Rally GB, Macau GP, Bahrain WEC, NASCAR finale
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Stopwatch
WRC - GB: After that little surge from Latvala on SS3, Ogier has struck back on SS4 and gone two seconds quicker.
WRC - GB: Kubica is the latest driver through SS3. He's still at the foot of the times, but a lot closer to the pace on that one than had been the case earlier.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: There was a one-minute delay to the start of SS4, and it was due to the officials' 'zero car' that runs through before the competing field having gone off the road.
So that's a hint that it's slippery.
So that's a hint that it's slippery.
Quote
WRC - GB: As was the case with Gartheiniog and Dyfi earlier, Hafren Sweet Lamb and Maesnant are near neighbours, so Ogier is already onto SS4, the last of our morning.
Here's Latvala's description of Maesnant, which at a touch under eight miles is our shortest stage of the day:
"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 Latvala's description of Maesnant, which at a touch under eight miles is our shortest stage of the day:
"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: The Brits have swapped place on SS3, Evans falls back to seventh behind Meeke as the Citroen man continues his recovery from the jump-start penalty.
WRC - GB: The Citroens are best of the rest behind the remaining VWs so far on SS3, the evenly-matched Ostberg and Meeke coming in 10s down on Latvala, and 3s ahead of Hirvonen and Neuville.
That helps further establish Ostberg in third. He's half a minute away from the lead already but only 6s ahead of Hirvonen.
That helps further establish Ostberg in third. He's half a minute away from the lead already but only 6s ahead of Hirvonen.
Crash
WRC - GB: Drama for Hanninen on Hafren now, he's stopped on the stage and Hyundai says it's because we went off into a ditch.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Not quite so good for Latvala as he completes the stage, he only gains 2.2s.
But that's still the first time he's outpaced Ogier today, and it pegs the champion's rally lead back to 6.7s.
But that's still the first time he's outpaced Ogier today, and it pegs the champion's rally lead back to 6.7s.
WRC - GB: Latvala is emphatically coming back at Ogier as Hafren goes on, taking 4s out of his team-mate at the middle splits. That could halve Ogier's lead.
WRC - GB: Absolutely equal times from Ogier and Latvala on the first part of the 14-mile Hafren stage.
Felix Rosenqvist
F3 - Macau: The official starting grid for tomorrow's qualifying race leg of the Macau GP has now been published and added to MARCUS SIMMONS' full report of how Felix Rosenqvist claimed pole:
Macau F3 GP qualifying two report
WRC - GB: If you're just joining us this morning, it's Ogier leading Latvala up front, then a gap back to Ostberg and Hirvonen.
Meeke is seventh, but would be higher but for a jump-start penalty on SS2.
Mikkelsen was second after SS1, then crashed on SS2.
Meeke is seventh, but would be higher but for a jump-start penalty on SS2.
Mikkelsen was second after SS1, then crashed on SS2.
WEC - Bahrain: The #1 Audi wasn't out in that session. The reason? It is being rebuilt around a second fresh monocoque in two days.
The R18 was found to have damage to the tub after an inspection following FP3 last night. The team opted not to give its mechanics a second all-nighter in a row, which means the car will also miss qualifying this evening.
The R18 was found to have damage to the tub after an inspection following FP3 last night. The team opted not to give its mechanics a second all-nighter in a row, which means the car will also miss qualifying this evening.
Quote
WRC - GB: Jari-Matti Lavala is providing stage guides for us today, and here are his thoughts on Hafren Sweet Lamb, which is next up in just under five minutes:
"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 is 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 is 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!"
WRC - GB: We have a huge pack of British stars out in WRC2 machinery this weekend, but it's a Finn leading the way in the secondary car right now.
Jari Ketomaa has already pulled clear of the field in his DMACK-shod Ford.
Ketomaa needs a win to grab the class title from Nasser Al-Attiyah, for whom seventh place will do. Al-Attiyah is currently fifth.
Jari Ketomaa has already pulled clear of the field in his DMACK-shod Ford.
Ketomaa needs a win to grab the class title from Nasser Al-Attiyah, for whom seventh place will do. Al-Attiyah is currently fifth.
Andreas Mikkelsen
WRC - GB: We've just come across a picture of Andreas Mikkelsen practicing his "argh, I've crashed out on SS2" face yesterday. See how that shakedown grimace tempted fate.
We have one of Latvala practicing his "argh I've lost 9s to Ogier" face too.
