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Neuville completes the stage with a time of 7m17.1s.
Ogier is into the stage now. The gap to Meeke overall is 15.1s.
Green flag
Here we go then! SS9 is underway. Neuville is the first on the road following Latvala's retirement.
Information
In preparation for another run through Gartheiniog here is Elfyn Evans' stage guide.
SS7/9 Gartheiniog (7.04 miles)
This is my favourite. I don’t know why I prefer if to Dyfi – which is very similar in nature – I just do. It is the stage closest to home for me, maybe that’s got something to do with it. It’s not as wide as somewhere like Hafren, but you can get a fantastic rhythm going. It tends to be a bit muddier as well, which improves the grip especially on the second pass. The organisers have changed the route a little bit this year, I think because it’s a live television stage. The stage finishes at the top of a very fast downhill section. I used to enjoy that downhill – known as the ski slope – but the last time we did it there was a big chicane at the bottom, which spoiled it a bit for me.
SS7/9 Gartheiniog (7.04 miles)
This is my favourite. I don’t know why I prefer if to Dyfi – which is very similar in nature – I just do. It is the stage closest to home for me, maybe that’s got something to do with it. It’s not as wide as somewhere like Hafren, but you can get a fantastic rhythm going. It tends to be a bit muddier as well, which improves the grip especially on the second pass. The organisers have changed the route a little bit this year, I think because it’s a live television stage. The stage finishes at the top of a very fast downhill section. I used to enjoy that downhill – known as the ski slope – but the last time we did it there was a big chicane at the bottom, which spoiled it a bit for me.
David Evans
David Higgins’ car is running Colin McRae’s livery from the 1995 RAC Rally, when the Scot was crowned World Rally Champion. Seven-time American Champion Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew were waved over the ramp ahead of the entire field by Jimmy McRae at the Llandudno start.
It also wouldn't be Rally GB without a bit of McRae fever...
David Evans
Good to see rally leader Sebastien Ogier parked his recce car up alongside AUTOSPORT’s trusty Landie last night. Or was it the other way around…
If you joined us for coverage yesterday you would have seen the stunning Land Rover Defender that David Evans is using to get between stages. Well, it seems that we're not the only admirers of the sleek looking beast.
The second run through Gartheiniog will start at 9.38pm but before that a quick Moffett update. The brothers are 20th and 21st respectively with Josh 29.2s clear of Sam.
The WRC2 leaders are through and Camilli extends his lead over Suninen by 0.1s. So the gap heading into the re-run of Gartheiniog is 6.5s.
Information
We will bring you WRC2 updates when the leaders start to come through SS8. Eric Camilli leads coming into the stage with Teemu Suninen only 6.4s behind.
Crash
Latvala has retired. We suspect it has something to do with his broken driveshaft.
Checkered flag
Overall standings after SS8:
1 Ogier 1h38m23.3s
2 Meeke +15.1s
3 Mikkelsen +40.2s
4 Sordo +1m36.6s
5 Ostberg +1m44.3s
6 Tanak +1m50.7s
7 Paddon +2m22s
8 Evans +2m40.2s
9 Lefebvre +4m07.7s
10 Bertelli +4m22.7s
1 Ogier 1h38m23.3s
2 Meeke +15.1s
3 Mikkelsen +40.2s
4 Sordo +1m36.6s
5 Ostberg +1m44.3s
6 Tanak +1m50.7s
7 Paddon +2m22s
8 Evans +2m40.2s
9 Lefebvre +4m07.7s
10 Bertelli +4m22.7s
Bertelli is also in and he goes 12th quickest, 9.3s slower than Prokop.
Lefebvre edges out Prokop by 2.1s and is currently 10th fastest through the stage.
Checkered flag
SS8 results:
1 Neuville 15m10.1s
2 Ogier +1.1s
3 Meeke +4.1s
4 Kubica +9.4s
5 Evans +12s
6 Mikkelsen +12.6s
7 Tanak +16.2s
8 Paddon +16.8s
1 Neuville 15m10.1s
2 Ogier +1.1s
3 Meeke +4.1s
4 Kubica +9.4s
5 Evans +12s
6 Mikkelsen +12.6s
7 Tanak +16.2s
8 Paddon +16.8s
Kubica is finding his rhythm again. He is fourth quickest through the stage, 9.4s off the pace.
Prokop is through safely. He is 14.1s slower than Sordo and 32.3s off the pace of Neuville.
There's a nice little battle shaping up for fourth between Sordo, Ostberg and Tanak. The trio are separated by 14.1s overall.
