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WRC - GB: Change of position among the slightly unhappy people just outside the top 10 - Paddon has taken 11th place from Kubica.
Paddon was running in the points before power steering and differential problems cost him time yesterday, while Kubica's pace has been muted all weekend and he's had a few adventures, though nothing that you'd actually class as a shunt yet.
Paddon was running in the points before power steering and differential problems cost him time yesterday, while Kubica's pace has been muted all weekend and he's had a few adventures, though nothing that you'd actually class as a shunt yet.
WRC - GB: Hanninen, who is slightly slower than Mikkelsen again, is slightly ahead in the overall leaderboard in 51st place at present.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen completes Dyfnant with an 11m32.9s, is that going to be a fourth straight stage time of the morning?
He's only 52nd overall at present, having had a mountain of Rally2 penalties following his early crash yesterday, so he needn't be pushing flat-out, but he says he's flying without much effort.
"The car is so nice to drive, it's no bother. We are just having fun driving and learning the stages for next year."
He's only 52nd overall at present, having had a mountain of Rally2 penalties following his early crash yesterday, so he needn't be pushing flat-out, but he says he's flying without much effort.
"The car is so nice to drive, it's no bother. We are just having fun driving and learning the stages for next year."
WRC - GB: The next stage is beginning now, the 12.4 miles of Dyfnant.
And here's Latvala's guide to it:
"This is one of the stages which is sometimes difficult to remember.
"There are a lot of different sections with not so many straights and quite a few junctions – but I like it because if you are confident on that stage you can really make a good time.
"Normally the time differences can be quite big here – this stage is all about how well you have made the notes."
And we'd imagine it's going to be pretty tricky without a rear wing for J-ML too.
And here's Latvala's guide to it:
"This is one of the stages which is sometimes difficult to remember.
"There are a lot of different sections with not so many straights and quite a few junctions – but I like it because if you are confident on that stage you can really make a good time.
"Normally the time differences can be quite big here – this stage is all about how well you have made the notes."
And we'd imagine it's going to be pretty tricky without a rear wing for J-ML too.
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS11 results:
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 7m28.8s
2 Ostberg +6.8s
3 Solberg +9.0s
4 Hanninen +9.4s
5 Neuville +9.5s
6 Hirvonen +10.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m10.7s
3 Ostberg +1m14.6s
4 Meeke +1m15.1s
5 Neuville +1m36.8s
6 Evans +1m51.0s
7 Tanak +2m32.5s
8 Solberg +2m45.6s
9 Prokop +3m09.5s
10 Latvala +3m29.3s
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 7m28.8s
2 Ostberg +6.8s
3 Solberg +9.0s
4 Hanninen +9.4s
5 Neuville +9.5s
6 Hirvonen +10.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m10.7s
3 Ostberg +1m14.6s
4 Meeke +1m15.1s
5 Neuville +1m36.8s
6 Evans +1m51.0s
7 Tanak +2m32.5s
8 Solberg +2m45.6s
9 Prokop +3m09.5s
10 Latvala +3m29.3s
WRC - GB: Life without a rear wing continues to be hairy for Latvala, he's lost another 13s to the leaders on Aberhirnant.
All calm for Ogier up front, he maintains a 1m10s overall lead.
All calm for Ogier up front, he maintains a 1m10s overall lead.
WRC - GB: Hirvonen loses a little time on that stage too, he's only eight tenths faster than Meeke.
And with Ostberg flying to the second fastest time, that's going to close the podium battle right up again.
And with Ostberg flying to the second fastest time, that's going to close the podium battle right up again.
WRC - GB: Meeke has dropped behind Ostberg back to fourth overall on SS11, having lost 4s to his team-mate.
TV crews report a bit of a wild moment for Meeke on that one.
TV crews report a bit of a wild moment for Meeke on that one.
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen remains a clear pacesetter on SS11 so far, his time 9s faster than anyone else has managed in the early batch.
Solberg, Hanninen, Paddon and Kubica are next up.
Solberg, Hanninen, Paddon and Kubica are next up.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen is through Aberhirnant in 7m28.8s. He's been quickest on every stage so far today, but is still in the outer reaches of the top 50 after yesterday's crash.
Lights out
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen is heading onto the eight-mile Aberhirnant stage that gets part two of the morning under way.
