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Ostberg, again, loses more time. He is 6s slower than Ogier through the third split.
Ogier nearing the stage end. The only man currently quicker than him is Latvala.
Evans is 4.2s off the pace of Ogier as well.
Neuville, Evans and Sordo are all into the opening stage. Neuville is already through the opening split and he is way off the pace, 8.7s down on Ogier.
At the third split Latvala is 2.8s quicker than Ogier!
Ostberg already losing sizeable chunks of time to the Volkswagen's. He is now 3.7s slower than Ogier at the second split.
Meeke is 1s slower than Ogier at the opening split, but is 1.1s up on his team-mate Ostberg.
Mikkelsen 1.7s down on Ogier at the second split
Both Mikkelsen and Ostberg are both down on Ogier through the opening split.
At the second split and Latvala has lost a little time, he is still 1.7s up on Ogier though.
David Evans
Kris Meeke is entering the stage now and the Citroen driver had some fun with Susie Wolff as co-driver on his final shakedown run, as David Evans explains.
Williams F1 development driver Susie Wolff co-drove Kris Meeke on his final run at yesterday’s shakedown stage in Clocaenog and admitted they went a little bit quicker than her rallying – and Mercedes F1 boss – husband Toto Wolff. “It was unbelievable,” she told Autosport. “Toto’s done some rallying, so we know about the sport, but that was something else – that was the pinnacle. I couldn’t believe the speed we were carrying into corners, the punishment the car could take and just how soft the car ran and how much it moved around. It was amazing!”
Meeke was a bit more relaxed after the run, saying: “It was a lot nicer to look across to the co-driver’s side of the car than normal!”
Williams F1 development driver Susie Wolff co-drove Kris Meeke on his final run at yesterday’s shakedown stage in Clocaenog and admitted they went a little bit quicker than her rallying – and Mercedes F1 boss – husband Toto Wolff. “It was unbelievable,” she told Autosport. “Toto’s done some rallying, so we know about the sport, but that was something else – that was the pinnacle. I couldn’t believe the speed we were carrying into corners, the punishment the car could take and just how soft the car ran and how much it moved around. It was amazing!”
Meeke was a bit more relaxed after the run, saying: “It was a lot nicer to look across to the co-driver’s side of the car than normal!”
Mikkelsen and Ostberg are also now into the stage.
We have our fist splits in! And Latvala is 2.3s up on Ogier.
Green flag
Rally GB is underway as Ogier enters the opening stage.
Information
We're only minutes away now from the start of SS1, so, here's home hero Elfyn Evans' stage guide:
SS1/4 Hafren (19.97 miles)
First up, this is a really nice way to start the event. It’s changed a bit from last year in that we’re doing the full-length stage without Sweet Lamb on the end. It’s very fast and the road’s generally quite wide. If it stays dry, this one usually polishes up a bit and the surface can be quite slippery.
SS1/4 Hafren (19.97 miles)
First up, this is a really nice way to start the event. It’s changed a bit from last year in that we’re doing the full-length stage without Sweet Lamb on the end. It’s very fast and the road’s generally quite wide. If it stays dry, this one usually polishes up a bit and the surface can be quite slippery.
David Evans
Fascinating pre-event chat with Sebastien Ogier about final-stage Rally of Spain shunt which cost him what looked like a straightforward win on the penultimate round of the season. The Frenchman said:
“What happened reminded me a little bit of my idol Ayrton Senna in Monaco, 1988. He was almost a lap ahead and just crash a few lap before the end. It was interesting to hear his comment.
You know, I watched the movie so many times, but I watched again and his comment was: “On this day, I reached a level so close to perfection I relax and I open the window for mistakes.” For me, I had a run of 15 rallies without any mistakes and, for sure, you bring more confidence and somehow, I relax a little bit too much as well and I opened the door for the mistake.”
“What happened reminded me a little bit of my idol Ayrton Senna in Monaco, 1988. He was almost a lap ahead and just crash a few lap before the end. It was interesting to hear his comment.
You know, I watched the movie so many times, but I watched again and his comment was: “On this day, I reached a level so close to perfection I relax and I open the window for mistakes.” For me, I had a run of 15 rallies without any mistakes and, for sure, you bring more confidence and somehow, I relax a little bit too much as well and I opened the door for the mistake.”
Before we move away from Mikkelsen’s win in Spain, David Evans caught up with the world rally champion, Sebastien Ogier, about the shunt that agonisingly cost him victory.
News
SS1 will get underway very soon where Andreas Mikkelsen, who picked up his maiden World Rally Championship victory in Spain, will take part following a trip to Germany for medical checks.
Good morning and welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live’s coverage of Rally GB.
By: Matt Beer
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