Tanak is in. The Estonian completes the stage 0.6s quicker than Paddon.
Paddon is hot on Sordo's heels and is slightly faster than his Hyundai team-mate by 1.4s.
Sordo goes sixth fastest through the stage and jumps Ostberg in the overall standings as a result.
Evans comes through fourth fastest, a vast improvement on his opening stage of the morning. He is 7.9s adrift of Meeke, 12s slower than Neuville.
Meeke has came through and he has lost 3s to Ogier. The overall gap is now back up to 15.1s.
The same issue hampered Mikkelsen 20km into the stage. His front right at the stage end appeared fine though so maybe it's a sign of a bigger problem.
Quote
Ostberg is in and he is 1m02s down on Neuville after picking up a suspected front right puncture.
"I had a big impact on a straight line, I was completely shocked. I don't know what has happened."
"I had a big impact on a straight line, I was completely shocked. I don't know what has happened."
Quote
It's no surprise at all that Ogier is having a difficult morning. His thoughts are firmly with all those affected by what happened in Paris. "It's hard to carry on when things like this are happening."
Ogier comes through and completes the stage 1.1s slower than Neuville.
Stopwatch
As expected Neuville comes through much quicker than Latvala. The Belgian is 1m08.5s faster.
Quote
When it rains it pours for Latvala.
"We have a broken driveshaft. We drove 10km and then it just snapped and we lost about a minute."
"We have a broken driveshaft. We drove 10km and then it just snapped and we lost about a minute."
Stopwatch
Latvala has completed the stage with a time of 16m18.6s
OK, SS8. Latvala, Neuville, Ogier, Mikkelsen, Ostberg and Meeke are all into the stage.
Checkered flag
Overall standings after SS7:
1 Ogier 1h23m12.1s
2 Meeke +12.1s
3 Mikkelsen +28.7s
4 Ostberg +43.4s
5 Sordo +1m19.5s
6 Tanak +1m35.6s
7 Paddon +2m06.3s
8 Evans +2m29.3s
9 Lefebvre +3m38.6s
10 Bertelli +3m42.2s
1 Ogier 1h23m12.1s
2 Meeke +12.1s
3 Mikkelsen +28.7s
4 Ostberg +43.4s
5 Sordo +1m19.5s
6 Tanak +1m35.6s
7 Paddon +2m06.3s
8 Evans +2m29.3s
9 Lefebvre +3m38.6s
10 Bertelli +3m42.2s
Checkered flag
SS7 results:
1 Neuville 7m03.4s
2 Latvala +1.2s
3 Mikkelsen +2.5s
4 Meeke +3.8s
5 Ogier +5.2s
6 Ostberg +5.6s
7 Tanak +5.9s
8 Sordo +6s
1 Neuville 7m03.4s
2 Latvala +1.2s
3 Mikkelsen +2.5s
4 Meeke +3.8s
5 Ogier +5.2s
6 Ostberg +5.6s
7 Tanak +5.9s
8 Sordo +6s
Lefebvre is also in. He is 6.2s up on Prokop but 18.4s off the fastest time.
We will go over to SS8 soon. Meanwhile on SS7 Kubica has came through 9.9s off the pace set by Neuville.
Green flag
We have a bit of a crossover as SS8 is already underway. Here's another stage guide from Elfyn Evans who will be hoping Dyfi treats him a little bit better than Gartheiniog did.
SS8/10 Dyfi (16.06 miles)
Dyfi is another great stage and being right next door to Gartheiniog, it’s very similar. We’ve done this stage in all sorts of variations and ran it split into two as few years ago – it’s good to have it back to its full length. It’s quite fast in some places – but there’s also some technical sections in there as well. And, in felling some trees, the stages had been opened up quite a lot. It’s a bit longer than last year, there’s an extra loop in the middle, which will be nice – I’m all for spending a bit longer with my Ford Fiesta RS WRC in ‘stage’ mode.
SS8/10 Dyfi (16.06 miles)
Dyfi is another great stage and being right next door to Gartheiniog, it’s very similar. We’ve done this stage in all sorts of variations and ran it split into two as few years ago – it’s good to have it back to its full length. It’s quite fast in some places – but there’s also some technical sections in there as well. And, in felling some trees, the stages had been opened up quite a lot. It’s a bit longer than last year, there’s an extra loop in the middle, which will be nice – I’m all for spending a bit longer with my Ford Fiesta RS WRC in ‘stage’ mode.
Evans had a slow run through his favourite stage, which can be explained by a stall he had through the hairpin.
By: Matt Beer
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