This is Latvala's stage description:
"You start this stage on the hill and you climb, climb, climb.
"Then you start to come down and then you climb another hill and come down the other side of that one.
"It's quite an open stage with a young forest. Towards the end the surface is new and very stoney – it reminds me of the new road in Myherin, where they built the road up.
"It's tricky to know in this section how much you can cut, some of the rocks are quite big. If you are unlucky, maybe you could catch one of these rocks and it could give a puncture or it could hit the suspension.
"The finish is tricky as well, it's maybe 500 metres steep downhill and it's quite slippery."
This is Latvala's stage description:
"You start this stage on the hill and you climb, climb, climb.
"Then you start to come down and then you climb another hill and come down the other side of that one.
"It's quite an open stage with a young forest. Towards the end the surface is new and very stoney – it reminds me of the new road in Myherin, where they built the road up.
"It's tricky to know in this section how much you can cut, some of the rocks are quite big. If you are unlucky, maybe you could catch one of these rocks and it could give a puncture or it could hit the suspension.
"The finish is tricky as well, it's maybe 500 metres steep downhill and it's quite slippery."
Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber
WEC - Bahrain: Photographic evidence that Alonso is in Bahrain.
Apparently he's going stay for the race, but I bet he won't be around at 9pm for the finish.
WRC - GB: Things are getting interesting in WRC2, which looked on paper pre-rally like an easy Nasser Al-Attiyah cruise to the title.
His title rival Jari Ketomaa is storming away in the class lead, while after some gearbox worries yesterday, Al-Attiyah is only eighth right now.
Returnee Matthew Wilson was fastest on SS10 and is closing on Lorenzo Bertelli for third place, with Bernando Sousa not far ahead in second. Tom Cave and Karl Kruuda are right with Wilson too.
His title rival Jari Ketomaa is storming away in the class lead, while after some gearbox worries yesterday, Al-Attiyah is only eighth right now.
Returnee Matthew Wilson was fastest on SS10 and is closing on Lorenzo Bertelli for third place, with Bernando Sousa not far ahead in second. Tom Cave and Karl Kruuda are right with Wilson too.
NASCAR - Homestead: Many fans are outraged that Jeff Gordon is in the championship hunt in tomorrow's Homestead showdown, but he is at least on pole.
Kevin Harvick, surely the title favourite, was best of the four remaining Chase contenders as he qualified fifth.
Homestead NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying report
MARK GLENDENNING has been having an exclusive chat with Gordon about the Chase format - look out for the legend's thoughts on the AUTOSPORT news pages later today.
Kevin Harvick, surely the title favourite, was best of the four remaining Chase contenders as he qualified fifth.
Homestead NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying report
MARK GLENDENNING has been having an exclusive chat with Gordon about the Chase format - look out for the legend's thoughts on the AUTOSPORT news pages later today.
Trophy
V8 Supercars - Phillip Island: As expected, Jamie Whincup has become a six-time V8 Supercars champion, which is a new record.
He clinched that crown with a pretty straightforward win in race two, but race one was the thriller - as Scott McLaughlin had to resist massive pressure to give the Volvo S60 another victory.
He clinched that crown with a pretty straightforward win in race two, but race one was the thriller - as Scott McLaughlin had to resist massive pressure to give the Volvo S60 another victory.
Macau podium
F3 - Macau GP: Poleman Felix Rosenqvist battled back to take victory in the qualification race, while 2015 Toro Rosso F1 driver Max Verstappen crashed.
MARCUS SIMMONS has the full story:
Macau GP qualification race report
We'll be bringing you plenty of Macau paddock reaction through the day on AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live, and you can follow the main event itself as it happens here from 7.30am UK time tomorrow.
With the WRC field on its way to SS11, it's good moment to recap some of the many things that have happened during the European night time...
