Monte Carlo Rally
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DAVID EVANS - with a bit of help from Mads Ostberg - has a cracking guide to SS12 for you.
Here's our man first:
"Sisteron’s an absolute peach of a stage. It climbs and climbs for the first 12 miles up to the Col de Fontbelle, which remains closed when the snow comes – except in rally week.
"The ice up here has to be seen to be believed, it’s inches thick and near-guaranteed all winter long."
Here's our man first:
"Sisteron’s an absolute peach of a stage. It climbs and climbs for the first 12 miles up to the Col de Fontbelle, which remains closed when the snow comes – except in rally week.
"The ice up here has to be seen to be believed, it’s inches thick and near-guaranteed all winter long."
Hello again. How'd that breather sort you out?
We've got about 10 minutes before SS122 kicks off.
The report from the WRC is that the road is largely dry except a 4km section of ice and snow at the Col de Fontbelle - at 1300m, the stage's highest point - about 25km in.
We've got about 10 minutes before SS122 kicks off.
The report from the WRC is that the road is largely dry except a 4km section of ice and snow at the Col de Fontbelle - at 1300m, the stage's highest point - about 25km in.
We've got about 45 minutes until the start of SS12, so we'll take a 30-minute breather now.
But don't go too far. It's just around the corner...
But don't go too far. It's just around the corner...
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A tip of the hat to Craig Breen, who sneaks in second quickest in WRC2 on SS11.
He's second quickest and 2.7s slower than Lefebvre.
"Finally! I have to take my hat off to my engineer, he's made a big, big, big improvement.
"After our test I thought I knew how to set the car up - but now we are on the correct set-up. My rally starts here..."
He's second quickest and 2.7s slower than Lefebvre.
"Finally! I have to take my hat off to my engineer, he's made a big, big, big improvement.
"After our test I thought I knew how to set the car up - but now we are on the correct set-up. My rally starts here..."
Breaking news
So, a summary of SS11:
* Loeb goes quickest to launch himself back into the lower reaches of the points-paying positions
* Ogier takes it easy, dropping a couple of seconds to Latvala - but his lead is still over a minute
* Ostberg eases clear of Evans in the fight for fourth as the Welshman loses time
* Sordo and Neuville are sixth and seventh for Hyundai
* Lefebvre narrowly leads WRC2 after edging Koci again
* Loeb goes quickest to launch himself back into the lower reaches of the points-paying positions
* Ogier takes it easy, dropping a couple of seconds to Latvala - but his lead is still over a minute
* Ostberg eases clear of Evans in the fight for fourth as the Welshman loses time
* Sordo and Neuville are sixth and seventh for Hyundai
* Lefebvre narrowly leads WRC2 after edging Koci again
A look at the other recovering drivers.
Meeke is 13th, 1m29s behind Solberg, with Kubica two places and about a minute and a half back.
Meeke is 13th, 1m29s behind Solberg, with Kubica two places and about a minute and a half back.
That run has indeed elevated Loeb into the points.
He's now ninth, ahead of Solberg - who retains the final points-paying position ahead of the WRC2 class leader.
Fine stuff.
He's now ninth, ahead of Solberg - who retains the final points-paying position ahead of the WRC2 class leader.
Fine stuff.
Great effort from WRC2 leader Lefebvre, who is quicker than Solberg and Protasov and 42.5s slower than Loeb's stage best.
The challenge the Citroen protege faces from class rival Koci is not waning, though. He's 4.7s slower than the Frenchman, which means the gap remains just 11.4s between the two.
The challenge the Citroen protege faces from class rival Koci is not waning, though. He's 4.7s slower than the Frenchman, which means the gap remains just 11.4s between the two.
We'll wait for the WRC2 runners and then dip into limp mode until the start of SS12. But it won't be a long wait - that's due to kick off at 14.43 UK time.
