Rally GB, Macau GP, Bahrain WEC, NASCAR finale
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WRC - GB: Mikkelsen sets the early pace among our currently small Rally2 contingent, he's 3s quicker than Hanninen's Hyundai.
WRC - GB: First men through this morning will be Andreas Mikkelsen and Juho Hanninen, who both crashed out of Friday's running - Mikkelsen while running second to Sebastien Ogier.
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WRC - GB: The midfielders are about to head onto Rally GB's Saturday opener, the five miles of Clocaenog East.
Jari-Matti Latvala has been giving us stage guides all weekend, and here are his thoughts on what awaits the crews now:
"We start on the east side and this is similar to the shakedown stage.
"There are a few very slippery places, particularly in the braking area for some of the junctions.
"The road itself is fairly easy, not easy, but clear.
"It's a well-defined stage. You come from one junction and you know: 'OK, this section is like this,' then you have the junction and: 'OK, now this section is more narrow or more twisty.' It's easier for the notes.
"Towards the end there are some really slippery places, that will be quite diffciult."
Jari-Matti Latvala has been giving us stage guides all weekend, and here are his thoughts on what awaits the crews now:
"We start on the east side and this is similar to the shakedown stage.
"There are a few very slippery places, particularly in the braking area for some of the junctions.
"The road itself is fairly easy, not easy, but clear.
"It's a well-defined stage. You come from one junction and you know: 'OK, this section is like this,' then you have the junction and: 'OK, now this section is more narrow or more twisty.' It's easier for the notes.
"Towards the end there are some really slippery places, that will be quite diffciult."
Good morning and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for Saturday November 15.
Coming up today, we've got as-it-happens coverage of every stage of leg two of a very finely-poised Rally GB plus all six hours of the World Endurance Championship race in Bahrain that could crown Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi as world champions.
We'll also be bringing you all the paddock reaction from Macau after the Formula 3 Grand Prix qualification race earlier today and yesterday's World Touring Car Championship qualifying sessions.
Coming up today, we've got as-it-happens coverage of every stage of leg two of a very finely-poised Rally GB plus all six hours of the World Endurance Championship race in Bahrain that could crown Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi as world champions.
We'll also be bringing you all the paddock reaction from Macau after the Formula 3 Grand Prix qualification race earlier today and yesterday's World Touring Car Championship qualifying sessions.
That brings AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's Friday to a close, here's a reminder of everything that's happened...
Rally GB: Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala are embroiled in a tense battle for the lead, with a four-way fight for third in their wake.
Macau F3 GP: Felix Rosenqvist is on pole, while Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen have penalties to overcome.
Bahrain WEC: Porsche has set the pace and is on pole, Audi has had dramas.
Macau WTCC: A lack of Macau experience can't stop the incessantly impressive Jose Maria Lopez - he's taken another pole.
Homestead NASCAR: No track action yet, but Brian France is just giving a press conference in which he's said it'll be just fine if the win-less Ryan Newman becomes the first champion of the win-focused new system. Hmm.
We'll be back from 7.30am UK time on Saturday morning for every stage of leg two of Rally GB, the complete six-hour WEC race in Bahrain, and updates from Macau and Homestead.
Rally GB: Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala are embroiled in a tense battle for the lead, with a four-way fight for third in their wake.
Macau F3 GP: Felix Rosenqvist is on pole, while Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen have penalties to overcome.
Bahrain WEC: Porsche has set the pace and is on pole, Audi has had dramas.
Macau WTCC: A lack of Macau experience can't stop the incessantly impressive Jose Maria Lopez - he's taken another pole.
Homestead NASCAR: No track action yet, but Brian France is just giving a press conference in which he's said it'll be just fine if the win-less Ryan Newman becomes the first champion of the win-focused new system. Hmm.
We'll be back from 7.30am UK time on Saturday morning for every stage of leg two of Rally GB, the complete six-hour WEC race in Bahrain, and updates from Macau and Homestead.
