Rally GB and Sepang MotoGP
Live Text
Sort by
Information
A tyre update for you: All Michelin runners have taken a full set of softs for this afternoon. They all have five, except for Mikkelsen who's taken an extra set of boots.
Mikkelsen is 53.3s down by the second split.
Ogier is now through the second split in 7m25.3s. Again, no signs of problems there for the Frenchman.
Mikkelsen comes through the first split now and is 32.4s slower than Ogier.
Mikkelsen is also on the road but is likely to be somewhat slower through the first split. Sensibly, it looks as though there's a four-minute gap between himself and Neuville in the running order.
Ogier watch: No apparent problems through the first split, it would seem. Ogier's through that in 4m18.1s, which is around a second and a half slower than he managed this morning.
Twitter
Information
Speaking of Latvala, he's another man who's been busy today. Left bereft of confidence this morning on the damp stages - which seem to have caught just about everyone off guard - he softened the car after Myherin this morning, and then again after Sweet Lamb, which appears to have paid off. He's sixth on the road, though, so any opportunities to make up ground might be limited to others encountering problems.
Lights green
Ogier is away and starts SS5.
Information
Third-place man Jari-Matti Latvala is your guide to stages today. Here's a preview of what the crews can expect to face as they prepare to start the afternoon loop with a second run on Myherin:
SS5 Myherin (19.77 miles)
The first four kilometres of this stage are completely new, we have never seen them or competed on them before – but it’s good. It keeps with the rhythm of Myherin. Some of the downhill sections in the first half of the stage are quite tricky now, but the uphill in the second half is more straightforward. When you are over the top, by the windfarm, the road is really fast and the same in both ways. It doesn’t change so much because it’s running in the other way. The end is going to be nice as well, with the hairpins coming downhill.
SS5 Myherin (19.77 miles)
The first four kilometres of this stage are completely new, we have never seen them or competed on them before – but it’s good. It keeps with the rhythm of Myherin. Some of the downhill sections in the first half of the stage are quite tricky now, but the uphill in the second half is more straightforward. When you are over the top, by the windfarm, the road is really fast and the same in both ways. It doesn’t change so much because it’s running in the other way. The end is going to be nice as well, with the hairpins coming downhill.
Stopwatch
We'll have more reaction from the regroup to litter the opening moments of SS5, but with a handful of minutes before the resumption of the rally, here's a quick catch up on how the leading runners sit.
Overall classification:
1 Ogier 52m04.7s
2 Tanak +7.7s
3 Latvala +32.3s
4 Meeke +32.5s
5 Paddon +32.7s
6 Breen +37.1s
7 Neuville +42.5s
8 Sordo +58.4s
Overall classification:
1 Ogier 52m04.7s
2 Tanak +7.7s
3 Latvala +32.3s
4 Meeke +32.5s
5 Paddon +32.7s
6 Breen +37.1s
7 Neuville +42.5s
8 Sordo +58.4s
Information
Still, advantage Tanak? You'd think so, with Ogier concerned about the health of his Polo, but Tanak hasn't been without his own anxieties.
The Estonian and co-driver Raigo Molder went straight to the left-rear of the Fiesta and took the wheel off to examine the car's suspension. Tanak found no problems with the car - with all arms intact - but while he was quite guarded in what he said, he reported he'd felt the rear moving a little while on the stages.
Tanak suspected a suspension joint might be wearing, but said while it might get worse he wasn't expecting anything to break.
Watch this space, anyway.
The Estonian and co-driver Raigo Molder went straight to the left-rear of the Fiesta and took the wheel off to examine the car's suspension. Tanak found no problems with the car - with all arms intact - but while he was quite guarded in what he said, he reported he'd felt the rear moving a little while on the stages.
Tanak suspected a suspension joint might be wearing, but said while it might get worse he wasn't expecting anything to break.
Watch this space, anyway.
David Evans
No more rain is expected this afternoon - although no one really expected any this morning, and we certainly weren't anticipating any fog. For conditions to be optimal for Tanak, he'd ideally want there to be a bit of wind to dry the stages, but there's not a lot of that around.
Information
So while Ogier leads, he has plenty of reservations about this afternoon. The four-time world champion thinks he may have something wrong with his driveshaft - and those concerns will no doubt have been heightened by Mikkelsen's woes.
During regroup, Ogier told our man DAVID EVANS he could hear a 'click, click, click' on the road between the stages, but that he was fine while on the stages. He said he took it steady off the line - still using launch control - but can't do anymore to solve his problems as there are a further 55 miles or so between himself and evening service.
During regroup, Ogier told our man DAVID EVANS he could hear a 'click, click, click' on the road between the stages, but that he was fine while on the stages. He said he took it steady off the line - still using launch control - but can't do anymore to solve his problems as there are a further 55 miles or so between himself and evening service.
Information
Here's the current state of play: Ogier, bidding for a fourth-successive Rally GB win, leads the way from Tanak, with Latvala in third.