Leading SS11 times:
1 Loeb 10m42.4s
2 Kubica +1.8s
3 Latvala +5.3s
4 Meeke +5.6s
5 Ogier +7.4s
6 Ostberg +7.6s
Leading positions after SS11:
1 Ogier 2h35m28.6s
2 Latvala +1m02.8s
3 Mikkelsen +1m51.1s
4 Ostberg +2m28.3s
5 Evans +3m00.7s
6 Sordo +3m24.5s
1 Loeb 10m42.4s
2 Kubica +1.8s
3 Latvala +5.3s
4 Meeke +5.6s
5 Ogier +7.4s
6 Ostberg +7.6s
Leading positions after SS11:
1 Ogier 2h35m28.6s
2 Latvala +1m02.8s
3 Mikkelsen +1m51.1s
4 Ostberg +2m28.3s
5 Evans +3m00.7s
6 Sordo +3m24.5s
Checkered flag
So, Loeb takes the win on SS11 as Latvala nibbles every so slightly away at Ogier's lead.
Here's Tanak, and I suppose we ought to wait for Yuriy Protasov as well.
The Estonian: 11m01.1s.
The Ukranian: slowest, 11m53s.
The Estonian: 11m01.1s.
The Ukranian: slowest, 11m53s.
And there's Henning, in 11m34.3s - taking Prokop's place as slowest so far by 11.2s.
Sordo goes eighth quickest on the stage, 9.6s slower than Loeb and 7.4s quicker than team-mate Neuville.
We've got 12 times on the board. Come on Solberg/Tanak!
We've got 12 times on the board. Come on Solberg/Tanak!
Evans records an 11m14.6s, so it's a 24.6s loss to Ostberg. That takes quite a bit of sting out of that fight, with the gap now about half a minute.
Prokop's through, slowest so far, and we await Sordo, Solberg and Tanak - then we'll have a proper look at the order.
Prokop's through, slowest so far, and we await Sordo, Solberg and Tanak - then we'll have a proper look at the order.
Another loss for Evans at the final split, who stands to lose 15.6s to Ostberg at this stage.
Little reminder of who took which tyre options onto the afternoon leg of the Michelin-shod teams.
VW: 4 soft + 2 snow
Tanak/Neuville: 4 Super soft + 2 studded
Sordo: 4 soft + 2 snow
Loeb: 4 soft + 2 snow
Evans/Meeke: 2 soft + 2 studded + 2 Super soft
Solberg/Ostberg: 4 soft + 2 studded
VW: 4 soft + 2 snow
Tanak/Neuville: 4 Super soft + 2 studded
Sordo: 4 soft + 2 snow
Loeb: 4 soft + 2 snow
Evans/Meeke: 2 soft + 2 studded + 2 Super soft
Solberg/Ostberg: 4 soft + 2 studded
Neuville comes through in 10m59.4s as he bids to finish a Monte for the first time.
It's steady stuff so far on a rally Hyundai never expected big things on.
It's steady stuff so far on a rally Hyundai never expected big things on.
Ostberg's going to enjoy that stage more when he sees Evans' time!
The Welshman has lost 10s in the second split...
The Welshman has lost 10s in the second split...
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Ostberg, 10m50.0s - he took four softs and two studded tyres by the way.
Softs are popular so far on SS11. Ostberg says he had "no problem" and that he "enjoyed it".
"It's quite nice, quite dry," he finishes.
Softs are popular so far on SS11. Ostberg says he had "no problem" and that he "enjoyed it".
"It's quite nice, quite dry," he finishes.
Ostberg's split times are: 2m33.7s; 5m54.3s; 8m21.1s.
Neuville is a fraction slower but the real intrigue is Evans in relation to the Citroen.
At the first split Evans, just 7s back from Ostberg remember, clocks in at 2m33.5s! The battle continues.
Neuville dropps 2s to Ostberg at split two.
Neuville is a fraction slower but the real intrigue is Evans in relation to the Citroen.
At the first split Evans, just 7s back from Ostberg remember, clocks in at 2m33.5s! The battle continues.
Neuville dropps 2s to Ostberg at split two.
Now looking a little further down the timing screen to see how Ostberg, Neuville and Evans are faring.
Mikkelsen finishes in 10m51.5s, so ends up losing time late on to both his VW team-mates.
Mikkelsen finishes in 10m51.5s, so ends up losing time late on to both his VW team-mates.
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Latvala suggests that conditions are making life a bit trickier than desired, and that if it was fully dry "it would be nice to drive".
If it was fully dry, it wouldn't be the Monte.
