Rally GB, Macau GP, Bahrain WEC, NASCAR finale
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Crash
WRC - GB: Meeke gets to the end of the stage with some damage to the front end and says he's been for a trip through a ditch.
Considering that, he's "reasonably happy" with the time, let's see how it compares to Mikko Hirvonen.
Considering that, he's "reasonably happy" with the time, let's see how it compares to Mikko Hirvonen.
WTCC - Macau: Race two front row starter Tom Chilton explained how he dropped from second to sixth on the opening lap.
"My intial bite was fantastic, I got away really well," said Chilton. "But when I changed up I got a little bit of wheelspin and tried to adjust the clutch. That just killed it, and I was passed by five cars. It was definitely the wrong decision, as I am sure I would have been able to live with a bit of wheelspin."
"My intial bite was fantastic, I got away really well," said Chilton. "But when I changed up I got a little bit of wheelspin and tried to adjust the clutch. That just killed it, and I was passed by five cars. It was definitely the wrong decision, as I am sure I would have been able to live with a bit of wheelspin."
WRC - GB: Hirvonen is three tenths slower than Meeke on the stage, but it looks like Meeke's Citroen might have damaged two tyres in his excursion.
WRC - GB: That leaves Hirvonen just 3.1s ahead of Meeke with three full-length stages to go plus two spectator stages.
The M-Sport Ford clouted an arch at the end of the stage too, so also has some damage.
Now we've got to wait to see Meeke's situation, has he punctured those two tyres, and how many spares has he got?
There's no service at all this morning.
The M-Sport Ford clouted an arch at the end of the stage too, so also has some damage.
Now we've got to wait to see Meeke's situation, has he punctured those two tyres, and how many spares has he got?
There's no service at all this morning.
Lights out
WRC - GB: It's quick-fire stuff this morning and the next stage, Alwen, is already running.
Here's Latvala's description:
"It’s quite a fast stage with long straights and quite a few junctions.
"This stage is quite open, less in the forest. It felt nice for me.
"In one section it is quite like New Zealand with the camber in the corners, this is not long section, but it’s good.
"There is a one-kilometre section which is very, very muddy – it will be slippery here. I enjoy this stage."
Here's Latvala's description:
"It’s quite a fast stage with long straights and quite a few junctions.
"This stage is quite open, less in the forest. It felt nice for me.
"In one section it is quite like New Zealand with the camber in the corners, this is not long section, but it’s good.
"There is a one-kilometre section which is very, very muddy – it will be slippery here. I enjoy this stage."
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Hanninen has come through Alwen, but Mikkelsen has stopped.
Crash
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen went off the road and cannot get his VW started again.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Citroen confirms that Meeke did pick up a puncture as he blasted through that ditch.
The questions remain though, just one puncture? And how many spares?
The questions remain though, just one puncture? And how many spares?
WRC - GB: By the way, Ogier still leads by miles.
F3 - Macau GP: Just a few minutes ago, Felix Rosenqvist and Mucke Motorsport brought their tough 2014 to an incredible end by winning the Macau Grand Prix.
Here's the full story of how it happened from AUTOSPORT's temporarily one-armed F3 guru MARCUS SIMMONS:
Macau Grand Prix report
Here's the full story of how it happened from AUTOSPORT's temporarily one-armed F3 guru MARCUS SIMMONS:
Macau Grand Prix report
WTCC - Macau: Perhaps the race officials at Macau have heard Mehdi Bennani's complaints.
Campos TC2 driver Henry Kwong has been excluded from the race one results, after being judged to have caused an avoidable collison with the Moroccan.
Kwong was being lapped when he carelessly took out the Proteam driver.
Campos TC2 driver Henry Kwong has been excluded from the race one results, after being judged to have caused an avoidable collison with the Moroccan.
Kwong was being lapped when he carelessly took out the Proteam driver.
WRC - GB: With no more spare tyres to use this morning, Tanak admits he's having to take it pretty carefully now, and he's lost another 5.6s to current pacesetter Latvala on Alwen.
That gives Latvala another 38.7s to recover to reach seventh.
That gives Latvala another 38.7s to recover to reach seventh.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: The battle for fourth spread out first thing this morning as Mads Ostberg got away from Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans a little.
The Citroen has just come through Alwen quickest so far, so Ostberg's looking more secure.
But it's close behind him: Neuville ran wide at the start of that stage and felt he was lucky to be able to keep going. He's hanging on 6.4s ahead of Evans in fifth.
The Citroen has just come through Alwen quickest so far, so Ostberg's looking more secure.
But it's close behind him: Neuville ran wide at the start of that stage and felt he was lucky to be able to keep going. He's hanging on 6.4s ahead of Evans in fifth.
WRC - GB: Meeke completes the stage and is two seconds slower than Ostberg.
So he's definitely got enough tyres to keep driving at least, and he's sounding pretty happy - though he does again mention that Citroen does not want him to throw any manufacturers' points away.