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS8 results:
Stage times:
1 Latvala 8m07.5s
2 Ogier +0.2s
3 Meeke +2.7s
4 Hirvonen +2.8s
5 Ostberg +4.1s
6 Evans +7.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +6.6s
3 Hirvonen +1m13.8s
4 Meeke +1m21.5s
5 Ostberg +1m22.2s
6 Neuville +1m33.9s
7 Evans +1m50.3s
8 Tanak +2m29.4s
9 Solberg +2m39.5s
10 Prokop +2m49.8s
Stage times:
1 Latvala 8m07.5s
2 Ogier +0.2s
3 Meeke +2.7s
4 Hirvonen +2.8s
5 Ostberg +4.1s
6 Evans +7.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +6.6s
3 Hirvonen +1m13.8s
4 Meeke +1m21.5s
5 Ostberg +1m22.2s
6 Neuville +1m33.9s
7 Evans +1m50.3s
8 Tanak +2m29.4s
9 Solberg +2m39.5s
10 Prokop +2m49.8s
Crash
WRC - GB: Kubica explains that his bump on the previous stage happened when he understeered on mud and bashed a bank, but it hasn't cost him too much - though he does sound pretty frustrated with his day.
Meanwhile Paddon managed to revive a bit of his power steering capability only for his Hyundai's differential to start misbehaving, causing more time loss.
Meanwhile Paddon managed to revive a bit of his power steering capability only for his Hyundai's differential to start misbehaving, causing more time loss.
WRC - GB: Meeke is cross with himself, though, frustrated at a mistake at the start of the stage. He says he "put the hammer down after that" but reckons it could've been a stage win - indeed he was only 2.7s down on pacesetter Latvala.
WRC - GB: Once again Meeke is third quickest and that brings him past Citroen team-mate Ostberg into fourth overall.
WRC - GB: Ostberg loses a bit more time to Hirvonen and is now 8s behind. He says he lost a bit of rhythm after a near-miss with a large rock, but is content to still be in touch in the podium fight.
WRC - GB: Latvala confirms he had some hairy moments, and that it's just hard to attack in the mud ruts without looking like you're about to crash.
That leaves the VWs 6.6s apart at the end of Friday.
That leaves the VWs 6.6s apart at the end of Friday.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: TV crews in the stage reported some scares for Latvala on that stage, but no time lost - he's two tenths quicker than Ogier.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Ogier completes the stage in a time of 8m07.7s.
He says the mud remains hard going.
"It's so slippery, by the end you're just fighting with the car - not really driving."
He says the mud remains hard going.
"It's so slippery, by the end you're just fighting with the car - not really driving."
Crash
WRC - GB: Reports from the end of Hafren of some damage on the front of Kubica's M-Sport Ford. He's lost a bit of time too, coming through 10s down on Popeye-impersonating power-steering-less Kiwi Paddon.
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WRC - GB: As the final World Rally Cars come through Hafren Sweet Lamb, we're only five minutes away from action beginning on Maesnant, our Friday finale.
Here's what Latvala reckons we should expect:
"This is the south section of Hafren. There are places where I have been in this stage, bits that I have used – but not like this before.
"On the recce this stage was really quite muddy. The characteristic is nice, flowing corners, but the grip level will change a lot from not very much to even less! There was a lot of mud on the top."
Here's what Latvala reckons we should expect:
"This is the south section of Hafren. There are places where I have been in this stage, bits that I have used – but not like this before.
"On the recce this stage was really quite muddy. The characteristic is nice, flowing corners, but the grip level will change a lot from not very much to even less! There was a lot of mud on the top."
WRC - GB: Meeke is through and is third fastest.
That's pulled him clear of sixth-placed Neuville after the Hyundai closed right onto his tail on the last one, and brought him to within seven tenths of Citroen team-mate Ostberg for fourth.
That's pulled him clear of sixth-placed Neuville after the Hyundai closed right onto his tail on the last one, and brought him to within seven tenths of Citroen team-mate Ostberg for fourth.
WRC - GB: A puzzled Meeke lost a little to the rest of the podium battle gang on SS6, but he's back on the pace on SS5 and a touch quicker than Hirvonen.
WRC - GB: Hirvonen is 5s quicker than Ostberg through SS7 so the gap in the battle for third grows to 7s. Is it going to be Neuville or Meeke who Hirvonen has to watch for the rest of the day?
