Monte Carlo Rally 2016
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...and 2011 winner Bryan Bouffier...
And that's the sort of thing that has happened a lot in Monte Carlo history, as 1997 winner Piero Liatti...
The key thing to watch this afternoon is going to be tyre choices. Earlier today Mikkelsen outpaced his rivals by a mammoth 43s by being the only one to properly prepare for SS10's snowy section. He was too far back overall for that to make much difference, but if someone in one of the closer battles or the lead fight manages that sort of leap, things could change dramatically.
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First up is a re-run of the Lardier et Valenca - Faye stage, a 32-mile beast. Here's British co-driver Seb Marshall's guide to it:
This stage is identical to the last couple of years, but it is running earlier in the morning which might have an impact if the sun hasn’t melted as much of the ice. The first part of the stage is quite twisty and technical coming up and over the col. It gets faster and faster. It’s a bit of a beast this one, it took Kevin [Abbring] and I an hour to recce it. Having said that, it’s reasonably straightforward stage for the Monte. Did I just say that? I’ll say that tentatively…
This stage is identical to the last couple of years, but it is running earlier in the morning which might have an impact if the sun hasn’t melted as much of the ice. The first part of the stage is quite twisty and technical coming up and over the col. It gets faster and faster. It’s a bit of a beast this one, it took Kevin [Abbring] and I an hour to recce it. Having said that, it’s reasonably straightforward stage for the Monte. Did I just say that? I’ll say that tentatively…
Welcome back to Autosport Race Centre Live - three more Monte Carlo Rally stages ahead, mixed weather, some classic routes, and a lead battle that's not quite settled yet.
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That's the end of a spectacular morning of Monte action. Make sure you rejoin us for the afternoon loop just before 1100hrs.
In the meantime here's our comprehensive report from the morning:
In the meantime here's our comprehensive report from the morning:
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To cleanup a few bits and pieces in that brilliant end to the stage:
- Bouffier has jumped Tanak for eighth overall
- Lefebvre has a 20s penalty (we'll confirm details when we receive them)
- Evans retakes WRC2 lead after a puncture on the previous stage
- Bouffier has jumped Tanak for eighth overall
- Lefebvre has a 20s penalty (we'll confirm details when we receive them)
- Evans retakes WRC2 lead after a puncture on the previous stage
Checkered flag
And the rally overall:
1 Ogier 2h12m39.1s
2 Meeke +30.2s
3 Latvala +1m43.5s
4 Mikkelsen +2m03.4s
5 Neuville +2m35.1s
6 Ostberg +4m
7 Lefebvre +6m22.4s
8 Bouffier +6m47.1s
9 Tanak +8m24.8s
10 Sordo +10m08.1s
1 Ogier 2h12m39.1s
2 Meeke +30.2s
3 Latvala +1m43.5s
4 Mikkelsen +2m03.4s
5 Neuville +2m35.1s
6 Ostberg +4m
7 Lefebvre +6m22.4s
8 Bouffier +6m47.1s
9 Tanak +8m24.8s
10 Sordo +10m08.1s
Checkered flag
Shall we try and do a run down of the stage? At this rate the two-wheel-drive cars will be challenging for the stage win! SS10:
1 Mikkelsen 12m01.3s
2 Ogier +43.9s
3 Latvala +48s
4 Meeke +54s
5 Neuville +54.2s
6 Suarez (WRC2) +54.7s
7 Evans (WRC2) +1m11s
8 Ostberg +1m11.5s
9 Sordo +1m16.7s
10 Ptaszek (WRC2) +1m25.5s
1 Mikkelsen 12m01.3s
2 Ogier +43.9s
3 Latvala +48s
4 Meeke +54s
5 Neuville +54.2s
6 Suarez (WRC2) +54.7s
7 Evans (WRC2) +1m11s
8 Ostberg +1m11.5s
9 Sordo +1m16.7s
10 Ptaszek (WRC2) +1m25.5s
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SUAREZ GOES SIXTH QUICKEST OVERALL AND AHEAD OF EVANS!
