Monte Carlo Rally
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"It was hard," says Loeb, who says there are bits of snow around.
Meeke also complained of spectators kicking bits of snow onto the road, but that might just be errant Estonians doing it when they run wide...
Meeke also complained of spectators kicking bits of snow onto the road, but that might just be errant Estonians doing it when they run wide...
In comes Loeb, and stops the clock 1.1s slower than Meeke.
Neuville begins the stage, Loeb about to finish it.
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"It was very tricky, a mixture of dry and damp," says Meeke, 7.2s quicker.
"Quite happy with the time and it's a good recce for this afternoon."
"Quite happy with the time and it's a good recce for this afternoon."
Great run by Meeke who stops the clock at the stage end at 6m33.7s
Meeke nearing the end of his run now as fellow Brit Evans starts his effort.
Henning Solberg completes the stage in 6m47.5s, which puts him fourth so far.
Meeke and Loeb, who is now on the stage, are both quicker than Chardonnet at the first split three minutes in.
Meeke and Loeb, who is now on the stage, are both quicker than Chardonnet at the first split three minutes in.
In comes Kubica...
...he's slower than Chardonnet by about 1.6s.
...he's slower than Chardonnet by about 1.6s.
Kubica's slower than Chardonnet at the first split as well, 1.1s in fact.
The 2013 WRC-3 champion has done a fine job on SS13.
The 2013 WRC-3 champion has done a fine job on SS13.
Protasov is in, 16.3s slower than Chardonnet's benchmark.
Kubica's about two minutes from the stage end as Kris Meeke starts the stage.
Kubica's about two minutes from the stage end as Kris Meeke starts the stage.
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Tanak laughs off that moment: "It's fine. Just a very late call. We managed to get it back."
Solberg away. Tanak finishes the stage in 6m42.8s - only second fastest.
Ooh! Chardonnet...that's a weird one.
He finishes the stage a good 11.4 seconds quicker than Bertelli but then locks up at the hairpin after the stage end and very nearly goes straight on into the small wall on the outside.
He finishes the stage a good 11.4 seconds quicker than Bertelli but then locks up at the hairpin after the stage end and very nearly goes straight on into the small wall on the outside.
Hello Robert Kubica, good to see you on the stage.
The Pole's Fiesta starts SS13.
The Pole's Fiesta starts SS13.
Bertelli finishes the run in 6m52.3s.
Tanak is slower than Chardonnet at the first split by 1.3, no doubt a result of that moment.
Tanak is slower than Chardonnet at the first split by 1.3, no doubt a result of that moment.
At the first split Chardonnet's about 6.6s quicker than Bertelli.
Tanak caught some snow on the side of the road and that caused him to understeer wide and almost into a wall, but he rotated the rear and kept it out of trouble.
Protasov is on the stage.
Protasov is on the stage.
Big wobble from Tanak about 30 seconds into this stage!
He just, just keeps it together.
He just, just keeps it together.
First split, Bertelli stops the clock at 3m12.1s. That's our very early benchmark, about four km in.
Tanak launches his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC off the startline and is on the stage.
Tanak launches his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC off the startline and is on the stage.
So to explain, the running order now is based on Saturday's rally classification reversed, with Rally 2 restarters in front.
That means: Bertelli - Chardonnet - Tanak - Protasov - Kubica - Solberg - Meeke - Loeb - Prokop - Evans - Neuville - Sordo - Ostberg - Mikkelsen - Latvala - Ogier.
Chardonnet's just started his run.
That means: Bertelli - Chardonnet - Tanak - Protasov - Kubica - Solberg - Meeke - Loeb - Prokop - Evans - Neuville - Sordo - Ostberg - Mikkelsen - Latvala - Ogier.
Chardonnet's just started his run.
Lorenzo Bertelli is in to the stage to set the final day of the Monte Carlo Rally on its way!
A tweaked running order for the final day, which we'll bring to you soon.
A tweaked running order for the final day, which we'll bring to you soon.
On the brink of the start of SS13, which is scheduled to kick off at 8.35am UK time.
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.
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!
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.
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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."
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Crash
Ah, there's Solberg. "A big moment," he reports.
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.
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.
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.
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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."
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.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell
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