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Monte Carlo Rally 2019
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Suninen arrives 17s faster than Tidemand. Not a particularly exciting day for the Finn but it's one stage closer to scoring some points for his M-Sport team, and more mileage accrued on his Monte debut with a WRC car.
Tidemand arrives with a 10m18.2s and gets asked what the conditions are like at stage end once again, as was the case on all the other stages today. The trappings of being first on the road, eh?
Kris Meeke is out on stage and setting the pace, 0.7s faster than Suninen at the first split. But we're still waiting for the top five to set off.
The tyre strategy here, Tanak's wildcard no-studs choice aside, is down to whether the supersoft runners can make their two option tyres go the distance. Hyundai crews all went for softs, while Ogier and Latvala went for supersofts. That might help tip our lead and third place battles one way or the other when we wrap up for the day.
Right, back to the Monte. Tidemand's on his way and already safely past the section where team-mate Elfyn Evans chucked it off this morning. Steady as she goes, Pontus.
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Also, before Pontus Tidemand gets us underway in a few minutes, we've got time for one last update from the Arctic Lapland Rally, where Valtteri Bottas is making his rally debut this weekend with an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta WRC.
After winning stage eight, he's gone fourth-fastest in stage nine. He's still fifth, the position he's held all day, and is likely to finish there given the gaps both ahead and behind.
After winning stage eight, he's gone fourth-fastest in stage nine. He's still fifth, the position he's held all day, and is likely to finish there given the gaps both ahead and behind.
Everyone was on full studs for the previous stage (except a brave Ott Tanak, who took non-studded winter tyres instead) but this time around, drivers will be crossing their tyres.
No, they're not mad at them for a lack of grip (yet), rather they will be fitting the same compounds diagonally opposite each other. So studs on the front right and rear left, with softs or supersofts on the front left and rear right, or a similar combination.
No, they're not mad at them for a lack of grip (yet), rather they will be fitting the same compounds diagonally opposite each other. So studs on the front right and rear left, with softs or supersofts on the front left and rear right, or a similar combination.
Hello again everyone! We're back for Saturday's last stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, a rerun of St Leger les Melezes-La Batie Neuve from this morning.
There's a small gap as the crews navigate the liaison section between the finish control of SS11 and the start control of SS12. We'll be back in around 20 minutes' time, so grab a tourton as a mid-loop snack if you can and tune back in shortly!
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There's only one position change near the top end of town after that stage, with Loeb repassing Latvala for third. But with Tanak coming back into the fold for that final podium place, expect some fireworks in the final stage.
Overall classification after SS11 – Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps
1. Ogier 2h28m35.7s
2. Neuville +4.1s
3. Loeb +1m55.7s
4. Latvala +1m57.8s
5. Tanak +2m17.1s
6. Meeke +5m27.4s
7. Greensmith +9m35.4s
8. Bonato +9m49.4s
Overall classification after SS11 – Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps
1. Ogier 2h28m35.7s
2. Neuville +4.1s
3. Loeb +1m55.7s
4. Latvala +1m57.8s
5. Tanak +2m17.1s
6. Meeke +5m27.4s
7. Greensmith +9m35.4s
8. Bonato +9m49.4s
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Right, here's the stage times for the eight remaining WRC runners. That tyre gamble for Tanak has paid off somewhat handsomely, while the lead battle remains tense with pretty even times from Ogier and Neuville.
SS11 Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps – Stage classification
1. Tanak 19m54.5s
2. Meeke +5.1s
3. Neuville +6.9s
4. Ogier +8.1s
5. Loeb +13.6s
6. Latvala +20.4s
7. Suninen +35.1s
8. Tidemand +47.2s
SS11 Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps – Stage classification
1. Tanak 19m54.5s
2. Meeke +5.1s
3. Neuville +6.9s
4. Ogier +8.1s
5. Loeb +13.6s
6. Latvala +20.4s
7. Suninen +35.1s
8. Tidemand +47.2s
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"It's very close but I'm happy it stays close on this type of stage," says Ogier.
He's also told that Neuville is holding back and playing it a little bit safe.
"If he can hold a bit more, I'm happy with that," he retorts cheekily. His wit as as sharp as his driving, clearly.
He's also told that Neuville is holding back and playing it a little bit safe.
"If he can hold a bit more, I'm happy with that," he retorts cheekily. His wit as as sharp as his driving, clearly.