The French team is currently second to the runaway VW squad, but it's only seven points ahead of M-Sport and 12 clear of Hyundai.
So he's definitely got enough tyres to keep driving at least, and he's sounding pretty happy - though he does again mention that Citroen does not want him to throw any manufacturers' points away.
The French team is currently second to the runaway VW squad, but it's only seven points ahead of M-Sport and 12 clear of Hyundai.
WRC - GB: Battle definitely still on for second place: Hirvonen is a second slower to Meeke is just 2.1s behind him.
WRC - GB: Hirvonen admits the muddy conditions are very hard to push in.
"I'm trying but it's really difficult to have a good rhythm. It felt like I could have been so much faster at that stage."
"I'm trying but it's really difficult to have a good rhythm. It felt like I could have been so much faster at that stage."
WRC - GB: But it's easy for some, like dominant leader Ogier...
"Really difficult conditions, that's for sure," he says as he completes Alwen a casual ninth fastest.
"So it's good to be in my position where I can cruise."
"Really difficult conditions, that's for sure," he says as he completes Alwen a casual ninth fastest.
"So it's good to be in my position where I can cruise."
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS19 results:
Stage times:
1 Ostberg 5m43.1s
2 Meeke +2.4s
3 Latvala +3.1s
4 Evans +3.3s
5 Hirvonen +3.4s
6 Neuville +5.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +43.6s
3 Meeke +45.7s
4 Ostberg +1m20.0s
5 Neuville +1m32.1s
6 Evans +1m38.5s
Stage times:
1 Ostberg 5m43.1s
2 Meeke +2.4s
3 Latvala +3.1s
4 Evans +3.3s
5 Hirvonen +3.4s
6 Neuville +5.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +43.6s
3 Meeke +45.7s
4 Ostberg +1m20.0s
5 Neuville +1m32.1s
6 Evans +1m38.5s
Breaking news
WRC - GB:
A quick round-up of what's happened out in the Welsh mud so far this morning...
* Hirvonen smacks an arch, Meeke visits a ditch, but they're still flying and just 2.1s apart for second.
* Ostberg re-establishes himself in fourth.
* Latvala closing on Tanak for seventh, helped by a puncture for the Estonian.
* Mikkelsen crashes out.
A quick round-up of what's happened out in the Welsh mud so far this morning...
* Hirvonen smacks an arch, Meeke visits a ditch, but they're still flying and just 2.1s apart for second.
* Ostberg re-establishes himself in fourth.
* Latvala closing on Tanak for seventh, helped by a puncture for the Estonian.
* Mikkelsen crashes out.
Quote
WRC - GB: Next up is a pair of runs around Kinmel Park.
It's one of those taking-rallying-to-the-people affairs, just 1.3 miles long, but it's going to be treacherous.
Here's Latvala's description:
"This is a typical parkland stage. It is slippery, but consistently slippery.
"You just have to make sure that all of the time you get your braking points right – it's easy to lose time if you don't!"
It's one of those taking-rallying-to-the-people affairs, just 1.3 miles long, but it's going to be treacherous.
Here's Latvala's description:
"This is a typical parkland stage. It is slippery, but consistently slippery.
"You just have to make sure that all of the time you get your braking points right – it's easy to lose time if you don't!"
Alastair Fisher
WRC - GB: In the support categories, Jari Ketomaa continues to dominate WRC2 and is "just driving around enjoying the weather".
He's a minute clear of Lorenzo Bertelli, who is being chased by Brit duo Matthew Wilson and Tom Cave.
Ketomaa's win won't count for anything in the title race unless championship leader Nasser Al-Attiyah is outside the top seven, and right now he's doing just fine in sixth.
There should be a home win in the Junior category, where Alastair Fisher (pictured) is dominating.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Solberg is reported to have stopped on the road section on the way to Kinmel Park to attend to a problem. He's currently ninth.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: M-Sport confirms that Solberg is out, and says he has a fuel leak on his Ford.
That elevates Prokop and Paddon into ninth and 10th.
That elevates Prokop and Paddon into ninth and 10th.
WEC: Yesterday Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi became World Endurance champions of 2014 despite a troubled time in a Bahrain round won by their Toyota team-mates Alex Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway.
Bahrain WEC race report
Less positive sportscar news can be revealed this morning, with the expected boost to the LMP2 field for the Interlagos finale not happening - no extra KCMG car, and no Strakka Dome:
Strakka Dome will not race until 2015
Bahrain WEC race report
Less positive sportscar news can be revealed this morning, with the expected boost to the LMP2 field for the Interlagos finale not happening - no extra KCMG car, and no Strakka Dome:
Strakka Dome will not race until 2015
WRC - GB: The midfield runners are completing their pair of wins through the Kinmel Park stage.
So far we know that Kubica has got through two more trouble-free stages, and despite Prokop saying at the end of the last stage that it was probably inevitable that Paddon was going to pass him, the Czech just outpaced the Kiwi.
