Monte Carlo Rally
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No big drama for Latvala, he says he just took it easy in places in what he felt were very unpredictable conditions.
"That's not too bad," he says of the time loss. "The conditions are very demanding. In these conditions, you can lose minutes. It's so easy to lose confidence."
"That's not too bad," he says of the time loss. "The conditions are very demanding. In these conditions, you can lose minutes. It's so easy to lose confidence."
Stopwatch
And are conditions getting better for those further down the order? Czech privateer Martin Prokop has just set the fastest split one time so far.
Latvala loses 12.1s to Ogier as he finishes the stage.
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Ogier isn't exactly stressed in his tone, but he makes clear that was a tough start:
"There was ice everywhere, quite little grip, but we drove the car very carefully - not so much risk on this one. Not an easy one to start the rally."
"There was ice everywhere, quite little grip, but we drove the car very carefully - not so much risk on this one. Not an easy one to start the rally."
Stopwatch
Ogier is through, stopping the clocks at 16m24.4s
Slight problem for Latvala possibly, he's lost 9s to Ogier as the stage goes on.
Stopwatch
Meeke is now the pacesetter at split one - he's 1.7s faster than Ogier.
Mikkelsen is second quickest at split one, 0.8s down on Ogier, and 1.8s faster than Latvala.
Kris Meeke in onto the stage now. He took a surprise third here last year on an event where he was mainly trying to take it easy and suss out the stages.
Kris Meeke in onto the stage now. He took a surprise third here last year on an event where he was mainly trying to take it easy and suss out the stages.
Andreas Mikkelsen, Mads Ostberg and Thierry Neuville are on the stage now too.
Neuville's Monte record so far - in both the IRC and WRC - is mostly early crashes. Yesterday he described this event as "a black mark" on his career.
Neuville's Monte record so far - in both the IRC and WRC - is mostly early crashes. Yesterday he described this event as "a black mark" on his career.
On-board shots are showing a decent amount of snow on the banks but a relatively clear road surface for much of the distance. There are clear patches of what looks like slush and ice, though.
Ogier is 2s faster than VW team-mate and second man on the road Jari-Matti Latvala at the first split.
Ogier is 2s faster than VW team-mate and second man on the road Jari-Matti Latvala at the first split.
Ogier won this event pretty smoothly last year, repeating his surprise 2009 triumph when it was part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and he was a relatively unknown Junior WRC (champion) graduate.
But in 2013, Ogier was happy to take second behind Loeb on the VW Polo's debut - pointing out that Loeb wasn't a title threat as he was only rallying part-time.
So far Ogier's rhetoric has been more combative this year, don't expect him to hand the 25 points to his old adversary too willingly.
But in 2013, Ogier was happy to take second behind Loeb on the VW Polo's debut - pointing out that Loeb wasn't a title threat as he was only rallying part-time.
So far Ogier's rhetoric has been more combative this year, don't expect him to hand the 25 points to his old adversary too willingly.
Lights out
Ogier is on the startline, let's get this season going.
If you're just joining us - less than 10 minutes to go until Ogier heads onto a slightly snowy, very dark SS1 and begins the 2015 WRC season.
Here's a look at the WRC's factory class of 2015.
VW and Citroen have brought heavily upgraded cars (and a nifty new livery for the Polo too), but M-Sport and Hyundai's new machines won't be seen just yet. The Ford Fiesta is set to appear in Portugal, while it will be a longer wait for the i20.
VW and Citroen have brought heavily upgraded cars (and a nifty new livery for the Polo too), but M-Sport and Hyundai's new machines won't be seen just yet. The Ford Fiesta is set to appear in Portugal, while it will be a longer wait for the i20.
WRC 2015 launch
Since that shakedown yesterday evening, the crews have been busy kicking off the season properly.
There's been a ceremonial launch of the 2015 WRC in Monte Carlo itself, and the top drivers have been giving a variety of celebrities - ranging from actor Idris Elba, ex-Formula 1 racers David Coulthard and Jacky Ickx, and motorcycle racing star Eugene Laverty to 2002 Song for Wales winner Elin Fflur - passenger rides around a stage set out on part of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
There's been a ceremonial launch of the 2015 WRC in Monte Carlo itself, and the top drivers have been giving a variety of celebrities - ranging from actor Idris Elba, ex-Formula 1 racers David Coulthard and Jacky Ickx, and motorcycle racing star Eugene Laverty to 2002 Song for Wales winner Elin Fflur - passenger rides around a stage set out on part of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
It's already been an interesting week for Loeb: yesterday he rolled his recce car, then went fastest of all on the shakedown stage.
Rain
Pictures from the stages right now suggest there's a good covering of snow (on the spectator banks at least). That's a good start - it's always a bit disappointing when this rally turns into just an asphalt event with an even prettier than usual backdrop.
Breaking news
Before he started climbing bits of France, DAVID EVANS penned some thoughts about Loeb's return, what comes next, whether VW is being paranoid, and a little on what makes the Monte quite so wonderful:
DAVID EVANS: Why Loeb can win the Monte
DAVID EVANS: Why Loeb can win the Monte
Rain
Snow
Running order could well play a role this weekend, but the key will be who gets the worst of the ice and snow, and that's completely unpredictable from stage to stage and minute to minute.
When our WRC expert and roving stage reporter DAVID EVANS was at the end of SS2 earlier, he found this picturesque snow. But what's going to await the crews there tonight?
As per the new-for-2015 running order regulations, the field comes through in championship order, but for the Monte, that's last year's championship - so it's Sebastien Ogier first, and Loeb will be 14th onto the stage.
On gravel rallies, that slot could be a massive advantage for Loeb - if he does any gravel rallies - which is why Volkswagen hasn't been as overjoyed as everyone else about the nine-time champion popping back from the World Touring Car Championship:
VW sceptical over Loeb return motive
On gravel rallies, that slot could be a massive advantage for Loeb - if he does any gravel rallies - which is why Volkswagen hasn't been as overjoyed as everyone else about the nine-time champion popping back from the World Touring Car Championship:
VW sceptical over Loeb return motive
Here's the plan for this evening:
We've got the 13-mile Entrevaux to Rouaine stage starting at 7.21pm UK time, then the 12 miles of Norante to Digne-les-Bains at 8.29pm UK.
We've got the 13-mile Entrevaux to Rouaine stage starting at 7.21pm UK time, then the 12 miles of Norante to Digne-les-Bains at 8.29pm UK.
Good evening, welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for 2015, welcome back to the World Rally Championship - and welcome back to Sebastien Loeb!
Remember him?
Remember him?
Sebastien Loeb, Citroen, Monte Carlo WRC 2015
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell
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