Stefano Coletti
F3 - Macau GP: EuroInternational boss Antonio Ferrari was left furious when, due to Macau TV requirements, he was ordered to remove any trace of Stefano Coletti's backer Casino de Monte Carlo from his car - in Asia's gambling capital.
It's all to do with the actual word 'casino', apparently.
Meanwhile, Motopark driver Markus Pommer's car sports a silhouette of a denuded lady advertising the kind of website that would set your HR department on red alert. But that's fine, apparently.
Coletti was on a good run when he crashed in second qualifying, but Ferrari is confident that his car is strong in a straight line and that we can anticipate some Monegasque overtakes.
WRC - GB: Hirvonen loses the fairly standard 10s to the VWs on Hafren, but his splits are a few seconds quicker than Ostberg so he looks set to stretch that gap.
WEC - Bahrain: Porsche has claimed its third pole of the season and its second in the row with Jani and Dumas. Their average of 1m43.145s puts them 0.264s up on Toyota drivers Davidson and Buemi.
Rusinov and Pla have taken another class pole in LMP2 aboard their G-Drive Ligier-Nissan.
Rusinov and Pla have taken another class pole in LMP2 aboard their G-Drive Ligier-Nissan.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Latvala is quicker, but not by as much as the splits suggested as Ogier's final part of the stage was faster.
The Finn still trims four tenths back, though, so the gap is now 6.8s.
The Finn still trims four tenths back, though, so the gap is now 6.8s.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Ogier reaches the finish in 14m01.1s.
WRC - GB: Split times are sketchy on Hafren so far, but the signs are that it's Latvala's turn to retaliate. He's taken just under 3s back from Ogier early on the stage.
WEC - Bahrain: Mucke and Turner have claimed pole in GTE Pro aboard the lead Aston Martin. Their four-lap average put them 0.270s up on the AF Corse Ferrari duo of Bruni and Vilander.
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WRC - GB: The next stage is just under 10 minutes away, it's the re-run of Hafren Sweet Lamb, as described by Latvala:
"Hafren is generally more twisty than the first two stages, but the thing here is that the grip is changing more often.
"The base surface is more like rock, I think you call it slate, which can be much more slippery when it gets wet. And I think it will be wet.
"I remember a couple of years ago when I was here (and winning) in the Fiesta. We had such bad understeer, I couldn’t get the car to turn in, but it was just because of the surface of the road – it’s so slippery.
"Of course, the end of this stage is also including the Sweet Lamb section. This is good for the spectators and a nice challenge for us as well.
"There is one big downhill section where it’s always a little moment wondering: 'Will the car stop this time?' I hope it does!"
"Hafren is generally more twisty than the first two stages, but the thing here is that the grip is changing more often.
"The base surface is more like rock, I think you call it slate, which can be much more slippery when it gets wet. And I think it will be wet.
"I remember a couple of years ago when I was here (and winning) in the Fiesta. We had such bad understeer, I couldn’t get the car to turn in, but it was just because of the surface of the road – it’s so slippery.
"Of course, the end of this stage is also including the Sweet Lamb section. This is good for the spectators and a nice challenge for us as well.
"There is one big downhill section where it’s always a little moment wondering: 'Will the car stop this time?' I hope it does!"
Breaking news
WRC - GB:
SS6 summary:
* Ogier rebuilds lead over Latvala to 7.2s
* Hirvonen takes third from Ostberg
* Solberg flies again and gets within 3s of Tanak for eighth
* Paddon loses a minute with broken power steering
SS6 summary:
* Ogier rebuilds lead over Latvala to 7.2s
* Hirvonen takes third from Ostberg
* Solberg flies again and gets within 3s of Tanak for eighth
* Paddon loses a minute with broken power steering
F3 - Macau GP: Poor old Dan Wells has had a tough time with Toda Racing.
The hard-working Hong Kong-based Wiltshireman has had brake, handling and engine issues, as well as thumping the wall in first free practice.
Toda will bolt a new mill in for the race, meaning he'll serve a grid penalty that will put him at the back.