Tanak came back towards Ogier on the (slightly) drier final two stages of this morning's loop, and is now 7.7s behind the rally leader - who had voiced concerns about about his transmission.
Latvala leads a mini group - including himself, Meeke, Paddon and Breen - in the fight for third, while the third Volkswagen of Mikkelsen encountered a driveshaft issue on SS4 before the regroup.
Tanak came back towards Ogier on the (slightly) drier final two stages of this morning's loop, and is now 7.7s behind the rally leader - who had voiced concerns about about his transmission.
Latvala leads a mini group - including himself, Meeke, Paddon and Breen - in the fight for third, while the third Volkswagen of Mikkelsen encountered a driveshaft issue on SS4 before the regroup.
Information
Hello, and welcome back Autosport Race Centre Live for coverage of Friday afternoon's Wales Rally GB loop.
If you're just joining us, welcome along - we'll fill you in along the way. If you're returning after a lunch break, we'll also fill you in as plenty has happened over lunch!
If you're just joining us, welcome along - we'll fill you in along the way. If you're returning after a lunch break, we'll also fill you in as plenty has happened over lunch!
Information
We're going to leave live coverage for about an hour, now, but do join us again from 1:30pm for the repeat loop of this morning's opening four stages.
Catch you in a bit.
Catch you in a bit.
Autosport
Here's our report from this morning's opening Wales Rally GB loop, with Ogier ahead but Tanak closing in: 
Twitter
Checkered flag
And here's a final time-check of the morning...
SS4 Dyfnant leading stage times:
1 Tanak 10m18.9s
2 Ogier +2.2s
3 Latvala +6.3s
4 Neuville +7.5s
5 Paddon +8.8s
6 Meeke +8.9s
Overall classification:
1 Ogier 52m04.7s
2 Tanak +7.7s
3 Latvala +32.3s
4 Meeke +32.5s
5 Paddon +32.7s
6 Breen +37.1s
7 Neuville +42.5s
8 Sordo +58.4s
SS4 Dyfnant leading stage times:
1 Tanak 10m18.9s
2 Ogier +2.2s
3 Latvala +6.3s
4 Neuville +7.5s
5 Paddon +8.8s
6 Meeke +8.9s
Overall classification:
1 Ogier 52m04.7s
2 Tanak +7.7s
3 Latvala +32.3s
4 Meeke +32.5s
5 Paddon +32.7s
6 Breen +37.1s
7 Neuville +42.5s
8 Sordo +58.4s
Twitter
Information
How about one final summary?
SS4 Dyfnant summary:
- Ogier voices concerns about transmission, as Mikkelsen struggles with broken driveshaft
- Flying Tanak cuts rally lead to 7.7s with second stage win of morning
- Latvala up to third overall
- Finn 0.2s clear of Meeke, with Paddon fifth, the same distance back
SS4 Dyfnant summary:
- Ogier voices concerns about transmission, as Mikkelsen struggles with broken driveshaft
- Flying Tanak cuts rally lead to 7.7s with second stage win of morning
- Latvala up to third overall
- Finn 0.2s clear of Meeke, with Paddon fifth, the same distance back
Twitter
Twitter
Information
JACK BENYON: Speaking of Brits, ERC3 champion Chris Ingram is in action this weekend, part of a team with British Junior champion and Irishman Rob Duggan.
After being crashed into on a road section before shakedown yesterday, Ingram is having a tough deal. Transmission trouble has ended his day. He'll be looking to return under Rally2.
After being crashed into on a road section before shakedown yesterday, Ingram is having a tough deal. Transmission trouble has ended his day. He'll be looking to return under Rally2.
Twitter
Twitter
Quote
"That was a lot cleaner. I made one little mistake in the middle of the last junction, but I have to be happy," says Breen, who's sixth.
Quote
Asked if he had any problems towards the end of the stage, Tanak says: "No, it's just that the last couple of stages were getting a bit muddy."
Stopwatch
Tanak doesn't quite deliver on what his initial pace promised, but he's again faster by 2.2s and cuts the lead overall to 7.7s.
Latvala is OK with his performance, and says unlike his team-mates he has no driveshaft concerns.
Latvala is 4.1s slower than current pacesetter and team-mate Ogier. Tanak's progress has slowed somewhat further down the road, but he's still 4.1s up on Ogier.
Twitter
Stopwatch
While we wait for more of the Estonian's splits, Sordo is in and 9.6s slower than Ogier. Latvala and Ostberg will be the next cars in.
Second split also in from Ogier, who comes through the final time check in 7m06.4s.
Or have we? Timing screens now show Ogier has come through the first split in 3m45.8s, which puts him 30s ahead of Mikkelsen.
No first split in from Ogier yet, but Mikkelsen is through in 4m15.8s.
Mikkelsen also on the road, as it Neuvile.
Lights green
Stage is go! Ogier's off and running on SS4.
Twitter
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