Breaking news
WRC - GB:
SS10 summary:
* Latvala discovers it's tough to tame a VW with no rear wing and loses more time
* Meeke edges closer to Hirvonen for second
* Ogier cruises up front
SS10 summary:
* Latvala discovers it's tough to tame a VW with no rear wing and loses more time
* Meeke edges closer to Hirvonen for second
* Ogier cruises up front
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS10 results:
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 8m07.8s
2 Meeke +1.2s
3 Hirvonen +2.4s
4 Ostberg +3.7s
5 Ogier +3.8s
6 Paddon +4.0s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m12.4s
3 Meeke +1m16.0s
4 Ostberg +1m19.8s
5 Neuville +1m39.3s
6 Evans +1m52.4s
7 Tanak +2m33.3s
8 Solberg +2m48.6s
9 Prokop +3m05.7s
10 Latvala +3m27.9s
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 8m07.8s
2 Meeke +1.2s
3 Hirvonen +2.4s
4 Ostberg +3.7s
5 Ogier +3.8s
6 Paddon +4.0s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m12.4s
3 Meeke +1m16.0s
4 Ostberg +1m19.8s
5 Neuville +1m39.3s
6 Evans +1m52.4s
7 Tanak +2m33.3s
8 Solberg +2m48.6s
9 Prokop +3m05.7s
10 Latvala +3m27.9s
WRC - GB: Ogier completes the stage at a chilled pace.
"It's different rally for me, starting now," he admits.
Rather than the challenge being a hungry team-mate right on his tail, it's now about averting boredom and surviving Welsh mud.
"It's different rally for me, starting now," he admits.
Rather than the challenge being a hungry team-mate right on his tail, it's now about averting boredom and surviving Welsh mud.
Quote
WRC - GB: Latvala is through but has lost 14s to pacesetter Mikkelsen with the Polo's rear wing gone.
"There was basically no damage, but somehow the rear spoiler broke," Latvala explains.
"I tried to drive the car, but I tell you it's horrendous to drive without the rear spoiler. I spun once.
"I can't fight for the podium anymore."
The particularly bad news is he has three more stages to grapple through before he can get a new wing at service.
On that stage, rather than catching Prokop for ninth, he was actually being reeled in by Kubica for 10th.
"There was basically no damage, but somehow the rear spoiler broke," Latvala explains.
"I tried to drive the car, but I tell you it's horrendous to drive without the rear spoiler. I spun once.
"I can't fight for the podium anymore."
The particularly bad news is he has three more stages to grapple through before he can get a new wing at service.
On that stage, rather than catching Prokop for ninth, he was actually being reeled in by Kubica for 10th.
WRC - GB: Hirvonen isn't a big fan of the Clocaenog stages and says he was making small mistakes. His gap back to Meeke is now just 3.6s, and Ostberg is another 3.8s away in the second Citroen.
WRC - GB: The podium battlers are through Clocaenog Main, and Meeke has taken another second out of Hirvonen's advantage to tighten up the fight for what is now second place.
Meeke admits he's trying not to think about how good a position they're actually fighting for, and just focus purely on Hirvonen.
Meeke admits he's trying not to think about how good a position they're actually fighting for, and just focus purely on Hirvonen.
Breaking news
WRC - GB:
SS9 summary:
* Latvala crashes into a ditch while chasing down Ogier and falls from second to 10th
* Ogier takes it easy after his team-mate's shunt and is only eighth quickest, but still leads by 1m13s now
* Runner-up battle hots up as Meeke closes to within 4.8s of Hirvonen
SS9 summary:
* Latvala crashes into a ditch while chasing down Ogier and falls from second to 10th
* Ogier takes it easy after his team-mate's shunt and is only eighth quickest, but still leads by 1m13s now
* Runner-up battle hots up as Meeke closes to within 4.8s of Hirvonen
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS9 results:
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 4m39.6s
2 Neuville +1.4s
3 Meeke +2.0s
4 Ostberg +2.6s
5 Hanninen +3.7s
6 Paddon +4.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m13.8s
3 Meeke +1m18.6s
4 Ostberg +1m19.9s
5 Neuville +1m30.4s
6 Evans +1m49.8s
7 Tanak +2m32.2s
8 Solberg +2m44.0s
9 Prokop +2m55.0s
10 Latvala +3m17.1s
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 4m39.6s
2 Neuville +1.4s
3 Meeke +2.0s
4 Ostberg +2.6s
5 Hanninen +3.7s
6 Paddon +4.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Hirvonen +1m13.8s
3 Meeke +1m18.6s
4 Ostberg +1m19.9s
5 Neuville +1m30.4s
6 Evans +1m49.8s
7 Tanak +2m32.2s
8 Solberg +2m44.0s
9 Prokop +2m55.0s
10 Latvala +3m17.1s
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen is still the pacesetter on Clocaenog Main, four seconds faster than Paddon and Tanak.