Stopwatch
Ogier has dropped a bit of time in that final split, it transpires. Neuville gains 1.2s back, Ogier setting a 20m02.6s. That's three stage wins from three for Tanak today, by the way.
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Neuville claims he's taking it slightly easy to protect his position and this region of France being Ogier's home patch is an advantage for the reigning champion.
"I can do more but it could be risky, so keep it safe. He's at home, he knows the stages very well, so I need some time to be careful."
"I can do more but it could be risky, so keep it safe. He's at home, he knows the stages very well, so I need some time to be careful."
Neuville clocks in third quickest behind Tanak and Meeke, setting a 20m01.4s. Looks like it'll take a last-minute Ogier fade to make up any time on the Frenchman here.
Now, lead battle. Ogier was 3.3s up at the second split but that advantage has mostly evaporated now. It's now only 0.8s with around three miles of stage to go.
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"I don't know why I can't get the best feeling on this stage," says Latvala at stage end.
"The grip level is changing quite a lot. It's something I need to work on in the future."
Latvala's still enjoying this regardless, though.
"The fight is fantastic," he signs off.
"The grip level is changing quite a lot. It's something I need to work on in the future."
Latvala's still enjoying this regardless, though.
"The fight is fantastic," he signs off.
Loeb snatches third place away, for now. Latvala arrives 6.8s slower than the nine-time champion, handing Loeb a 2.1s advantage.
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Loeb is initially a bit confused looking at the timing board after pulling into the finish.
"I was looking the time of Meeke and I thought Latvala had beaten us here!" he says.
"I tried to push a bit, had quite a good feeling, better than in the morning. Maybe it's not enough but I do what I can."
If it's not enough, it'll have been very close.
"I was looking the time of Meeke and I thought Latvala had beaten us here!" he says.
"I tried to push a bit, had quite a good feeling, better than in the morning. Maybe it's not enough but I do what I can."
If it's not enough, it'll have been very close.
Loeb arrives with a 20m08.1s. He drops 13.6s to Tanak here. The gap between them is now only 21.4s. It's not out of the realms of possibility Tanak could catch both he and Latvala here...
Putting Tanak aside for a moment, who's still very much a dark horse in this podium battle, there's only 4.7s between Latvala and Loeb in the battle over third heading into this stage.
Loeb has recouped 3.9s by split number six. Can he reclaim a podium spot before we head to our final stage of the day?
Loeb has recouped 3.9s by split number six. Can he reclaim a podium spot before we head to our final stage of the day?
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"Some icy places but normally I would say the tyre is OK. Obviously these two are very similar in compound, just no stud, but it felt OK at least," comments Tanak.
Stopwatch
Tanak arrives 5.1s up on Meeke and is 12.5s up on Loeb in the splits now.
But by split three it's Tanak fastest again. Not that Ogier will care – he's still up on Neuville, for now.
Ogier's gone more sensible with his tyre selections with four studded tyres and despite that, he's still faster than Tanak at the second split. He's 2.1s faster than the Estonian and, crucially, 3.3s up on Neuville.
Both M-Sports are made to look positively geriatric by Kris Meeke, who's dead on 30s quicker than Suninen here. But Tanak behind is faster still...
Suninen punches in a time 12.1s faster than new M-Sport team-mate Tidemand. He's got manufacturers' points to wrap up, so sensible driving required from the Finn.
Tanak has passed the two-thirds point and is still fastest so far. It's not a hand-over-first gain but he's still 8.2s up on Loeb after the fourth split.
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As first car through, Tidemand is asked if there's been much change between this morning's pass and this afternoon's run through Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps..
"Not so much but for sure in some places it's more shit and some places more dry, so it's a bit of change. But a proper Monte stage."
Not exactly decisive.
"Not so much but for sure in some places it's more shit and some places more dry, so it's a bit of change. But a proper Monte stage."
Not exactly decisive.
Pontus Tidemand racks up some more miles in preparation for Rally Sweden, clocking a 20m41.7s through here.
It's now a 3.9s difference between Tanak and Meeke at split four. But it's a 7.8s gain over Loeb at split three, who is one place ahead and little over half a minute up the road overall. That tyre gamble has paid off so far. But it's early days yet.
Stopwatch
Tanak's gamble is still working thus far, at least compared to Meeke. He's 3.2s up at the third split. Can he keep up the pace? There's still lots of ice and slush in the second half of this stage.
