Monte Carlo Rally 2019
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Wow. Tanak completes the stage 11.5s faster than Meeke. What's more, he's the best part of 10s faster than Latvala at the final split.
Nothing to choose between Neuville and Ogier at the first split. The Hunter is a tenth faster than the rally leader.
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"Really nice, exploring the car on this type of road," says Meeke. "Obviously nothing to do on the first three stages, we're in no-man's land, we'll try to conserve the tyres a bit and see what we can do on the powerstage."
Meeke completes and is fastest through now with a time of 11m51.8s. Tanak is flying again though and is more than 7s faster than his team-mate at the final split.
Loeb matches Latvala at the first split, so has also forfeited 1.5s to Tanak so far.
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Suninen says the stage is "completely dry".
Our leaders Neuville and Ogier are also on the stage now.
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As quickly as that we've got cars through at stage end. Tidemand completes in 12m10.7s, while Suninen is 7.8s faster.
"It's more slippy than I expected actually," says Tdiemand. "It's the first time in these conditions in the car, so I'm just feeling it."
"It's more slippy than I expected actually," says Tdiemand. "It's the first time in these conditions in the car, so I'm just feeling it."
Tanak's split one time is 1.5s faster than team-mate Latvala's. The Estonian led the rally after the first two stages, but spent Saturday clawing back ground after a puncture on Friday.
Tanak won all four stages yesterday - what chance of a repeat today?
Tanak won all four stages yesterday - what chance of a repeat today?
So Tanak, Loeb and Latvala - our three podium battlers - are now on the stage.
Stopwatch
Tanak is also on the stage and is fastest of all through the first split, by 1.3s over Meeke.
Tidemand's M-Sport team-mate Teemu Suninen and Meeke are also up and running.
Meeke's hopes of any big points on his first start for Toyota were ended on Friday afternoon when he was hit by a wheel-rim issue, but he's kept plugging away and kept his Yaris on the road. His reward for doing so currently is sixth in the order.
Meeke's hopes of any big points on his first start for Toyota were ended on Friday afternoon when he was hit by a wheel-rim issue, but he's kept plugging away and kept his Yaris on the road. His reward for doing so currently is sixth in the order.
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No stage guidance from Kris Meeke's co-driver Seb Marshall this morning, so we're having to make do with notes from our man on the ground DAVID EVANS.
SS13 La Bollene Vesubie-Peira Cava (11.30 miles)
The one we’ve all been waiting for. New start from last year, but the first section is all about the long climb up to the Col. Not just any Col: the Col de Turini. The uphill section lasts for about 12km and includes a variety of corners, but runs through a fairly barren landscape affording stunning views back down the valley.
Popping out onto the top of the Turini is always a huge treat. The atmosphere will be one of the best of the season and, if there’s not snow on the road before the first car through, there soon will be afterwards once the spectators launch a volley of snowballs.
The downhill section to the finish is short, quite steep and full of peril. There’s bound to be ice waiting…
SS13 La Bollene Vesubie-Peira Cava (11.30 miles)
The one we’ve all been waiting for. New start from last year, but the first section is all about the long climb up to the Col. Not just any Col: the Col de Turini. The uphill section lasts for about 12km and includes a variety of corners, but runs through a fairly barren landscape affording stunning views back down the valley.
Popping out onto the top of the Turini is always a huge treat. The atmosphere will be one of the best of the season and, if there’s not snow on the road before the first car through, there soon will be afterwards once the spectators launch a volley of snowballs.
The downhill section to the finish is short, quite steep and full of peril. There’s bound to be ice waiting…
Green flag
M-Sport driver Pontus Tidemand, who is 24th in the order after a pretty miserable Monte, gets the stage up and running.
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Just before we get going, here's how the cars will set off this morning:
Tidemand
Suninen
Meeke
Tanak
Latvala
Loeb
Neuville
Ogier
Tidemand
Suninen
Meeke
Tanak
Latvala
Loeb
Neuville
Ogier
We're just about ready for the start of this morning's first test, the first pass at the La Bollene Vesubie-Peira Cava.
They're two of just six WRC cars still in points, and three of the remaining four are in contention for the final spot on the podium. That battle is headed up by Sebastien Loeb, making his first start for Hyundai, ahead of Toyota pursuers Jari-Matti Latvala and Ott Tanak.
