expected to be completely dry, with a temperature of four degrees on the col.
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"I'll try to catch Tanak," says Sordo - you have, Dani, you can chill - "but the most important thing is to improve the car and my confidence."
The new Hyundai has had an odd debut so far, with Sordo pretty unhappy for much of the week, but its pace at the end of Saturday was blistering - two straight stage wins and a one-two on the last one.
The new Hyundai has had an odd debut so far, with Sordo pretty unhappy for much of the week, but its pace at the end of Saturday was blistering - two straight stage wins and a one-two on the last one.
Looks like it won't take long for Sordo to claim that sixth place, he's just finished the stage and the splits suggest he's already taken the spot from Tanak and the DMACK-shod Ford.
So that means Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo are now battling for sixth, and Stephane Lefebvre is pretty comfy in fifth.
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Bit of news from last night: as expected, Bryan Bouffier's suspension damage was too severe for him to get back to service. He had to retire from sixth place.
First on the road this morning is Hayden Paddon, running under Rally2. As usual for the last day of the rally, the field is coming through in reverse order, so we're going to build up to the battle for second between Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen.
Apologies for the slightly late start, but we were just dealing with this big breaking news story: 
Good morning and welcome back to Autosport Race Centre Live for the final morning of the Monte Carlo Rally.
We'll be back from 8am tomorrow for the three stages that will decide the 2016 Monte Carlo Rally.
It's all looking easy for Ogier, but Mikkelsen versus Neuville for second looks like it will go to the wire. See you then.
It's all looking easy for Ogier, but Mikkelsen versus Neuville for second looks like it will go to the wire. See you then.
Here's the full round-up of the incident-packed afternoon: 
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And in reply to Mikkelsen's "friendly match?" Twitter tease, here's Neuville:
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SS13 summary:
* Neuville quickest again and gets the gap to second-placed Mikkelsen down to just 12.5s
* Sordo second fastest and now within 2s of Tanak for seventh
* Bouffier damages suspension and falls away from fifth-placed Lefebvre. Will he make it to service?
* Ogier takes it very easy in the lead and admits he's missing Meeke
* Neuville quickest again and gets the gap to second-placed Mikkelsen down to just 12.5s
* Sordo second fastest and now within 2s of Tanak for seventh
* Bouffier damages suspension and falls away from fifth-placed Lefebvre. Will he make it to service?
* Ogier takes it very easy in the lead and admits he's missing Meeke
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Stopwatch
SS13 results:
Stage times:
1 Neuville 22m55.4s
2 Sordo +5.2s
3 Mikkelsen +17.6s
4 Lefebvre +21.5s
5 Paddon +25.8s
6 Ostberg +31.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen +1m59.7s
3 Neuville +2m12.2s
4 Ostberg +4m25.9s
5 Lefebvre +7m29.4s
6 Bouffier +9m12.9s
7 Tanak +10m42.3s
8 Sordo +10m44.5s
9 Evans +17m14.5s
10 Kremer +19m26.4s
Stage times:
1 Neuville 22m55.4s
2 Sordo +5.2s
3 Mikkelsen +17.6s
4 Lefebvre +21.5s
5 Paddon +25.8s
6 Ostberg +31.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen +1m59.7s
3 Neuville +2m12.2s
4 Ostberg +4m25.9s
5 Lefebvre +7m29.4s
6 Bouffier +9m12.9s
7 Tanak +10m42.3s
8 Sordo +10m44.5s
9 Evans +17m14.5s
10 Kremer +19m26.4s
In WRC2, Elfyn Evans is only third fastest on the stage behind Quentin Gilbert and Jose Suarez but his big lead and ninth place overall are very safe still.
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Bouffier remains sixth overall ahead of the battling Tanak and Sordo, but the chances of him getting that car all the way along the road section back to Monte Carlo appear slim.
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"in a long right I went too wide and started to go in a ditch and maybe there was a big stone," Bouffier explains.
Crash
Bouffier is in trouble - he loses over a minute at the end of the stage and arrives at the finish with severe left rear damage to his Ford.
Sordo doesn't quite take Tanak, but he's now just 2.2s behind overall.
Sordo comes in second fastest to team-mate Neuville. He'll be very close to passing Tanak for seventh with that time.
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Let's see what Neuville has to say about that superb performance:
"I enjoyed that so much," he says. "The car was behaving perfectly."
Game thoroughly on. Neuville is now making noises about trying to keep a podium for the team, learning, etc, etc. Go for second, Thierry, go for second!
"I enjoyed that so much," he says. "The car was behaving perfectly."
Game thoroughly on. Neuville is now making noises about trying to keep a podium for the team, learning, etc, etc. Go for second, Thierry, go for second!
It's going to be another Hyundai rout on this stage too, with Sordo 5s off Neuville's pace at the last split and a lot quicker than everyone else.
Stopwatch
Neuville beats Mikkelsen to the fastest time by 17s! The second-to-third gap is down to just 12.5s going into the final morning.
By: Matt Beer
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