Rally Catalunya, Formula E opener, MotoGP Sepang
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Neuville with a decent time, just 2s slower than Ogier.
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Despite clocking the slowest time at the moment, Ostberg is a happy man.
"It's a brilliant stage, it flows all the way to the end. I was happy with my stage, sure we lost a lot of time, but I'm happy with my afternoon."
"It's a brilliant stage, it flows all the way to the end. I was happy with my stage, sure we lost a lot of time, but I'm happy with my afternoon."
Ostberg's 4.4s slower than Ogier and 11s behind Latvala.
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Mikkelsen is now 2.9s behind Latvala overall and with Jari-Matti on top form, he may struggle to get that place back.
"Jari-Matti did a very good job in this stage. It's difficult for me to go fast through the corners because I just increase my understeer."
"Jari-Matti did a very good job in this stage. It's difficult for me to go fast through the corners because I just increase my understeer."
He was 5s slower than Latvala.
Latvala demotes Mikkelsen of second place!
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Latvala, for once, appears happy at the stage end. "It's my favourite stage. It's like a race circuit, we set the car up like a race car and I drove it like a race circuit."
Latvala 6.6s quicker than Ogier at the stage end.
Ogier says he was "a little cautious" towards the beginning of the stage due to the cuts. No need to take any unnecessary risks.
Ogier is in with a time of 10m51.6s
Mikkelsen 4.1s up on Ogier now through the second split.
Ostberg is quicker through the opening split as well. Ogier, of course, has a big lead so if he keeps it clean there should be no problems for the champion.
Latvala continues to go quicker. He is now 7.8s up on Ogier's time through the second split.
Mikkelsen is quicker than Ogier as well, by 3.9s.
Latvala is 4.5s quicker than Ogier through the opening split.
Green flag
SS16 is live!
David Evans
There he is! David Evans spotted him this morning:
"It's not often that Guy Martin's spotted in the service park on a WRC round. TT hero (despite the fact he still hasn't won one) Martin was spotted on the side of Jon Armstrong's service truck."
"It's not often that Guy Martin's spotted in the service park on a WRC round. TT hero (despite the fact he still hasn't won one) Martin was spotted on the side of Jon Armstrong's service truck."
When you think of the WRC the first name that comes to mind probably isn't Guy Martin, but...
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We have just over 10-minutes until Ogier gets SS16 underway. Here's Chris Patterson's stage guide.
SS13/16 Capafonts 12.30 miles
This is a brand new stage and there are some big of cuts in this one, and cuts over grass, so it will pull stuff into the road. As well as that, when we were out on the recce, the maintenance guys were out working on the hedges and cutting the grass and that sort of thing, so they will have pulled some stones out into the road. This stage goes up over a hill and on the way down the other side, that’s where the big cuts are coming – but we will have to be careful as the regulation now states you must keep two wheels on the road. But once that cutting starts, you have no option but to follow the line.
SS13/16 Capafonts 12.30 miles
This is a brand new stage and there are some big of cuts in this one, and cuts over grass, so it will pull stuff into the road. As well as that, when we were out on the recce, the maintenance guys were out working on the hedges and cutting the grass and that sort of thing, so they will have pulled some stones out into the road. This stage goes up over a hill and on the way down the other side, that’s where the big cuts are coming – but we will have to be careful as the regulation now states you must keep two wheels on the road. But once that cutting starts, you have no option but to follow the line.
"A sad end for the Quattro," said David. I couldn't agree more.
It's not in such a great state now as David Evans found out on Twitter.
Well, can you all see that lovely Audi Quattro on the left?
Remember those lovely Group B and early Group A cars we showed you earlier? If not here's a refresher ...
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Overall standings after SS15:
1 Ogier 2h21m31.4s
2 Mikkelsen +57.7s
3 Sordo +59.3s
4 Latvala +59.8s
5 Ostberg +1m36.3s
6 Meeke +1m41.4s
7 Paddon +1m52.7s
8 Neuville +1m54.5s
9 Prokop +4m0.8s
10 Tidemand +6m31.1s
1 Ogier 2h21m31.4s
2 Mikkelsen +57.7s
3 Sordo +59.3s
4 Latvala +59.8s
5 Ostberg +1m36.3s
6 Meeke +1m41.4s
7 Paddon +1m52.7s
8 Neuville +1m54.5s
9 Prokop +4m0.8s
10 Tidemand +6m31.1s
Checkered flag
SS15 results:
1 Ogier 5m40.2s
2 Latvala +1.1s
3 Mikkelsen +2.1s
4 Kubica +3.1s
5 Sordo +3.3s
6 Neuville +3.8s
7 Meeke +5.6s
8 Ostberg +6.8s
1 Ogier 5m40.2s
2 Latvala +1.1s
3 Mikkelsen +2.1s
4 Kubica +3.1s
5 Sordo +3.3s
6 Neuville +3.8s
7 Meeke +5.6s
8 Ostberg +6.8s
In WRC2 Kopecky is trying to close in on the lead. Tidemand is still well clear but the gap is coming down, it's currently 46s.
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A problem with the rear right wheel failing to brake is why Kubica's time dropped off towards the end of the previous stage.
"On the last stage I don't know what happened. When I hit the brakes the car went sideways and we had a moment. The car is now only braking with three wheels."
"On the last stage I don't know what happened. When I hit the brakes the car went sideways and we had a moment. The car is now only braking with three wheels."
Well, Kubica is in and he is fourth fastest, 3.1s slower than Ogier.
We're waiting for Kubica to come through, mainly to find out how he lost so much time towards the end of the previous stage.
Al Qassimi is 33.5s off the pace.
Prokop is 10s off the fastest time, 0.2s adrift of Paddon in eighth.
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Sordo finishes 2.2s down on Latvala, meaning he is holding on to his third place by just 0.5s.
"It's difficult but we are here for a fight and we will fight."
"It's difficult but we are here for a fight and we will fight."
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Paddon is slowest. The Kiwi damaged his rim early on in the stage. Neuville is now only 1.8s behind.
"We cut a corner at the start and damaged the rim at the start and it got progressively worse."
"We cut a corner at the start and damaged the rim at the start and it got progressively worse."
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Once again Meeke saying he isn't aiming to beat his team-mate: "The objective is not to fight with Mads - it's all about the Hyundai's."
Mekke is through 1.8s faster than team-mate Ostberg. He is now just 5.1s behind Ostberg overall.
Neuville completes the stage 1.7s down on Mikkelsen but crucially he is faster than Ostberg by 3s.
By: Matt Beer
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