Monte Carlo Rally
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But trouble immediately on SS8 for our SS7 winner Kubica - he's stopped early on the stage and lost a couple of minutes. The RK Ford is now running again.
Stopwatch
Ogier is the early pacesetter on SS8, he's 3.1s up on Latvala at split one.
Kubica's time loss to Ogier is just over two and a half minutes. That doesn't matter too much when he dropped 10 minutes last night anyway.
Kubica's time loss to Ogier is just over two and a half minutes. That doesn't matter too much when he dropped 10 minutes last night anyway.
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This stage takes place in the area where Ogier grew up, and there's a very decent turnout of his fans.
Naturally there's a lot of support for Loeb this weekend, but the other Seb has his followers too - although with their similar names you have to squint at the years and number of titles on the banners surrounding the stages to work out which French hero they're cheering for.
Stopwatch
Ogier remains the pacesetter at the middle split, 5.6s up on Latvala and 6.1s faster than the other VW of Mikkelsen.
Ogier has also had to pass the delayed Kubica on that stage, although it didn't seem to cost him any time.
Breaking news
Problem for Meeke - the tracking system has the Citroen stopped on the stage around halfway through.
Ogier finishes the stage to big cheers from his assembled local fans.
Quote
Turns out VW hadn't let Ogier know he'd passed Loeb for the lead - the first he learns of it is when he's quizzed by the stage-end interviewers.
"I had no idea! We just need to wait for this one and then we'll see."
He still seems unsure about whether his tyre choice was right for that stage.
"I had no idea! We just need to wait for this one and then we'll see."
He still seems unsure about whether his tyre choice was right for that stage.
Crash
Kubica now completes the stage with damage to his Ford's right front. That explains the roughly three-minute time loss.
Crash
Turns out Kubica's managed two separate shunts on that one:
"We had a massive moment at high speed. We went off, we were stuck and it was thanks to spectators that we could come back.
"Then at a junction, I was sideways and tried to recover, but I slid on the snow, hit a tree and had to drive 10kms with a puncture."
"We had a massive moment at high speed. We went off, we were stuck and it was thanks to spectators that we could come back.
"Then at a junction, I was sideways and tried to recover, but I slid on the snow, hit a tree and had to drive 10kms with a puncture."
Quote
While Kubica's damage took centre stage, Latvala and Mikkelsen come to the finish, both 21s off Ogier's pace.
"A clean stage for us - no risks. There's a lot of mud everywhere, so there was a lot of sideways driving. Quite fun," reports Mikkelsen.
He's on course to move up to fourth after Meeke's problem on this stage. Still awaiting more news on the Citroen.
"A clean stage for us - no risks. There's a lot of mud everywhere, so there was a lot of sideways driving. Quite fun," reports Mikkelsen.
He's on course to move up to fourth after Meeke's problem on this stage. Still awaiting more news on the Citroen.
Breaking news
Meeke is now moving at full speed on the tracking system, but he's dropped four minutes.
Quote
Here's Ostberg:
"It's been a really enjoyable day," says Ostberg, who is possibly fibbing. "Unfortunately there hasn't been much sun on the stages - some fog, some snow, some ice... I'm looking forward to sleeping a full night."
He adds that he enjoys the right-handers only due his car's understeer.
"It's been a really enjoyable day," says Ostberg, who is possibly fibbing. "Unfortunately there hasn't been much sun on the stages - some fog, some snow, some ice... I'm looking forward to sleeping a full night."
He adds that he enjoys the right-handers only due his car's understeer.
Ostberg was actually in very good form on that stage - third quickest behind Ogier and Chardonnet (good run, Chardonnet!) so farm a second ahead of Latvala and Mikkelsen.
Neuville is slowest of those who haven't crashed, 27s down on Ogier and 5-7s off the Ostberg/Latvala/Mikkelsen group. The Hyundai man emphasises that he's focused firmly on finishing this weekend, and this is the furthest he's ever got onto a Monte Carlo Rally in his career.
He's currently hanging on to ninth place with a decent gap back to team-mate Sordo.
He's currently hanging on to ninth place with a decent gap back to team-mate Sordo.
Crash
Reports from on the stage that Meeke is struggling through with damaged left rear suspension.
Evans is now the slowest driver who hasn't crashed, 40s down on Ogier. He'll fall behind Ostberg, but with Meeke delayed, his overall position will remain seventh.
Loeb's first split on this stage is 4.1s off Ogier's.
Meeke continues to lose time on the stage, with the deficit to the leaders now over six minutes.
With the field now spreading out behind the World Rally Cars, he will probably still be in the overall top 20, but he will need to make sure he can get back to service on four road-legal wheels.
