Monte Carlo Rally
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Now...has Kubica had a moment? Reports coming in that he's now provisionally dropped time on the spinning Citroen...which would indicate a sizable delay.
Just comparing Loeb and Ogier (which is a wonderful treat, it has to be said) and the rally leader is very conservative in comparison to the recovering Loeb.
At the third split, Loeb's about 24s quicker! Latvala's taking a few seconds out of his team-mate as well. At this rate the lead will be just under a minute going into the final day.
At the third split, Loeb's about 24s quicker! Latvala's taking a few seconds out of his team-mate as well. At this rate the lead will be just under a minute going into the final day.
Crash
WRC radio reporting that Ogier has had a moment just before the place Meeke had his own spin.
We wait to see what impact that has on timing...
We wait to see what impact that has on timing...
Crash
Really difficult to call at the moment...as Loeb is the latest to drop a chunk of time!
He was 25s up on Meeke, he's now 52s slower.
What on Earth is going on? Could the ice be wreaking havoc?
He was 25s up on Meeke, he's now 52s slower.
What on Earth is going on? Could the ice be wreaking havoc?
Right, Chardonnet has successfully made it to the end of the stage.
Let's try and make sense of this in a moment.
Let's try and make sense of this in a moment.
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"It was more or less the same as every year. It was a little bit difficult," he admits, saying that a few km of ice made things tricky.
Kubica doesn't hang around, he's already through as well.
It's 24m41.4s - one minute faster than Chardonnet.
It's 24m41.4s - one minute faster than Chardonnet.
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"Very difficult because we have a handbrake failure," Kubica reveals.
"On snow and ice without the handbrake it was quite difficult. I have also some issue with the gearbox..
"There was much more ice than I expected," he finishes ominously.
Now we wait for the rest...
"On snow and ice without the handbrake it was quite difficult. I have also some issue with the gearbox..
"There was much more ice than I expected," he finishes ominously.
Now we wait for the rest...
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Meeke comes through and is quicker than Kubica with a 24m32.9s. The Citroen man is shaking his head.
"The reason why I shook my head is I had a spin in the stage, I lost 10 or 12 seconds."
We knew that, Kris. But quite a few people are having issues of their own!
"The reason why I shook my head is I had a spin in the stage, I lost 10 or 12 seconds."
We knew that, Kris. But quite a few people are having issues of their own!
Loeb's going to be much unhappier than Meeke, because the erstwhile rally leader was about a minute slower than his team-mate at the fourth split.
Interesting...Latvala comes through the fourth split 13.4s quicker than Ogier. This could be a very handy run for the Finn.
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Loeb is swamped as he completes the stage end in a disappointing 25m21.2s. The media scrum is incessant.
"I was very careful in the middle, it was not the best stage," says the slick-shod ace.
"I was very careful in the middle, it was not the best stage," says the slick-shod ace.
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Ogier is in, his time is 25m11.3s.
The reaction...
"It's a very, very beautiful stage but we went for the safe option."
He denies there was ever a big moment.
The reaction...
"It's a very, very beautiful stage but we went for the safe option."
He denies there was ever a big moment.
Some good splits being recorded by the Hyundais of Neuville and Sordo. Quicker than Mikkelsen, with Ostberg a long way off the lot.
Latvala finishes in 24m51.3s - that's 20s quicker than Ogier.
A good run indeed for the Finn, who cuts his team-mate's lead to about 43s.
A good run indeed for the Finn, who cuts his team-mate's lead to about 43s.
"I don't understand," says an excited Latvala, who seems confused that a conservative approach has reaped dividends. "I really enjoyed this stage. We had a really good stage."
"I do not intend to risk too much," he finishes...
"I do not intend to risk too much," he finishes...
With the first few times in, here's a quick look at the provisional stage order:
1 Meeke 24m32.9s
2 Kubica +8.5s
3 Latvala +18.4s
4 Ogier +38.4s
5 Loeb +48.3s
6 Chardonnet +1m08.5s
1 Meeke 24m32.9s
2 Kubica +8.5s
3 Latvala +18.4s
4 Ogier +38.4s
5 Loeb +48.3s
6 Chardonnet +1m08.5s
That's changing all the time, though. In comes Mikkelsen, who matched Ogier blow for blow throughout the stage and pips his world champion team-mate by a second!
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Ostberg ends a difficult run. "Very lucky," he says, before complaining about engine problems. In the circumstances, "the time is very good".
The Citroen man's engine had to be rebooted on that stage, and it shows - he lost a whole heap of time.
Has that offered a reprieve for Evans, or let in the flying Hyundais? Sordo was looking good to usurp Meeke as quickest, but is dropping time at the point of the run that has caught out a few drivers.
Has that offered a reprieve for Evans, or let in the flying Hyundais? Sordo was looking good to usurp Meeke as quickest, but is dropping time at the point of the run that has caught out a few drivers.
In comes Neuville and he goes third fastest with a time of 24m44.0s - he gains 41.8s on Ostberg in one go! Excellent stuff.