The hard-working Hong Kong-based Wiltshireman has had brake, handling and engine issues, as well as thumping the wall in first free practice.
Toda will bolt a new mill in for the race, meaning he'll serve a grid penalty that will put him at the back.
WRC - GB - SS6 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 12m51.7s
2 Latvala +3.4s
3 Hirvonen +10.4s
4 Solberg +10.9s
5 Evans +12.7s
6 Neuville +13.5s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +7.2s
3 Hirvonen +1m01.3s
4 Ostberg +1m02.7s
5 Meeke +1m10.4s
6 Neuville +1m10.8
Stage times:
1 Ogier 12m51.7s
2 Latvala +3.4s
3 Hirvonen +10.4s
4 Solberg +10.9s
5 Evans +12.7s
6 Neuville +13.5s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +7.2s
3 Hirvonen +1m01.3s
4 Ostberg +1m02.7s
5 Meeke +1m10.4s
6 Neuville +1m10.8
WRC - GB: Paddon made it to the stage but he's having to limp through without any power steering. That's hard work and slow work, as he loses a minute to the leaders.
WRC - GB: Another stunning time for Henning Solberg, who does often produce these seemingly random bursts of incredible pace as he settles back in on his occasional WRC appearances. He's just gone fourth fastest on Dyfi.
Solberg needs to keep churning in those times, he's got a 36.2s gap to Evans ahead in seventh.
Solberg needs to keep churning in those times, he's got a 36.2s gap to Evans ahead in seventh.
Peugeot 205
WRC - GB: Commentary is interrupted as Motorsport News editor KEVIN TURNER has just sent the newsdesk some swoon-inducing pornography that was too distracting to ignore.
WRC - GB: Great stage for M-Sport at the moment, as Evans comes in fourth fastest, just behind team-mate Hirvonen. It won't make any difference to his seventh place overall, but it keeps him in touch.
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WRC - GB: Meeke stays fifth overall, but he's slowest of the six drivers in so far.
"Strange," he muses. "I had a good rhythm in the first one and thought I had it here too.
"It's purely about confidence here. It's so, so slippery. It's like a Monte Carlo Rally on gravel.
"If you hit the slippery parts at the right angle, you can carry a lot of speed, but otherwise you're just understeering.
"I'm going to stay focused and try to get the third place."
"Strange," he muses. "I had a good rhythm in the first one and thought I had it here too.
"It's purely about confidence here. It's so, so slippery. It's like a Monte Carlo Rally on gravel.
"If you hit the slippery parts at the right angle, you can carry a lot of speed, but otherwise you're just understeering.
"I'm going to stay focused and try to get the third place."
WRC - GB: Neuville is also faster than Ostberg too, bringing him closer to the top five. The Belgian describes conditions as "horrible", but acknowledges that everyone will be finding the same.
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WRC - GB: Ostberg does indeed fall from third to fourth overall, but is now 1.4s behind Hirvonen.
He's gloomy, though...
"I struggled too much and didn't have a rhythm. It feels very, very, very bad. I don't have a clue what we can do."
He's gloomy, though...
"I struggled too much and didn't have a rhythm. It feels very, very, very bad. I don't have a clue what we can do."
WRC - GB: Ostberg is dropping a few seconds to Hirvonen on this stage, he's set to lose third place to the M-Sport Ford and could be under threat from Meeke too.
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WRC - GB: Latvala is a bit puzzled by that.
"I thought I was driving well. It seems Ogier managed to do it a bit better on that stage."
"I thought I was driving well. It seems Ogier managed to do it a bit better on that stage."
WRC - GB: Latvala loses 3.4s to Ogier on that stage, which brings the lead gap back up over 7s.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Ogier completes SS6 and says it was much more manageable for the first man on the road than Gartheiniog had been.
"This one was better, the first one was completely broken and destroyed.
"If I can stay on this pace, it's not too bad in the tricky conditions."
"This one was better, the first one was completely broken and destroyed.
"If I can stay on this pace, it's not too bad in the tricky conditions."
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Peter Mills, Gary Watkins, Marcus Simmons, Jonathan Noble
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