Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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Obviously that's a picture of things not going so well for Suarez yesterday. Or driving through that banner is the quickest route.
So quick on this stage he's earned a picture - it's Jose Suarez
That's sixth overall, not in WRC2.
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Another super-rapid time from WRC2 runner Jose Suarez. Just as he did this morning, he goes sixth fastest on this stage.
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It wasn't that s*** Armin, Gilbert hasn't caught you and is gesturing at his gearshift as if there's a problem. Still Evans leading Kremer in WRC2, but by a massive two minutes now.
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WRC2 second place man Kremer declares his stage "maximum shit" due to a puncture. Gilbert may leap from fourth to second here.
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Bonato was the only driver anywhere near Evans's WRC2 pace this afternoon and was third in class, but he's just stopped on the stage.
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Evans is safely in and faster than his WRC2 rivals on the splits once more. He's now 10th overall too.
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"We got the tyre choice wrong for the loop but it was right for this stage. Overall when you calculate everything we lost way too much time. It'll all help when we come back next year," is Paddon's report.
Let's correct ourselves - it's a 1-2-3 for Hyundai but only a 1-3 for the new version. Paddon still has last year's car.
Bouffier reveals he lost time on that stage too after stalling at a hairpin.
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And here's Paddon, he's second quickest to team-mate Neuville. That won't make a huge difference to his overall position with such a heavy load of Rally2 penalties, but it makes it a 1-2-3 on the stage for the new Hyundai.
Bouffier doesn't quite leap Lefebvre but he does close the gap down to just 4.2s. They're now sixth and seventh overall.
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Lefebvre admits he spun on that "very difficult" stage and reckons he lost 20s with it. "Incredible conditions," he says. 'Incredible' in a 'wow that was hard' way not a 'that was great' way.
Lefebvre is in and has lost nearly a minute and a half to Neuville. Camera crews reported he'd been off the road, and he may well lose sixth to Bouffier here.
Very slow time from Tanak, he's 1m38s off Neuville's stage pace.
"It was a big push, maximum attack. We got as fast as we can, that's how it is," he says.
That suggests the DMACKs aren't faring the finest in this weather. His margin over Sordo is down to 42s in the battle for eighth.
"It was a big push, maximum attack. We got as fast as we can, that's how it is," he says.
That suggests the DMACKs aren't faring the finest in this weather. His margin over Sordo is down to 42s in the battle for eighth.
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It's a Hyundai one-two-three at the first split as Rally2 runner Paddon pops in just a touch slower than his team-mates.
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Sordo's verdict: "We had good tyres for this stage, but the time was good." He says the new Hyundai is "getting better and better".
Latvala's VW is on its way back to the service park. Game over in his case. And a high chance he'll be starting another season immediately 25 points behind Ogier...
Second fastest time for Sordo - 15s off team-mate Neuville but a similar amount ahead of Ostberg and Mikkelsen.
Sordo's in a distant ninth place overall after this morning's incident, though.
Sordo's in a distant ninth place overall after this morning's incident, though.
That performance has halved Neuville's gap to Mikkelsen in third. He's now 30s behind. Game on? Game on ish?
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"Obviously the tyre choice wasn't so bad," says Neuville. "We can be pleased with that. The car is working nicely on snow tyres, the balance is good.
"If we get the balance right on the slick tyres, it's a really fast car."
"If we get the balance right on the slick tyres, it's a really fast car."
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Neuville is in and he's fastest by 31s over Ostberg, which is 46s better than Ogier. Massive time from the Hyundai.
Neuville had some stud-less winter tyres as well as the fully studded version. That might've helped in slush...
Neuville had some stud-less winter tyres as well as the fully studded version. That might've helped in slush...
There were reports from camera crews that Meeke had been off the road. He jumps back in after completing his inspection of the car, doesn't speak to the stage-end media and heads straight off.
The time wasn't bad, it looks visually OK, so there's no huge cause for concern but Meeke was not at all relaxed there.
The time wasn't bad, it looks visually OK, so there's no huge cause for concern but Meeke was not at all relaxed there.
Meeke seems unhappy and is getting out to inspect his Citroen.
If you're just joining us, we're missing Latvala. The erstwhile third-place man hoped he'd managed to successfully repair the damage from his incident on the last stage, but he's had to stop on the road section.
Meeke is through, he's lost 2.3s to Ogier so he's still within half a minute of the leader.
Meeke's tyre choice was biased towards dry conditions, whereas the Hyundais following him on the road - and setting the pace on the splits - joined Mikkelsen and Ostberg in picking a winter selection.
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Ostberg has a mix of studded tyres and super-softs like Mikkelsen, and he's delighted with his time. He'll now be fifth overall with Latvala gone.
"It never feels good in Monte but it feels good to have a good time. It felt strange in places but we have a good rhythm now after changing things in service."
"It never feels good in Monte but it feels good to have a good time. It felt strange in places but we have a good rhythm now after changing things in service."
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Quickest time yet comes from Ostberg - he comes in 15s faster than Ogier and 3s better than Mikkelsen. That's the first proper hint of pace from an M-Sport Ford this weekend, but it looks like the Hyundais will beat it.
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Here's Mikkelsen: "It was so tricky on the downhill now. It's slush now. If anything it's more tricky than full snow because you have the grip then suddenly you lose it then get it back again. The car's at so many angles. Wow, that was difficult."
Sordo - also with some studded tyres - is quick at split one too, but 6s off team-mate Neuville's benchmark pace.
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Mikkelsen did gain a fair bit at the end, he completes the stage 12s faster than Ogier.
TV crews on the stage report Meeke has been off the stage but was swiftly back on.
Neuville is currently fourth overall, with a big gap to Mikkelsen ahead.
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Fastest at split one - by a massive 9s - is Neuville, who has some stud-less winter tyres among the wide array of options he left service with.
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By: Matt Beer
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