With the field now spreading out behind the World Rally Cars, he will probably still be in the overall top 20, but he will need to make sure he can get back to service on four road-legal wheels.
Breaking news
Loeb has lost 1m30s to Ogier on a late split!
Such was Loeb and Ogier's advantage, that sort of delay for the Citroen man isn't going to drop him much further than third, but let's see what the problem is when he comes through.
This is going well for VW, on the splits Mikkelsen is well on course to move ahead of Tanak, which should put him fourth depending on how much time Loeb loses.
Crash
Reports from the stage suggest a problem or damage on the left rear of Loeb's Citroen.
Crash
Meeke has now come to a halt near the end of the stage.
His time loss from the damage was up to eight minutes. That's approaching the point where the 10-minute rally2 penalty for stopping on this stage is less costly than struggling on.
His time loss from the damage was up to eight minutes. That's approaching the point where the 10-minute rally2 penalty for stopping on this stage is less costly than struggling on.
Crash
Loeb's final split is now 4m27s off Ogier's pace. His victory bid is over, but he's pushing on towards the finish.
VW is going to finish Friday with a one-two-three, and with Ogier 1m45s ahead of Latvala in the rally lead.
Loeb is being passed by midfielders Bertelli and Protasov on the stage.
Crash
Bertelli confirms that there's damage on Loeb's left rear.
Crash
Loeb reaches the finish, with very broken left rear suspension. He might not be able to get that over the road section to service, so a 10-minute rally2 penalty looks likely.
Loeb's time loss on the stage is six minutes, which would put him 13th overall if he can get to service.
If he can't, it's a 10-minute rally2 penalty so he'll restart tomorrow near the foot of the top 20.
If he can't, it's a 10-minute rally2 penalty so he'll restart tomorrow near the foot of the top 20.
Checkered flag
SS8 results:
Look, a Sebastien in a Citroen was still second-fastest! But it was young Chardonnet...
Stage times:
1 Ogier 15m15.9s
2 Chardonnet +14.7s
3 Ostberg +19.1s
4 Latvala +20.2s
5 Mikkelsen +21.7s
6 Neuville +26.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1m45.4s
3 Mikkelsen +2m34.8s
4 Tanak +2m44.4s
5 Ostberg +3m02.9s
6 Evans +3m15.2s
7 Neuville +3m29.9s
8 Sordo +4m03.0s
9 Prokop +4m59.6s
10 Loeb +6m08.7s
Our calculation of Loeb being 13th didn't take into account other people's troubles on that stage (Meeke stopping, Solberg going off, Bertelli's slower pace), so right now he is still in the top 10.
Look, a Sebastien in a Citroen was still second-fastest! But it was young Chardonnet...
Stage times:
1 Ogier 15m15.9s
2 Chardonnet +14.7s
3 Ostberg +19.1s
4 Latvala +20.2s
5 Mikkelsen +21.7s
6 Neuville +26.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1m45.4s
3 Mikkelsen +2m34.8s
4 Tanak +2m44.4s
5 Ostberg +3m02.9s
6 Evans +3m15.2s
7 Neuville +3m29.9s
8 Sordo +4m03.0s
9 Prokop +4m59.6s
10 Loeb +6m08.7s
Our calculation of Loeb being 13th didn't take into account other people's troubles on that stage (Meeke stopping, Solberg going off, Bertelli's slower pace), so right now he is still in the top 10.
Breaking news
SS8 summary:
* Loeb damages his suspension on a rock and loses six minutes
* Mikkelsen moves ahead of Tanak, completing a VW one-two-three behind Ogier and Latvala
* Meeke also sustains damage and has to stop
* Kubica crashes twice and loses nearly four minutes
* Chardonnet emerges with the second-fastest time
* Loeb damages his suspension on a rock and loses six minutes
* Mikkelsen moves ahead of Tanak, completing a VW one-two-three behind Ogier and Latvala
* Meeke also sustains damage and has to stop
* Kubica crashes twice and loses nearly four minutes
* Chardonnet emerges with the second-fastest time
Well, that's a bit of a comedown isn't it?
But this is the Monte Carlo Rally, there's still a day and a half to go, the weather could yet do something really awkward, and you can't really take anything for granted here until it's over.
And though we don't have a Loeb victory bid to get excited about, we now have a Loeb comeback charge instead. Whether it's from six or 10 minutes behind, he's going to be flying tomorrow.