So far we know that Kubica has got through two more trouble-free stages, and despite Prokop saying at the end of the last stage that it was probably inevitable that Paddon was going to pass him, the Czech just outpaced the Kiwi.
WRC - GB: No dramas in the park at the moment, and a little intrigue from Meeke who will only say "I'm fine for the moment" when asked if he has any spare tyres left.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: So far Latvala holds the fastest time on both runs of Kinmel Park, with the leaders now making their appearances.
WRC - GB: Meeke is still creeping up on Hirvonen, the gap is down to 1.6s after their first runs here.
Hirvonen ends the stage furious, saying the officials didn't give him "the ****ing time card until five seconds before the start", which meant he couldn't turn the launch control on and was a few seconds late onto the stage.
There's a quick turnaround here as the cars make two passes through the stage, and it looks like it didn't quite work and that could cost Hirvonen.
Hirvonen ends the stage furious, saying the officials didn't give him "the ****ing time card until five seconds before the start", which meant he couldn't turn the launch control on and was a few seconds late onto the stage.
There's a quick turnaround here as the cars make two passes through the stage, and it looks like it didn't quite work and that could cost Hirvonen.
WRC - GB: Still nothing to choose between Neuville and Evans's pace in their battle for fifth.
The Hyundai and M-Sport Ford are 5.7s apart with two stages to go, and although Evans isn't taking any risks, he adds that he's "not going to just hand it to him".
The Hyundai and M-Sport Ford are 5.7s apart with two stages to go, and although Evans isn't taking any risks, he adds that he's "not going to just hand it to him".
WRC - GB: Meeke is 4s off Latvala's pace on the second Kinmel run. Is he now settling for third?
Quote
WRC - GB: Hirvonen rebuilds the gap to over four seconds with his run.
"It's better now," he admits, while still sounding quite disgruntled.
"It's better now," he admits, while still sounding quite disgruntled.
WRC - GB: Back to Alwen now, as this morning's forest stages are re-run in the opposite order so that Brenig becomes the televised Powerstage.
Here's reminder of what Race Centre Live stage guide Jari-Matti Latvala reckons about SS22:
"It’s quite a fast stage with long straights and quite a few junctions. This stage is quite open, less in the forest. It felt nice for me.
"In one section it is quite like New Zealand with the camber in the corners, this is not long section, but it's good.
"There is a one-kilometre section which is very, very muddy – it will be slippery here. I enjoy this stage."
Here's reminder of what Race Centre Live stage guide Jari-Matti Latvala reckons about SS22:
"It’s quite a fast stage with long straights and quite a few junctions. This stage is quite open, less in the forest. It felt nice for me.
"In one section it is quite like New Zealand with the camber in the corners, this is not long section, but it's good.
"There is a one-kilometre section which is very, very muddy – it will be slippery here. I enjoy this stage."
WRC - GB: This is how they're running heading into the final two stages of WRC 2014:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +45.4s
3 Meeke +50.0s
4 Ostberg +1m21.3s
5 Neuville +1m32.9s
6 Evans +1m38.6s
7 Tanak +2m37.0s
8 Latvala +3m10.5s
9 Prokop +3m53.8s
10 Paddon +3m55.3s
11 Kubica +4m22.8s
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +45.4s
3 Meeke +50.0s
4 Ostberg +1m21.3s
5 Neuville +1m32.9s
6 Evans +1m38.6s
7 Tanak +2m37.0s
8 Latvala +3m10.5s
9 Prokop +3m53.8s
10 Paddon +3m55.3s
11 Kubica +4m22.8s
Twitter
WRC - GB: M-Sport says that rather than coming back to service after his retirement, Henning Solberg has gone onto the stages to spectate for the rest of the morning.
WRC - GB: Hanninen and Kubica are safely through Alwen.
That means just one more stage for Kubica to finally tick off another trouble-free rally, and if there's any drama ahead, he may yet get into the points too.
That means just one more stage for Kubica to finally tick off another trouble-free rally, and if there's any drama ahead, he may yet get into the points too.
Quote
WRC - GB: There's a battle back on at the foot of the top 10, as Prokop pulls out a couple of seconds over Paddon in their fight for ninth.
"I had a really good feeling and I did my best," says Prokop.
"If I drive like that, it should be OK."
"I had a really good feeling and I did my best," says Prokop.
"If I drive like that, it should be OK."
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Latvala is fastest so far on Alwen, but he needs some assistance to catch Tanak for seventh as the gap between them is still 26.3s.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Major problem for Meeke on this stage - his first split is 31s down on Ostberg's pace.
WRC - GB: Meeke was only 31.3s ahead of Ostberg for fourth going onto the stage.
WRC - GB: Meeke has fallen behind both Ostberg and Neuville, he's down to fifth overall having lost about 45s on this stage.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Peter Mills, Gary Watkins, Marcus Simmons, Jonathan Noble
Published:
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