Can't see that Ostberg woe helping Evans out - he's limping through this run. Possibly brings the Hyundai's into play, though.
Well done Elfyn Evans, who finally reaches the finish. That's a very successful botch job indeed!
OK, the Welshman doesn't pull up trees with his time, but nor has he pulled up trees by flying off the road with failed suspension.
He says he's confident he can get back to service and then go again tomorrow and bank some confidence-boosting points.
OK, the Welshman doesn't pull up trees with his time, but nor has he pulled up trees by flying off the road with failed suspension.
He says he's confident he can get back to service and then go again tomorrow and bank some confidence-boosting points.
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In comes Sordo and this should confirm Meeke's stage win.
"Not confident at all," says the Spaniard. "Happy that we finished."
"Not confident at all," says the Spaniard. "Happy that we finished."
So, save something utterly remarkable from a privateer or WRC2 contender, that's a stage win for Meeke!
We'll wait for Tanak though, because he could slot in fairly high up the leaderboard on stage times.
We'll wait for Tanak though, because he could slot in fairly high up the leaderboard on stage times.
A quick look at WRC2, where Lefebvre is pulling clear of Koci - because of his driveshaft issue, presumably.
The Frenchman's not set to go quickest though, as a flying Breen is quicker at the third split.
The Frenchman's not set to go quickest though, as a flying Breen is quicker at the third split.
OK, Tanak's in. "It's been feeling good," he says. "It's been going OK."
Drama for Henning Solberg, who has not completed the stage.
Drama for Henning Solberg, who has not completed the stage.
Crash
Ah, there's Solberg. "A big moment," he reports.
Checkered flag
Great effort from Tanak, 25m09.2s gets him sixth.
Leading SS12 times:
1 Meeke 24m32.9s
2 Kubica +8.5s
3 Neuville +11.1s
4 Latvala +18.4s
5 Sordo +30.0s
6 Tanak +36.3s
How about THAT for a top six?
Leading SS12 times:
1 Meeke 24m32.9s
2 Kubica +8.5s
3 Neuville +11.1s
4 Latvala +18.4s
5 Sordo +30.0s
6 Tanak +36.3s
How about THAT for a top six?
Leading rally positions after SS12:
1 Ogier 3h0039.9s
2 Latvala +42.8s
3 Mikelsen +1m49.8s
4 Ostberg +2m42.8s
5 Sordo +3m16.1s
6 Neuville +3m20.8s
The biggest change there is Evans slipping behind the two Hyundais, though he retains a very comfortable seventh.
Loeb is now just 45s behind eighth-placed Prokop. Meeke has moved up to 10th.
1 Ogier 3h0039.9s
2 Latvala +42.8s
3 Mikelsen +1m49.8s
4 Ostberg +2m42.8s
5 Sordo +3m16.1s
6 Neuville +3m20.8s
The biggest change there is Evans slipping behind the two Hyundais, though he retains a very comfortable seventh.
Loeb is now just 45s behind eighth-placed Prokop. Meeke has moved up to 10th.
A quick look at WRC2, which was topped by Eric Camili.
Lefebvre still leads, beating Breen to second place on SS12 by just 1.2s.
That excellent run from Camilli has launched him ahead of Breen - by just 0.4s - and just one second behind the ailing Koci.
Second place is Kremer, who was rather anonymous on that stage it has to be said.
Lefebvre still leads, beating Breen to second place on SS12 by just 1.2s.
That excellent run from Camilli has launched him ahead of Breen - by just 0.4s - and just one second behind the ailing Koci.
Second place is Kremer, who was rather anonymous on that stage it has to be said.
So, still things for fight for as the Monte Carlo Rally nears its end
We've got Latvala hanging on to Ogier at the front, a good fight for fourth and the ongoing recoveries of Citroen's Loeb and Meeke.
OK, so it's not quite what he hoped for - but plenty to be excited about tomorrow nonetheless. Here's the Saturday afternoon loop report in case you missed anything.
Keep an eye on the AUTOSPORT news pages tonight for more on whether Evans makes it back to service, and then we'll be back here with Race Centre Live from about 8am UK time on Sunday morning.
We've got Latvala hanging on to Ogier at the front, a good fight for fourth and the ongoing recoveries of Citroen's Loeb and Meeke.
OK, so it's not quite what he hoped for - but plenty to be excited about tomorrow nonetheless. Here's the Saturday afternoon loop report in case you missed anything.
Keep an eye on the AUTOSPORT news pages tonight for more on whether Evans makes it back to service, and then we'll be back here with Race Centre Live from about 8am UK time on Sunday morning.
Hello, good morning, welcome.
It's the final day of the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally. That fight between the two Sebastiens feels a long time ago, doesn't it?
Never fear, Jari-Matti Latvala's here. He's doing his best to keep things interesting and did just about enough to give today a bit of intrigue at the front.
It's the final day of the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally. That fight between the two Sebastiens feels a long time ago, doesn't it?
Never fear, Jari-Matti Latvala's here. He's doing his best to keep things interesting and did just about enough to give today a bit of intrigue at the front.