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As was the case over the course of the 2018 season, too, it's Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville who's Ogier's closest challenger. The pair have been in this formation since Friday afternoon, but the gap's anything close to comfortable. Neuville's current deficit is 4.3s, so it's certainly all still to play for.
There might have been plenty of changes for 2019 - but one thing remains constant, at the front of the field. His name's Sebastien Ogier.
Back in the Citroen fray for the first time since 2011, Ogier has been in fine form all weekend, and starts this final day at the front of the field.
Back in the Citroen fray for the first time since 2011, Ogier has been in fine form all weekend, and starts this final day at the front of the field.
Less than 40 competitive miles stand between the crews and the conclusion of the opening round of the WRC season, but this year's Monte has been an attritional one - so don't be surprised if there are a couple more twists lurking.
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Good morning, and welcome back to Autosport Live for coverage of the final day of the Monte Carlo Rally. Who's ready for a four-stage showdown?
Autosport
Your final dose of WRC today, our end-of-day report on this afternoon's action, is below.
Ogier v Neuville is primed for a grand finale tomorrow and three drivers squabbling over the last podium place. We'll be back at 7am GMT tomorrow for SS13 on Autosport Live. See you then!
Ogier v Neuville is primed for a grand finale tomorrow and three drivers squabbling over the last podium place. We'll be back at 7am GMT tomorrow for SS13 on Autosport Live. See you then!
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That means a potential late change at the bottom end of the top 10 hasn't materialised. Bonato's advantage over Stephane Sarrazin was such that he's still in the same position as he started this stage despite that drama.
More important, though, is that the Ogier vs Neuville battle is still extremely tight. And Tanak is turning the two-way podium battle into a three-way battle. Sunday looks like it'll serve up a feast of entertainment.
Overall classification after SS12 St Leger les Melezes-La Batie Neuve
1. Ogier 2h38m30s
2. Neuville +4.3s
3. Loeb +1m58.7s
4. Latvala +2m01.0s
5. Tanak +2m16.0s
6. Meeke +5m26.8s
7. Greensmith +10m12s
8. Bonato +11m43.4s
9. Sarrazin +12m16s
10. De Mevius +13m07s
More important, though, is that the Ogier vs Neuville battle is still extremely tight. And Tanak is turning the two-way podium battle into a three-way battle. Sunday looks like it'll serve up a feast of entertainment.
Overall classification after SS12 St Leger les Melezes-La Batie Neuve
1. Ogier 2h38m30s
2. Neuville +4.3s
3. Loeb +1m58.7s
4. Latvala +2m01.0s
5. Tanak +2m16.0s
6. Meeke +5m26.8s
7. Greensmith +10m12s
8. Bonato +11m43.4s
9. Sarrazin +12m16s
10. De Mevius +13m07s
Crash
A bit of late drama threatened to shake up the lower end of the top 10. Yoann Bonato, first in (non-pro) WRC2 and second amonst the R5-specification runners, was catching Gus Greensmith quickly. But a delaminated tyre late on in this stage has cost him over a minute.
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Here's the top stage times from today's last test.
SS12 St Leger les Melezes-La Batie Neuve – Stage classification
1. Tanak 9m53.2s
2. Meeke +0.5s
3. Ogier +1.1s
4. Neuville +1.3s
5. Loeb +4.1s
6. Latvala +4.3s
7. Suninen +8.0s
8. Tidemand +25.0s
Overall classification to follow shortly.
SS12 St Leger les Melezes-La Batie Neuve – Stage classification
1. Tanak 9m53.2s
2. Meeke +0.5s
3. Ogier +1.1s
4. Neuville +1.3s
5. Loeb +4.1s
6. Latvala +4.3s
7. Suninen +8.0s
8. Tidemand +25.0s
Overall classification to follow shortly.
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Despite gaining two tenths over Neuville, Ogier's disappointed not to be fastest.
"The Toyota was even faster. For sure I was also pushing very hard. It's a bit drier now so you can take a bit more risk. It's intense!"
Ogier is still well aware there's little room to breathe but seems reasonably assured he can see this lead through to victory.