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WRC2 runner Suarez could challenge the top 10 on times too. This is brilliant.
Kremer has come in with a slowest time overall so far.
Evans was 40+s quicker than Kremer and retakes the WRC2 lead.
Evans was 40+s quicker than Kremer and retakes the WRC2 lead.
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Evans explains:
"It was good, I was just very neat and carried speed where I thought I could."
"It was good, I was just very neat and carried speed where I thought I could."
Elfyn Evans in an R5 Fiesta really has gone sixth quickest, that's not a timing glitch.
More R5s to trouble the top 10 to come.
More R5s to trouble the top 10 to come.
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EVANS GOES SIXTH FASTEST OVERALL ON THIS STAGE!
We've got some incredible WRC2 times coming up, we could see three or four R5s in the top 10 stage times here.
Lefebvre arrives next, 1m43.8s down on Mikkelsen. He's seventh overall.
Reports from the stage, Bouffier has stopped, and Lefebvre reports a spin at stage end.
Reports from the stage, Bouffier has stopped, and Lefebvre reports a spin at stage end.
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Sordo is the next driver after his team-mate Neuville. He;s 1m16.7s down on Mikkelsen.
Tanak follows and he's slower, 1m56.6s. By all accounts he must have had an issue.
Tanak follows and he's slower, 1m56.6s. By all accounts he must have had an issue.
Neuville is in and 54.2s down on Mikkelsen in the stage.
That also means that Mikkelsen retakes fourth from the Hyundai, which he lost on the previous stage.
That also means that Mikkelsen retakes fourth from the Hyundai, which he lost on the previous stage.
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Meeke has a bit of damage.
"Incredibly difficult stage," he says. A bit quite at the end of the stage and that may well be that - providing Ogier doesn't slip up - that's the end of the lead battle. Only time will tell.
"Incredibly difficult stage," he says. A bit quite at the end of the stage and that may well be that - providing Ogier doesn't slip up - that's the end of the lead battle. Only time will tell.
Meeke is in. 54s down on Mikkelsen and the overall gap to Ogier is up to 30.2s. That's another 10s he lost in that stage.
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"Quite scary that stage," says Ostberg. "A little but terrifying!"
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Ostberg is in, 1m11.5s down on Mikkelsen. Meeke is up next.
That is outrageous. Mikkelsen was only 2s up on Ogier at the split point, makes up over 40s in the downhill section.
Overall though, he hasn't made all the time back.
Overall though, he hasn't made all the time back.
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Mikkelsen arrives at the stage end.
"Of course we had the best tyre choice on this one but also I pushed very hard down hill," explains Mikkelsen.
Sounds like the Norwegian really went for it!
"Overall in the loop I don't know if it was a great choice," he adds.
"Of course we had the best tyre choice on this one but also I pushed very hard down hill," explains Mikkelsen.
Sounds like the Norwegian really went for it!
"Overall in the loop I don't know if it was a great choice," he adds.
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Latvala talks about how difficult that stage was, as did Ogier before him. Neither driver able to find a rhythm.
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Latvala completes 4.1s down on Ogier.
BUT MIKKELSEN TAKES 43.9s OUT OF OGIER TO GO QUICKEST!
BUT MIKKELSEN TAKES 43.9s OUT OF OGIER TO GO QUICKEST!
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Not looking good for Meeke, the gap grew to over 20s on the last test and he's already 9.3s down on Ogier on this stage.
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Meeke is 9.3s down on Ogier in the first split alone!
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Ogier is in, 12m45.2s. Now we wait to hear from the Frenchman, just how treacherous is the stage?
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Meanwhile Ostberg is 14.1s down on Ogier in the first split.
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And here we go, It's heating up in the snow! Mikkelsen has taken 2s in the first split out of Ogier.
Despite a timing glitch, Mads Ostberg IS in the stage.
By: Matt Beer
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