If it was fully dry, it wouldn't be the Monte.
Latvala is third fastest, 10m47.7s and a small gain on Ogier.
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Ogier confirms he's on soft tyres, commenting: "A good stage for us, no problem at all."
It's 10m49.8s, so he's slower than Loeb, Kubica and Meeke.
Latvala's still a couple of seconds quicker than Ogier at the third split.
It's 10m49.8s, so he's slower than Loeb, Kubica and Meeke.
Latvala's still a couple of seconds quicker than Ogier at the third split.
Mikkelsen's through the first split and quicker at that point than either Ogier or Latvala. Not bad at all.
Ogier's in, we'll have a time in a moment.
Ogier's in, we'll have a time in a moment.
The two leading VWs are dropping time on Loeb. Ogier's down six seconds at the third split, Latvala 2s down at the second split and a fraction quicker than his team-mate at that point.
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Loeb comes through in 10m42.4s, quickest so far. He's got four soft tyres and two snow tyres.
"It was OK [but] nothing special," he reckons.
"It was OK [but] nothing special," he reckons.
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Meeke: "We had a mismatch on the tyres so the car is a little out of balance, but we had a good enough rhythm so we're happy."
A couple of times then. Kubica is quickest on 10m44.2s, Chardonnet 27.5s back.
Meeke is through in 10m48.0s, just slower than Kubica.
Meeke is through in 10m48.0s, just slower than Kubica.
Meeke has dropped time on Kubica, who has come through to the finish.
Ogier is slower than both Citroens at the first split.
Ogier is slower than both Citroens at the first split.
We also have some news on tyre choices, which we will relay shortly.
Chardonnet is approaching the stage end already. Loeb has gone 0.8s quicker than Meeke in the first split.
Meeke is 0.4s faster than Kubica at the first split. The Pole was 2.4s quicker than Chardonnet, by the way.
We've got more cars on the stage, with Citroen pair Meeke and Loeb up next.
Chardonnet clocks in at the first split at 2m35.7s, with Kubica slightly quicker.
Chardonnet clocks in at the first split at 2m35.7s, with Kubica slightly quicker.
We are go on SS11, as Chardonnet and Kubica begin their runs.
A little news on Tanak's return, which is confirmed despite M-Sport having to perform a very rapid clutch replacement on his Fiesta.
More from our man on the scene on Loeb, as Chardonnet approaches the start of SS11. And it's bad reading for anyone hoping this would spark something full-time for the nine-time world champion.
"It’s hard to imagine Sebastien Loeb being a more decent fella. Soon after describing his exit from one of the most fascinating Monte Carlo Rally battles in history, what did he do? He apologised to Citroen for not being able to land them any points from the season-opener.
"In the middle of Loeb's explanation of what was a very minor indiscretion with major consequences, he even found time to praise the efforts and ability of Robert Kubica.
"Unfortunately, he then went on to say he’s not coming back to the World Rally Championship this season. Which is disappointing, because we all know he’s a rally driver. And the WRC is much better than the World Touring Car Championship..."
"It’s hard to imagine Sebastien Loeb being a more decent fella. Soon after describing his exit from one of the most fascinating Monte Carlo Rally battles in history, what did he do? He apologised to Citroen for not being able to land them any points from the season-opener.
"In the middle of Loeb's explanation of what was a very minor indiscretion with major consequences, he even found time to praise the efforts and ability of Robert Kubica.
"Unfortunately, he then went on to say he’s not coming back to the World Rally Championship this season. Which is disappointing, because we all know he’s a rally driver. And the WRC is much better than the World Touring Car Championship..."
As we await the first cars, a little bit of Loeb love.
The legend returned in full flow this week, although a mistake robbed us of a superb lead battle between him and Ogier.
Loeb's status as a WRC hero remains firmly in tact, as this from DAVID EVANS attests:
"Loeb has been confronted by crowds everywhere he's gone this week and, when his heroic return came to an end last night, there was a big bunch of media folk ready to ask him what happened."
Ten minutes to go before the start of SS11, and here's a reminder of the running order: Chardonnet - Kubica - Meeke - Loeb - Ogier - Latvala - Mikkelsen - Ostberg - Neuville - Evans - Sordo
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Scott Mitchell
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