WEC - Bahrain: Jani is on top again as FP3 draws to a close. He's banged in a 1m43.5s aboard the #14 919 Hybrid, which eclipsed Wurz's 1m44.710s at the top of the times by 1.1s!
Breaking news
WRC - GB: That's it for day one for Mikkelsen, he's out of Friday and though VW expects him to be back under Rally2 tomorrow, there's no hope of a win or podium now.
He's going to have to wait until 2015 for that elusive first WRC win, which many suspected he might have grabbed this weekend.
He's going to have to wait until 2015 for that elusive first WRC win, which many suspected he might have grabbed this weekend.
Checkered flag
WRC - GB - SS2 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 12m25.9s
2 Latvala +4.3s
3 Hirvonen +13.1s
4 Ostberg +13.9s
5 Meeke +14.9s
6 Evans +17.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +8.9s
3 Ostberg +21.7s
4 Hirvonen +23.1s
5 Neuville +28.2s
6 Evans +32.8s
7 Meeke +35.4s
8 Hanninen +37.4s
9 Solberg +48.7s
10 Paddon +52.2s
Kubica is 13th and we wait to see what's going to happen with Mikkelsen's damaged VW.
Stage times:
1 Ogier 12m25.9s
2 Latvala +4.3s
3 Hirvonen +13.1s
4 Ostberg +13.9s
5 Meeke +14.9s
6 Evans +17.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +8.9s
3 Ostberg +21.7s
4 Hirvonen +23.1s
5 Neuville +28.2s
6 Evans +32.8s
7 Meeke +35.4s
8 Hanninen +37.4s
9 Solberg +48.7s
10 Paddon +52.2s
Kubica is 13th and we wait to see what's going to happen with Mikkelsen's damaged VW.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Meeke was rumbled for a jump-start on SS2 and has a 10s penalty added to his time. That drops him back to seventh.
WRC - GB: Kubica is still trailing the field, at least the element of the field that hasn't crashed into a ditch. He's over half a minute off the pace on SS2 and admits he just hasn't got the experience to judge these slippery conditions.
Volvo
WRC - GB: Rally GB’s not all about Sebastien Ogier and his factory Volkswagen Polo… next stop for German Jochen Waltherthis’s Volvo 940 is Gartheiniog.
Brave man.
WRC - GB: With the frontrunners through, the lead order at present is Ogier ahead of Latvala, then Ostberg and Hirvonen in 'best of the rest' mode.
Quote
WRC - GB: Meeke's verdict on the roads:
"It's definitely getting more slippery and it's really difficult to judge the braking.
"You think you're a little girl braking early, then all of a sudden the grip disappears."
Asked if he agreed with Neuville that the finish line was further away than expected, Meeke agrees that it's definitely moved, but says he "always makes notes for 500 metres beyond the stage end because I've had that situation before..."
And now Evans says the finish line is in the right place, so there you go.
"It's definitely getting more slippery and it's really difficult to judge the braking.
"You think you're a little girl braking early, then all of a sudden the grip disappears."
Asked if he agreed with Neuville that the finish line was further away than expected, Meeke agrees that it's definitely moved, but says he "always makes notes for 500 metres beyond the stage end because I've had that situation before..."
And now Evans says the finish line is in the right place, so there you go.
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen's delay on that stage was just over 2m40s to Ogier, which would drop him outside the top 30, but if the Polo's too badly damaged to continue, that's irrelevant anyway.
Quote
WRC - GB: Next man through Neuville isn't happy with himself:
"I wasn't in the rhythm from the startline onwards. I was getting the splits, and they weren't very good.
"And they moved the finish line from the recce, so I backed off too soon."
"I wasn't in the rhythm from the startline onwards. I was getting the splits, and they weren't very good.
"And they moved the finish line from the recce, so I backed off too soon."
WRC - GB: Ostberg is now in. His time hasn't popped up yet but he notes that it's surprising how much tougher Dyfi is than Gartheiniog for stage conditions with the rain coming down now.
WRC - GB: Just before Mikkelsen appeared, Hirvonen came through with a time 13s off Ogier's pace.
Crash
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen drags his Polo to the end of the stage, but he thinks it's sustained too much damage to continue:
"I came slightly too fast over a crest into braking and braked a little bit too late. I caught the right rear and nosed into a ditch. We needed to stop, and I'm afraid it might be over for today, but we'll have a look."