And now we've got our breath after Latvala's drama, a quick recap of Clocaenog East.
And now we've got our breath after Latvala's drama, a quick recap of Clocaenog East.
Crash
WRC - GB: Back to Clocaenog Main, and Neuville has lost 12s on that stage after three separate mistakes under braking.
"I said there was grip on my notes but it was like ice," he explains. "It was a mistake on the recce."
"I said there was grip on my notes but it was like ice," he explains. "It was a mistake on the recce."
Quote
WRC - GB: Here's Latvala's explanation of the incident:
"I was trying. I had a very, very good stage up to that point.
"I really, really pushed, I wanted to fight for the victory.
"It was really slippery and I thought it would be fine. I stalled the engine under braking, and then I tried to turn and to restart the car but it did it really, really fast and we were into the ditch and got stuck."
"I was trying. I had a very, very good stage up to that point.
"I really, really pushed, I wanted to fight for the victory.
"It was really slippery and I thought it would be fine. I stalled the engine under braking, and then I tried to turn and to restart the car but it did it really, really fast and we were into the ditch and got stuck."
WRC - GB: Latvala reaches the end of the stage, he's lost over three minutes, which will drop him to the foot of the top 10, and he has some damage to the rear of his VW.
Quote
WRC - GB: Ogier reckons Latvala had enough help to be able to rejoin.
"There were a lot of spectators, I think he might get out."
VW then confirms that Latvala is running again.
"There were a lot of spectators, I think he might get out."
VW then confirms that Latvala is running again.
WRC - GB: Latvala seems to have got going again.
WEC - Bahrain: The #1 Audi has just gone through scrutineering. The car, remember, has been rebuilt a second fresh monocoque of the week and missed qualifying yesterday.
Crash
WRC - GB: Latvala had taken just over a second out of Ogier's lead on the early splits before that incident.
It seems the crew are trying to get spectators to help them out of the ditch they're stuck in.
They've lost a couple of minutes already, with Ogier already past them on the stage.
That's going to give Ogier a lead of over a minute.
It seems the crew are trying to get spectators to help them out of the ditch they're stuck in.
They've lost a couple of minutes already, with Ogier already past them on the stage.
That's going to give Ogier a lead of over a minute.
WEC - Bahrain: A former F1 world champion is in the paddock. It's Fernando Alonso, who is in the region ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP and making a purely private visit to see some old Ferrari mates.
Crash
WRC - GB: Reports from television crews on the stage that Latvala is off and stuck in a ditch on the opening stage!
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen's early time remains quickest on SS9 still, with Thierry Neuville and Kris Meeke second and third, both faster than Mads Ostberg.
WRC - GB: The drivers in the podium battle are completing the Clocaenog opener now, while Mikkelsen and Hanninen have both made it through SS10, the VW quickest.
WRC - GB: Henning Solberg's early splits were quite good until he overshot a junction.
"It's difficult to see them!" he argues.
"It's difficult to see them!" he argues.
WRC - GB: And Mikkelsen is already lining up to start the sister stage Clocaenog Main, which is eight miles long.
Here's Latvala's guide:
"This stage has a harder base than the one before it.
"The grip level is pretty consistent and it's not so muddy.
"At the start there are some fast straights, but it's not too fast. [AUTOSPORT's] David [Evans] told me this is the place where Colin [McRae] won the rally and the championship in 1995 and thinking back to the videos I watched for this stage, now I recognise it – it’s the big history place!"
Here's Latvala's guide:
"This stage has a harder base than the one before it.
"The grip level is pretty consistent and it's not so muddy.
"At the start there are some fast straights, but it's not too fast. [AUTOSPORT's] David [Evans] told me this is the place where Colin [McRae] won the rally and the championship in 1995 and thinking back to the videos I watched for this stage, now I recognise it – it’s the big history place!"
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen is still quickest as Hayden Paddon, Robert Kubica and Martin Prokop slot in further back in the stage list.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Peter Mills, Gary Watkins, Marcus Simmons, Jonathan Noble
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