Rally GB, Macau, NASCAR finale
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WRC - Rally GB: Timing system is having a flap, though in the circumstances of the whole field trying to go through a stage run twice consecutively but stopped for a long time for spectator issues, it can perhaps be forgiven.
It currently believes Barrable has done SS16 but not SS15, so that'll take some sorting out.
It currently believes Barrable has done SS16 but not SS15, so that'll take some sorting out.
WRC - Rally GB: Stage is live again, but timing system yet to acknowledge that. We can tell you, however, that Ostberg completed the day in one piece ready to resume battle with Neuville and Mikkelsen in the morning.
WRC - Rally GB: First car through is WRC2 competitor Robert Barrable.
In terms of the leaders, we need Ostberg, Neuville, Latvala and Ogier to complete the stage and our Rally GB Saturday is done.
In terms of the leaders, we need Ostberg, Neuville, Latvala and Ogier to complete the stage and our Rally GB Saturday is done.
Green flag
WRC - Rally GB: Right, we're back on again, just another minute to wait and then rally cars will reappear.
WRC - Rally GB: Yes, we are filling time while the officials work to get spectators in order at Chirk Castle, but we're trying to fill it with useful info.
WRC - Rally GB: Ogier's been world champion (provisionally, pending FIA prizegiving etc, etc) for a month now, but there is still a battle for second in the standings - one that's looking closer than expected.
Neuville is currently best of the rest, 14 points clear of Latvala.
Right now, with them second and third, Latvala is only set to gain three points. But with three bonus points up for grabs on the power stage (which, by the way, isn't the final stage tomorrow, but the midday run through Clocaenog), and Mikkelsen and Ostberg starting to challenge Neuville for third, it's not a done deal.
VW would surely love a drivers' championship one-two, while for Neuville to achieve second place in only his second full WRC season and in an effectively privateer car would be truly astonishing. Plus a nice accolade to bring to new employer Hyundai next year...
Neuville is currently best of the rest, 14 points clear of Latvala.
Right now, with them second and third, Latvala is only set to gain three points. But with three bonus points up for grabs on the power stage (which, by the way, isn't the final stage tomorrow, but the midday run through Clocaenog), and Mikkelsen and Ostberg starting to challenge Neuville for third, it's not a done deal.
VW would surely love a drivers' championship one-two, while for Neuville to achieve second place in only his second full WRC season and in an effectively privateer car would be truly astonishing. Plus a nice accolade to bring to new employer Hyundai next year...
WRC - Rally GB: Confirmation that it is a bit of spectator overcrowding that is holding things. Officials are on the stage shuffling people as necessary to let the cars get back on course.
Expect another batch of WRC2 midfielders doing the first run before we get the leaders through, though.
Expect another batch of WRC2 midfielders doing the first run before we get the leaders through, though.
WRC - Rally GB: Both Ogier and Ostberg eventually crashed out of that rally, but they'd made their points.
Breaking news
Sebastien Ogier 2008
WRC - Rally GB: A bit of recent retro while we're waiting...
As AUTOSPORT mentioned earlier in the weekend, Ogier hasn't scored in Wales before, but that doesn't mean he's always struggled here (even if the end results have been a bit ropey).
Indeed Rally GB was the scene of one of his breakthrough moments in 2008, when he stepped up to a Citroen World Rally Car for the finale after dominating the season's Junior championship for the squad.
As the usual top drivers floundered in the icy conditions that hit that year's event, Ogier took a shock early lead on his WRC debut, ahead of fellow youngster Mads Ostberg in his privateer Subaru.
Red flag
WRC - Rally GB: Very quiet at the stage end, seems there might have been a stoppage...
Doesn't seem to be a big drama though, possibly spectator congestion.
Doesn't seem to be a big drama though, possibly spectator congestion.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: After a flurry of lower-class cars doing SS15, we're now getting WRC runners on SS16 again, starting with Mikkelsen, who deposes Sordo for the fastest time so far.
WRC - Rally GB: Little bit of confusion now as the WRC2 cars and beyond are still doing their first run through the stage whereas the World Rally Cars are onto their second.
So the line-up at the start is a mix of some cars doing this as SS15 and others as SS16.
So the line-up at the start is a mix of some cars doing this as SS15 and others as SS16.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS15 results:
Stage: 1 Sordo 1m31.3s; 2 Mikkelsen +0.3s; 3 Neuville +0.4s; 4 Ogier +1.1s; 5 Ostberg +1.9s; 6 Prokop +3.6s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +19.9s; 3 Neuville +1m15.8s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m35.5s; 5 Ostberg +1m41.9s; 6 Prokop +6m41.1s
Stage: 1 Sordo 1m31.3s; 2 Mikkelsen +0.3s; 3 Neuville +0.4s; 4 Ogier +1.1s; 5 Ostberg +1.9s; 6 Prokop +3.6s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +19.9s; 3 Neuville +1m15.8s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m35.5s; 5 Ostberg +1m41.9s; 6 Prokop +6m41.1s
WRC - Rally GB: That little slip cost Latvala 4s to the best times so far, and we're yet to see Ogier.