"Four seconds is not much but I'm looking forward to those two stages. The C3 should work well there. We have to do the job."
"The Toyota was even faster. For sure I was also pushing very hard. It's a bit drier now so you can take a bit more risk. It's intense!"
Ogier is still well aware there's little room to breathe but seems reasonably assured he can see this lead through to victory.
"Four seconds is not much but I'm looking forward to those two stages. The C3 should work well there. We have to do the job."
Stopwatch
Ogier comes home with a 9m54.3s. That's 0.2s faster than Neuville. He keeps the Hyundai team leader pegged for now. That also means Tanak completes a clean sweep of stage wins today.
Ogier's advantage has evaporated mid-stage again! He's gone from 3.5s up at split three to 0.2s down at split five against Neuville. What happened there?
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Neuville didn't leave anything in reserve this time. It looks like it might not have been enough.
"In this one, I was pretty much on the limit, except on the ice when I took it easy. I couldn't do more"
"In this one, I was pretty much on the limit, except on the ice when I took it easy. I couldn't do more"
Stopwatch
Neuville looks feisty. He comes in only 1.3s off Tanak's fastest time. But Ogier is 3.5s up at the third split!
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"I tried to push, I tried to come as much as I can. I felt we had a good run but I'm still having a bit of understeer," says Latvala. Looks like that diff map change at midday service hasn't helped, then.
"I hope we have dry conditions so I can put the full slicks on, I think I'm more comfortable. I don't think I'm so good driving with the mixed tyres!"
"I hope we have dry conditions so I can put the full slicks on, I think I'm more comfortable. I don't think I'm so good driving with the mixed tyres!"
To complete the third place battle, Latvala arrives at the finish. He's 0.2s down on Loeb and 4.3s down on Tanak.
That keeps the gap between third and fourth at a slim 2.3s, with Tanak 15s off his Toyota team-mate in fifth place.
That keeps the gap between third and fourth at a slim 2.3s, with Tanak 15s off his Toyota team-mate in fifth place.
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"I'm enjoying it. Feeling starts to be good this afternoon with the car, I was able to push a bit harder. I had a better setup compared to the morning," says Loeb at stage end.
There's trademark Loeb hunger, though. It almost sounds like he's not satisfied with just a podium here.
"We are fighting for the third place. In the front we have two other guys fighting for the first place but, OK, I enjoy the race"
There's trademark Loeb hunger, though. It almost sounds like he's not satisfied with just a podium here.
"We are fighting for the third place. In the front we have two other guys fighting for the first place but, OK, I enjoy the race"
Loeb cedes 4.1s to Tanak with a 9m57.3s. Their gap drops down to 17.3s. It'll be a tight battle to the finish if it keeps going like this tomorrow morning.
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Tanak says he expected his tyre selection would make less difference here than in the previous stage.
"There's no difference now, it's the same tyre for everyone."
"We knew it was a big risk [selecting non-studded tyres]. If there was more ice we would have lost 10-15s. We had no-one behind so not a big gamble."
It's paid off, though. Let's see how close he gets to Loeb and Latvala once those two are in.
"There's no difference now, it's the same tyre for everyone."
"We knew it was a big risk [selecting non-studded tyres]. If there was more ice we would have lost 10-15s. We had no-one behind so not a big gamble."
It's paid off, though. Let's see how close he gets to Loeb and Latvala once those two are in.
Tanak pulls in with a 9m53.2s, 0.5s up on Meeke. Still no new split comparison to Loeb but he's taken 3.5s out of Latvala by the second split.
Tanak has nearly finished the stage too. No big time gains over his Toyota team-mate Meeke, only 0.4s up. But he's 4.2s up on Loeb at the first split. That's what he'll really be focussed on.
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Taking supersofts rather than softs doesn't seem to have hurt Meeke at all.
"Some humid parts have dried up but the snow parts are still tricky," he says. A good omen for his fellow supersoft runners, perhaps?
"Some humid parts have dried up but the snow parts are still tricky," he says. A good omen for his fellow supersoft runners, perhaps?
Meeke is now fastest, 7.5s up on Suninen with a 9m53.7s. He kicked up a fair bit of dust and gravel on his way to the finish line there too, taking cuts generously on his way there.
By: Matt Beer
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