Loeb's so-so form at the end of the previous loop looks like it might continue after the first split; 2.6s down on Tanak after 4.5km, barely any faster than Suninen and Tidemand.
Tanak is 0.7s up on Meeke at the first split, as Loeb departs to begin the battle over third place with the final Toyota of Jari-Matti Latvala.
And off goes Ott Tanak. Expect a good first split with no studs on the cleaner section of asphalt. But after four kilometres it gets icy under the shade. That will be the real test of Tanak's gamble.
Meeke's now on his way. But it's the second Toyota that we'll be observing keenly - Tanak departs in less than three minutes' time. With no studs on his tyres. On an icy stage. Fun.
Teemu Suninen is now on his way. Unlike this morning, we've got three minute gaps between WRC crews.
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Pontus Tidemand gets the afternoon loop underway, launching his Fiesta WRC into SS11.
Here's a reminder of what to expect from this test, courtesy of Kris Meeke's co-driver Seb Marshall.
SS11 Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps (18.53 miles)
This one starts with a really fast road for the first couple of kilometres before turning off the main road to go uphill on a bumpy smaller road where there was ice on the recce – I’m sure there’s going to be even more now after the snow on Wednesday. The next five kilometres are twisty and narrow, then we’re into a hairpin left and back onto the same main road we were on before – but now it’s really, really fast. You go through a tunnel and just start to think we’re getting into a nice rhythm here and then we turn again, slotting off onto another narrow road which really hugs the contours.
After that we pop off onto a downhill stretch which takes us down and into the valley. This stretch is always in the shade and is sure to have plenty of snow and ice. This could have been a good place to finish the stage, but instead we come back out onto another quite nice road, but this section is almost like Ypres – quite different in nature, running through fields with quite a few junctions. The last four kilometres is downhill over the big hydroelectric dam and down a double-width road to the finish.
Here's a reminder of what to expect from this test, courtesy of Kris Meeke's co-driver Seb Marshall.
SS11 Agnieres en Devoluy-Corps (18.53 miles)
This one starts with a really fast road for the first couple of kilometres before turning off the main road to go uphill on a bumpy smaller road where there was ice on the recce – I’m sure there’s going to be even more now after the snow on Wednesday. The next five kilometres are twisty and narrow, then we’re into a hairpin left and back onto the same main road we were on before – but now it’s really, really fast. You go through a tunnel and just start to think we’re getting into a nice rhythm here and then we turn again, slotting off onto another narrow road which really hugs the contours.
After that we pop off onto a downhill stretch which takes us down and into the valley. This stretch is always in the shade and is sure to have plenty of snow and ice. This could have been a good place to finish the stage, but instead we come back out onto another quite nice road, but this section is almost like Ypres – quite different in nature, running through fields with quite a few junctions. The last four kilometres is downhill over the big hydroelectric dam and down a double-width road to the finish.
Latvala meanwhile is gearing up to protect his new found third position. There's a new diff map on his car, having complained he couldn't get the Yaris turned in properly this morning. Let's see if that helps keep Sebastien Loeb at bay.
Anyway, enough distractions. Time to get down to serious business! Michelin has revealed the tyre strategies for this afternoon's pair of stages.
Tanak went fastest on the first two stages this morning and is taking a big gamble here. He hasn't selected any studded tyres, preferring four non-studded winter tyres , with two supersofts in the back ready for the less icy SS12.
The other two Toyotas of Latvala and Meeke, plus rally leader Ogier and Teemu Suninen, have all gone for four studded tyres plus two supersofts, while all three Hyundai crews plus Pontus Tidemand have gone for four studded tyres and two softs.
That's brave from Tanak, though. This will either pay off in spades or backfire spectacularly, I imagine.
Tanak went fastest on the first two stages this morning and is taking a big gamble here. He hasn't selected any studded tyres, preferring four non-studded winter tyres , with two supersofts in the back ready for the less icy SS12.
The other two Toyotas of Latvala and Meeke, plus rally leader Ogier and Teemu Suninen, have all gone for four studded tyres plus two supersofts, while all three Hyundai crews plus Pontus Tidemand have gone for four studded tyres and two softs.
That's brave from Tanak, though. This will either pay off in spades or backfire spectacularly, I imagine.
By: Matt Beer
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