Crash
WRC - Rally GB: Latvala agrees...
"It was very, very slippery and we nearly spun," he admits. "It was so slippery with the cuts everyone else had done and it surprised me."
Most drivers are reporting that the stage is getting tougher and tougher as cars pull mud onto the road.
"It was very, very slippery and we nearly spun," he admits. "It was so slippery with the cuts everyone else had done and it surprised me."
Most drivers are reporting that the stage is getting tougher and tougher as cars pull mud onto the road.
Quote
WRC - Rally GB: Mikkelsen says this course is trickier than it looks.
"It's quite slippery in there, quite easy to go off the road. It's not the drivers' favourite, but there are plenty of spectators."
"It's quite slippery in there, quite easy to go off the road. It's not the drivers' favourite, but there are plenty of spectators."
Quote
WRC - Rally GB: Dani Sordo is the first frontrunner through and he's not exactly overwhelmed by the return of weekend spectator stages.
"It's much more fun to do a proper stage..." is his verdict.
"It's much more fun to do a proper stage..." is his verdict.
WRC - Rally GB: Let's face it, as much as we like creating drama, this isn't going to decide the rally...
But several drivers have thrown away results with small errors on spectator stages in the past (think Latvala in Poland and Sordo at home a few years ago).
And there's a bit of pride at stake after Dyfnant: Ogier won't want Latvala to trim his lead too much further, and Neuville, Mikkelsen and Ostberg's podium battle is getting tighter.
But several drivers have thrown away results with small errors on spectator stages in the past (think Latvala in Poland and Sordo at home a few years ago).
And there's a bit of pride at stake after Dyfnant: Ogier won't want Latvala to trim his lead too much further, and Neuville, Mikkelsen and Ostberg's podium battle is getting tighter.
WRC - Rally GB: And the stage is now live. It's both SS15 and SS16, with crews making two passes of its two kilometre route.
WRC - Rally GB: The event organisers have made a huge effort to bring the crowds back this year, and it's definitely paying off.
Chirk Castle is packed for the two asphalt stages that wrap up Saturday's action, and car parks had to be closed a couple of hours ago and spectators turned away as the stage was already packed.
Chirk Castle is packed for the two asphalt stages that wrap up Saturday's action, and car parks had to be closed a couple of hours ago and spectators turned away as the stage was already packed.
WRC - Rally GB: Are a couple of frontrunners going to rue taking things too easy on that last stage?
Latvala's confidence is back up again after that blistering run on Dyfnant, and a 17.1s gap to Ogier seems like battle joined.
And Neuville can't get complacent about keeping third. Mikkelsen and Ostberg are closing on him as they battle with each other, with the VW less than 20s behind now, and Ostberg over 10s quicker than his team-mate on Dyfnant.
Latvala's confidence is back up again after that blistering run on Dyfnant, and a 17.1s gap to Ogier seems like battle joined.
And Neuville can't get complacent about keeping third. Mikkelsen and Ostberg are closing on him as they battle with each other, with the VW less than 20s behind now, and Ostberg over 10s quicker than his team-mate on Dyfnant.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS14 results:
Stage: 1 Latvala 12m21.1s; 2 Ostberg +1.0s; 3 Mikkelsen +6.4s; 4 Ogier +7.9s; 5 Neuville +11.8s; 6 Sordo +19.2s
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +17.1s; 3 Neuville +1m16.5s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m36.3s; 5 Ostberg +1m41.1s; 6 Prokop +6m38.6s.
Stage: 1 Latvala 12m21.1s; 2 Ostberg +1.0s; 3 Mikkelsen +6.4s; 4 Ogier +7.9s; 5 Neuville +11.8s; 6 Sordo +19.2s
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +17.1s; 3 Neuville +1m16.5s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m36.3s; 5 Ostberg +1m41.1s; 6 Prokop +6m38.6s.
WRC - Rally GB: "He's really fast, but he's only human," says Latvala of his runaway champion and rally-leading team-mate as he ramps up the pressure on Ogier, who can't quite understand why he lost so much time.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: At last we have times, and it's very clear why Latvala was so happy at the end of that stage.
He's fastest and reduces Ogier's lead from 25s to 17s.
He's fastest and reduces Ogier's lead from 25s to 17s.
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville remains calm about the pace of Mikkelsen and Ostberg behind him.
When the timing system gives the service park some information, we'll let you know what the gap now is.
When the timing system gives the service park some information, we'll let you know what the gap now is.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: No official times through yet, but as seems that Ostberg has taken a few seconds back out of Mikkelsen and reopened the battle for fourth.
"We had to respond. I've been trying very hard all day but the times were not there. I think we were lacking traction because we were losing a second per kilometre when it was uphill and slippery," said Ostberg.
He also reveals that a pep talk from his father (and former team boss) Morten at lunchtime helped a lot.
"We had to respond. I've been trying very hard all day but the times were not there. I think we were lacking traction because we were losing a second per kilometre when it was uphill and slippery," said Ostberg.
He also reveals that a pep talk from his father (and former team boss) Morten at lunchtime helped a lot.