"I came slightly too fast over a crest into braking and braked a little bit too late. I caught the right rear and nosed into a ditch. We needed to stop, and I'm afraid it might be over for today, but we'll have a look."
Checkered flag
WTCC - Macau: Lopez takes pole on his maiden visit to Macau after a fully committed single-lap shoot-out performance.
Q3 result: 1 Lopez; 2 Loeb; 3 Muller; 4 Michelisz; 5 Coronel.
Q3 result: 1 Lopez; 2 Loeb; 3 Muller; 4 Michelisz; 5 Coronel.
Quote
WRC - GB: Latvala reports that he bad a big moment and "was lucky not to roll. I'm not driving well."
Latvala loses another 4s to Ogier, who is now 8.9s clear up front.
Mikkelsen has started moving again.
Latvala loses another 4s to Ogier, who is now 8.9s clear up front.
Mikkelsen has started moving again.
Twitter
WRC - GB: Bit of news from M-Sport, which has a few drivers (including Kubica) further down the start order:
"The drivers report that the conditions are getting worse and worse for those running further down the field."
"The drivers report that the conditions are getting worse and worse for those running further down the field."
WTCC - Macau: Loeb knocks Muller off the top of timing screens. The #9 C-Elysee records a lap of 2m24.522s, 0.257s quicker than Muller.
Breaking news
WRC - GB: Mikkelsen has come to a halt in the second half of Dyfi. He'd been running second starting this one.
Stopwatch
WRC - GB: Ogier completes SS2 with a 12m21.9s time.
"At the moment everything is fine, we are ahead on the splits on this one too."
"At the moment everything is fine, we are ahead on the splits on this one too."
Rain
WRC - GB: And no sooner has DAVID EVANS said that than he adds...
"Rookie RAC error... Forgotten hat and it's now pissing it down. Bugger.
"I'm standing on the same corner which caught Kubica out last year (the first one...)"
"Rookie RAC error... Forgotten hat and it's now pissing it down. Bugger.
"I'm standing on the same corner which caught Kubica out last year (the first one...)"
WTCC - Macau: Muller takes provisional pole on 2m24.779s, 0.548s ahead of Norbert Michelisz.
Sebastien Loeb and Jose Maria Lopez are the final runners left in Q3. Former WRC star Loeb is 0.042s faster than Muller after the opening sector.
Sebastien Loeb and Jose Maria Lopez are the final runners left in Q3. Former WRC star Loeb is 0.042s faster than Muller after the opening sector.
WRC - GB: DAVID EVANS is out on SS2 amid huge crowds.
"It's not raining yet, but lots of heavy black cloud coming.
"I had a good guide into the stage, following Gwyndaf Evans. The 1996 British champion clearly had fever this morning, putting on his Response rally jacket from 1997."
"It's not raining yet, but lots of heavy black cloud coming.
"I had a good guide into the stage, following Gwyndaf Evans. The 1996 British champion clearly had fever this morning, putting on his Response rally jacket from 1997."
Checkered flag
WRC - GB: SS1 results:
1 Ogier 8m34.3s
2 Mikkelsen +4.5s
3 Latvala +4.6s
4 Osbterg +7.8s
5 Hirvonen +10.0s
6 Meeke +10.5s
7 Neuville +10.7s
8 Evans +15.5s
9 Hanninen +16.5s
10 Solberg +20.0s
11 Tanak +21.5s
12 Prokop +26.4s
13 Paddon +27.2s
14 Kubica +29.6s
As it's stage one, there's the full World Rally Car pack for you.
1 Ogier 8m34.3s
2 Mikkelsen +4.5s
3 Latvala +4.6s
4 Osbterg +7.8s
5 Hirvonen +10.0s
6 Meeke +10.5s
7 Neuville +10.7s
8 Evans +15.5s
9 Hanninen +16.5s
10 Solberg +20.0s
11 Tanak +21.5s
12 Prokop +26.4s
13 Paddon +27.2s
14 Kubica +29.6s
As it's stage one, there's the full World Rally Car pack for you.
WTCC - Macau: Coronel aborts his single-lap run after brushing the wall with his front-left wheel. The ROAL Motorsport Chevy appears to have sustained either a puncture or suspension damage.
The Dutch veteran had been 0.275s up on Michelisz after the first sector... It is now Yvan Muller's turn.
The Dutch veteran had been 0.275s up on Michelisz after the first sector... It is now Yvan Muller's turn.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Peter Mills, Gary Watkins, Marcus Simmons, Jonathan Noble
Published:
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