Remember 2006? He crashed, took a five-minute penalty, rejoined and still finished only a minute behind winner Marcus Gronholm in second..,
Keep an eye on the AUTOSPORT news pages tonight for more on whether Loeb makes it back to service, and then we'll be back here with Race Centre Live from 8am UK time on Saturday morning.
But this is the Monte Carlo Rally, there's still a day and a half to go, the weather could yet do something really awkward, and you can't really take anything for granted here until it's over.
And though we don't have a Loeb victory bid to get excited about, we now have a Loeb comeback charge instead. Whether it's from six or 10 minutes behind, he's going to be flying tomorrow.
Remember 2006? He crashed, took a five-minute penalty, rejoined and still finished only a minute behind winner Marcus Gronholm in second..,
Keep an eye on the AUTOSPORT news pages tonight for more on whether Loeb makes it back to service, and then we'll be back here with Race Centre Live from 8am UK time on Saturday morning.
Sebastien Loeb, Citroen, WRC Monte Carlo 2015
Good morning and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for our coverage of the Saturday stages of the Monte Carlo Rally.
Slightly different theme today, it's no longer a case of 'can Sebastien Loeb win on his comeback?' but 'how far back up the field can he get?'
Here's the task facing him:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1m45.4s
3 Mikkelsen +2m34.8s
4 Tanak +2m44.4s
5 Ostberg +3m02.9s
6 Evans +3m15.2s
7 Neuville +3m29.9s
8 Sordo +4m03.0s
9 Prokop +4m59.6s
10 Solberg +6m38.9s
11 Bertelli +7m13.8s
12 Lefebvre +7m42.7s
13 Koci +7m49.2s
14 Kremer +9m47.6s
15 Loeb +10m08.0s
(21 Meeke +12m02.3s)
(28 Kubica +14m18.8s)
Slightly different theme today, it's no longer a case of 'can Sebastien Loeb win on his comeback?' but 'how far back up the field can he get?'
Here's the task facing him:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1m45.4s
3 Mikkelsen +2m34.8s
4 Tanak +2m44.4s
5 Ostberg +3m02.9s
6 Evans +3m15.2s
7 Neuville +3m29.9s
8 Sordo +4m03.0s
9 Prokop +4m59.6s
10 Solberg +6m38.9s
11 Bertelli +7m13.8s
12 Lefebvre +7m42.7s
13 Koci +7m49.2s
14 Kremer +9m47.6s
15 Loeb +10m08.0s
(21 Meeke +12m02.3s)
(28 Kubica +14m18.8s)
Two stages for you to enjoy this morning: the 12 miles of Prunieres - Embrun, and then the longest of the weekend: Lardier et Valenca - Faye at 32 miles.
Then it's a service break before another crack at Prunieres and then Sisteron - Thoard to finish the day.
Then it's a service break before another crack at Prunieres and then Sisteron - Thoard to finish the day.
Breaking news
Running order today is everyone under Rally2 first, then 2014 championship order, so it goes:
Chardonnet - Kubica - Meeke - Loeb - Ogier - Latvala - Mikkelsen - Ostberg - Neuville - Evans - Sordo
Which at least means we get to see Loeb and Ogier in the same stage conditions for the first time this weekend.
Chardonnet - Kubica - Meeke - Loeb - Ogier - Latvala - Mikkelsen - Ostberg - Neuville - Evans - Sordo
Which at least means we get to see Loeb and Ogier in the same stage conditions for the first time this weekend.
Breaking news
And here's an early anti-climax: we're hearing from teams that SS9 has been cancelled for "safety reasons" five minutes before it was due to commence.
Safety concerns normally relate to the volume or positioning of spectators.
Safety concerns normally relate to the volume or positioning of spectators.
Just waiting for further information about the issues on SS9.
The cancellation is going to lead to a bit of a gap before the rally gets going today, with SS10 not scheduled to run until 10.49am local time.
We're going to pause Race Centre Live once more and resume coverage at 9.30am UK time, when hopefully we'll have some rallying to bring you.
The cancellation is going to lead to a bit of a gap before the rally gets going today, with SS10 not scheduled to run until 10.49am local time.
We're going to pause Race Centre Live once more and resume coverage at 9.30am UK time, when hopefully we'll have some rallying to bring you.
Right, shall we try that again?
Just under 20 minutes to go until we do get Saturday under way with SS10.
Most of its 32 miles are dry asphalt, but there is patchy snow and ice as well - and that means a tyre choice dilemma and the possibility of some upsets.
Just under 20 minutes to go until we do get Saturday under way with SS10.
Most of its 32 miles are dry asphalt, but there is patchy snow and ice as well - and that means a tyre choice dilemma and the possibility of some upsets.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell
Published:
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