WRC - Rally GB: Drivers are proceeding through the stage with no problems, and Solowow, Sordo and Prokop have crossed the finish, but no times as yet...
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: This is the state of play for those just joining us...
* Ogier has a 25s lead over Latvala and is driving calmly to keep it that way.
* Mikkelsen is flying: two stage wins this morning brought him up from sixth to fourth and to within 25s of Neuville. Can VW take its first podium sweep? That's what Mikkelsen wants to achieve.
* Ostberg is falling away from Mikkelsen and reckons his co-driver is talking too fast. Can he respond this afternoon?
* After his five-minute pre-rally penalty, Sordo has a good chance of getting back into the top six. Prokop is in his sights.
* Elfyn Evans is dominating WRC2, leaving Jari Ketomaa and Mark Higgins to fight for second.
* And Kubica has crashed again.
Lights out
WRC - Rally GB: Right, we're back underway. The afternoon starts with the classic Dyfnant stage, and then we have two runs around the grounds of Chirk Castle.
Tony Jardine and Amy Williams
WRC - Rally GB: TV pundit Tony Jardine has a good record for bringing celebrities into rallying, and for GB this year he's got Olympic gold medal winning skeleton bob racer Amy Williams MBE as his co-driver.
The pair are currently 23rd overall and Williams seems to be loving the experience.
WRC - Rally GB: AUTOSPORT's movements around Wales today are being hampered by something very promising: massive traffic!
The car park for Dyfi is full, which means six or seven miles of parked cars... The old days are back.
The car park for Dyfi is full, which means six or seven miles of parked cars... The old days are back.
WRC - Rally GB: Fifth-placed Mads Ostberg and co-driver Jonas Andersson had a moderate spat over pace notes this morning - and specifically the speed with which Andersson was blasting them out.
"I can't remember six or seven corners at a time!" Ostberg said.
"I can't remember six or seven corners at a time!" Ostberg said.
Quote
WRC - Rally GB: Latvala admitted to AUTOSPORT that his problems first thing today came from the recent rain.
"I had too many cautious in my notes," he said. "The rain overnight has washed away some of the mud and now I'm just waiting for the slippery sections.
"The car was fine, but I couldn't find the confidence - there was no spark today."
A bit of a rethink and two stage wins duly reignited that.
"I had too many cautious in my notes," he said. "The rain overnight has washed away some of the mud and now I'm just waiting for the slippery sections.
"The car was fine, but I couldn't find the confidence - there was no spark today."
A bit of a rethink and two stage wins duly reignited that.
Breaking news
Sebastien Ogier
WRC - Rally GB: Here's the full round-up of a morning in which VW set its sights on a first-ever podium sweep, and Kubica crashed again:
Rally GB Saturday morning report
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS13 results:
Stage: 1 Latvala 12m54.5s; 2 Ogier +0.6s; 3 Neuville +1.6s; 4 Mikkelsen +3.0s; 5 Ostberg +4.1s; 6 Sordo +16.8s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +25.0s; 3 Neuville +1m12.6s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m37.8s; 5 Ostberg +1m48.0s; 6 Prokop +6m22.4s.
Stage: 1 Latvala 12m54.5s; 2 Ogier +0.6s; 3 Neuville +1.6s; 4 Mikkelsen +3.0s; 5 Ostberg +4.1s; 6 Sordo +16.8s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +25.0s; 3 Neuville +1m12.6s; 4 Mikkelsen +1m37.8s; 5 Ostberg +1m48.0s; 6 Prokop +6m22.4s.
Twitter
WRC - Rally GB: Mads Ostberg tweets some advice for rally fans as he heads to the refuelling break before the next stage in an hour.
"Refuel now, SS14 kicks off at 12:45. #RefuelForAll Have a coffee and enjoy your short break!"
The AUTOSPORT newsdesk is putting the kettle on. We hope our rallying editor David Evans has a flask with him.
"Refuel now, SS14 kicks off at 12:45. #RefuelForAll Have a coffee and enjoy your short break!"
The AUTOSPORT newsdesk is putting the kettle on. We hope our rallying editor David Evans has a flask with him.
WRC - Rally GB: Ogier completes as well, but he's slightly slower than Latvala.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville doesn't keep the stage win for long, as a now much more comfortable Latvala beats him by 1.6s.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville certainly is. He completes the stage fastest so far, 1.4s quicker than Mikkelsen, bringing that gap back up to 25s.
"I drove a bit faster because Andreas is pushing a bit, so I want that gap," says Neuville.
He adds that he's driving without split times, which is apparently strange but enjoyable as he can't measure himself against the VW.
"I drove a bit faster because Andreas is pushing a bit, so I want that gap," says Neuville.
He adds that he's driving without split times, which is apparently strange but enjoyable as he can't measure himself against the VW.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: The flying Mikkelsen comes through 13s quicker than Sordo, but Neuville's splits look faster than Mikkelsen's this time. Is the Ford man fighting back?
By: Dan Cross, Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Marcus Simmons, Sam Tremayne, Charles Bradley
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