A reminder of where things stand, and to be honest after difficult Fridays it's looking better for Sebastien Loeb and Kris Meeke at Citroen.
Having returned under Rally 2 rules both are now back in the points, with potentially more to gain today.
Latvala's not quite out of it at the front and there's an intriguing battle for fourth as well.
Plus, we need to see how Mads Ostberg and Elfyn Evans - hampered by engine problems and damaged suspension respectively yesterday - handle the final day as they bid for a good haul of points.
1 Ogier 3h0039.9s
2 Latvala +42.8s
3 Mikelsen +1m49.8s
4 Ostberg +2m42.8s
5 Sordo +3m16.1s
6 Neuville +3m20.8s
7 Evans +4m51.7s
8 Prokop +8m17.5s
9 Loeb +9m02.2s
10 Meeke +10m06.0s
Having returned under Rally 2 rules both are now back in the points, with potentially more to gain today.
Latvala's not quite out of it at the front and there's an intriguing battle for fourth as well.
Plus, we need to see how Mads Ostberg and Elfyn Evans - hampered by engine problems and damaged suspension respectively yesterday - handle the final day as they bid for a good haul of points.
1 Ogier 3h0039.9s
2 Latvala +42.8s
3 Mikelsen +1m49.8s
4 Ostberg +2m42.8s
5 Sordo +3m16.1s
6 Neuville +3m20.8s
7 Evans +4m51.7s
8 Prokop +8m17.5s
9 Loeb +9m02.2s
10 Meeke +10m06.0s
Here's a brief look at the final trio of stages today.
Our action begins at 8.35am UK time on Col St Jean - St Laurent, which is 6.3 miles in length.
SS14 is La Bollene Vesubie - Sospel, three times that distance at 19.67 miles.
Then it's back to the first run again for SS15.
Our action begins at 8.35am UK time on Col St Jean - St Laurent, which is 6.3 miles in length.
SS14 is La Bollene Vesubie - Sospel, three times that distance at 19.67 miles.
Then it's back to the first run again for SS15.
Rain
From the ice of the mountains to the glitz of the harbour...this is Monte Carlo!
DAVID EVANS is enjoying the full Monte experience - the rally one, we mean - and seems pretty pleased to be away from the cold today.
"Not much frost around this morning," he reports.
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Of that battle between the two Volkswagens, we are still banking on Ogier taking it too cautiously and Latvala finding a bit of fight.
The Finn was shocked to cut his team-mate's lead by a minute yesterday and wasn't exactly in fighting mood come the end of the day.
"I don't understand it. I have no intention to try to catch him. There's a little bit of pressure on him now but I don’t want to risk too much in my position."
For his part, Ogier added: "We were safe with our tyre choices today and I was very slow on every icy part.
"My studded tyres weren't the fastest option, but they were the safest for the snowy section in the final stage.
"I had nothing to risk by trying to drive quickly."
The Finn was shocked to cut his team-mate's lead by a minute yesterday and wasn't exactly in fighting mood come the end of the day.
"I don't understand it. I have no intention to try to catch him. There's a little bit of pressure on him now but I don’t want to risk too much in my position."
For his part, Ogier added: "We were safe with our tyre choices today and I was very slow on every icy part.
"My studded tyres weren't the fastest option, but they were the safest for the snowy section in the final stage.
"I had nothing to risk by trying to drive quickly."
Conditions are dry for SS13, although there may be a small damp section - but not even a mile in length.
Unlikely to trouble our hardened rally contingent.
Ice is on the road section to SS14, and there is ice and water at the different parts of the route as well - again, nothing major.
Unlikely to trouble our hardened rally contingent.
Ice is on the road section to SS14, and there is ice and water at the different parts of the route as well - again, nothing major.
Tyre information courtesy of Michelin:
Ogier: 3 supersoft + 2 soft
Latvala: 4 supersoft + 2 soft
Mikkelsen: 3 supersoft + 2 soft
Tanak: 4 soft + 2 supersoft
Evans: 4 supersoft + 2 soft
Hyudai/Citroen: 6 soft
Quite different to the number of studded tyres we've had over the last couple of days!
Ogier: 3 supersoft + 2 soft
Latvala: 4 supersoft + 2 soft
Mikkelsen: 3 supersoft + 2 soft
Tanak: 4 soft + 2 supersoft
Evans: 4 supersoft + 2 soft
Hyudai/Citroen: 6 soft
Quite different to the number of studded tyres we've had over the last couple of days!
It'll be quite a nice, rally-filled Sunday morning, this one.
We've not really got too much resting time between the stages, although SS13 is the shortest run of the rally, so while we wait for the WRC2 guys and the like there should be time for a breather.
Basically, enough to stick the kettle on between bouts of Monte/Race Centre Live fever.
We'll do our best, anyway.
We've not really got too much resting time between the stages, although SS13 is the shortest run of the rally, so while we wait for the WRC2 guys and the like there should be time for a breather.
Basically, enough to stick the kettle on between bouts of Monte/Race Centre Live fever.
We'll do our best, anyway.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell
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