Rally GB, Macau, NASCAR finale
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WRC - Rally GB: The first of the VWs is through, and Andreas Mikkelsen bests the lead Citroen of Sordo out of the water with a time of 8m46.5s for Mikkelsen.
Before that, Prokop was 1.3s slower than Kubica.
Before that, Prokop was 1.3s slower than Kubica.
WRC - Rally GB: Solowow and Sordo are also through, and slot in either side of Kubica.
Sordo beats his Citroen team-mate by 12.7s, while Solowow is 31.2s the other side of the Pole.
Sordo beats his Citroen team-mate by 12.7s, while Solowow is 31.2s the other side of the Pole.
WRC - Rally GB: Kubica's in, and it's 9m04.9s for the ex-F1 star.
WRC - Rally GB: Good news, Kubica fans - he's back in the rally aboard his DS3. Great stuff, it would have been a shame for the Pole's first rally in a top-tier WRC to end so swiftly.
WRC - Rally GB: If you're confused as to why Rally GB is only in Wales this year - don't be. It is the first time that's been the case, and AUTOSPORT's David Evans was able to get the inside story on the new-for-2013 route.
As SS10 has only just sparked into life, that probably gives you enough time to have a read:
Rally GB's route uncovered
As SS10 has only just sparked into life, that probably gives you enough time to have a read:
Rally GB's route uncovered
WRC - Rally GB: But while the VW boys were having a successful run at the head of the times, the rival Citroen team endured a disastrous day.
Robert Kubica crashed into a ditch on his debut in a top-level DS3 WRC. The ex-F1 star was unsure whether he would rejoin.
Earlier on Friday morning, Mikko Hirvonen suffered a high-speed, sixth-gear crash that ended his rally on the second day of running.
Co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen took the blame for the crash, citing an incomplete pace note. “I thought ‘F***!’,” he said when recalling the moment he made the mistake.
WRC - Rally GB: A clean sweep of Friday afternoon’s stages edged Sebastien Ogier well clear of his Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.
Ogier had topped qualifying on Thursday, then started the competitive stages by running at first ahead of M-Sport’s Hyunda-bound Belgian ace Thierry Neuville, and then Latvala as Neuville dropped back.
Ogier in control after afternoon sweep
WRC - Rally GB: Today's running starts with SS10 and will bring us up to SS16.
We will run twice through Gartheinoig, interspersed with two 21.9km Dyfi runs. The first 21km Dyfnant run (SS14) starts just after midday, before back-to-back short blasts through Chirk Castle.
In short: Muddy Welsh thrills, due to kick off in about five minutes. Just enough time to bring you up-to-date.
We will run twice through Gartheinoig, interspersed with two 21.9km Dyfi runs. The first 21km Dyfnant run (SS14) starts just after midday, before back-to-back short blasts through Chirk Castle.
In short: Muddy Welsh thrills, due to kick off in about five minutes. Just enough time to bring you up-to-date.
WRC - Rally GB: We start in Wales. The first stage, SS10, is a 14.5km run through Gartheiniog.
Hello and welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live’s continued coverage of a weekend of mud, Macau and NASCAR bumper-bashing.
That's it for AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live today, we'll be back for more acton from Wales from 8.30am UK time on Saturday.
Evans
WRC - Rally GB: And as Elfyn Evans leads WRC2, here's a pic of his co-driver Dan Barritt chatting with Evans' British champion father Gwyndaf and his gran, who does not have any rallying pedigree that we're aware of, in Newtown earlier today.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS9 results:
So this is how things stand at the end of Friday:
Stage: 1 Ogier 18m27.6s; 2 Latvala +2.2s; 3 Neuville +9.2s; 4 Mikkelsen +9.8s; 5 Novikov +11.0s; 6 Ostberg +11.4s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +20.1s; 3 Neuville +1m02.6s; 4 Ostberg +1m30.8s; 5 Novikov +1m34.5s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m35.6s.
So this is how things stand at the end of Friday:
Stage: 1 Ogier 18m27.6s; 2 Latvala +2.2s; 3 Neuville +9.2s; 4 Mikkelsen +9.8s; 5 Novikov +11.0s; 6 Ostberg +11.4s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +20.1s; 3 Neuville +1m02.6s; 4 Ostberg +1m30.8s; 5 Novikov +1m34.5s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m35.6s.
WRC - Rally GB: Bit of a scare for WRC3 title aspirant Chardonnet as he gets a puncture. But he's still set to be second in class due to the level of attrition, with leader Gilbert having jus lost four minutes in a watersplash.
WRC - Rally GB: And as we predicted, Sordo has made it back into the top 10 and ends the day ninth.
Chips
WRC - Rally GB: On the subject of Newtown, the town centre regroup offered a variety of options for those who hadn't planned ahead for lunch. The Ukranian Mini crews in WRC2 went traditional with fish and chips. For info, AUTOSPORT went to the Golden Arches on the outskirts of town.
WRC - Rally GB: Tom Cave has been the WRC2 pacesetter all afternoon, but has ground to make up, so it's Evans who leads by 27s over Higgins and Ketomaa, who are just a second apart.
WRC - Rally GB: Still nothing to choose in the battle for fourth place at the end of that stage. Ostberg, Novikov and Mikkelsen are covered by just 4.8s.
WRC - Rally GB: Big crowds out watching on Rally GB today - especially for a Friday. Possibly a few unsolicited early weekends started... Elfyn Evans' gran (or nain as she's known in these parts) was an interested observer, standing with her son Gwyndaf waiting for Elfyn in Newtown.
Sebastian Chardonnet
WRC - Rally GB: Big news from WRC3 today as title contender Keith Cronin crashed this morning.
That means his rival Sebastien Chardonnet (the latest Frenchman called Sebastien to emerge from Citroen's rally star factory) just has to play it safe all weekend to be champion.
With European Rally Championship ace Bryan Bouffier having retired with gearbox problems, Chardonnet is running a cautious second in class between Quentin Gilbert.
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville is 9s down on Ogier on Myherin, so is now a minute adrift of the lead, having started the morning just 3s off Ogier's tail.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: Ogier sets the pace on SS9, the day's finale. He's 2.2s quicker than Latvala, who had a big moment, so his lead is up to 20s.
WRC - Rally GB: Meanwhile on Myherin, Ogier is looking unstoppable. He's three seconds up on Latvala so far.
WRC - Rally GB: Mark Higgins is the WRC2 pacesetter on Sweet Lamb so far. He took second from Ketomaa on the previous stage, despite a late puncture!
Evans now leads the Manxman by 20.8s.
Evans now leads the Manxman by 20.8s.
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: So let's summarise...
Ogier is sneaking away in the lead but Latvala is trying to prevent him from escaping.
Neuville is falling away in a puzzled third - he's lonely for now, but he might get reeled in by an outstanding battle for fourth between Ostberg, Novikov and Mikkelsen.
Sordo is scrabbling to get back into the points after his big pre-rally penalty.
Kubica and Hirvonen rolled, Loeb is testing a Citroen WTCC car somewhere (probably).
That's your WRC summary.
Ogier is sneaking away in the lead but Latvala is trying to prevent him from escaping.
Neuville is falling away in a puzzled third - he's lonely for now, but he might get reeled in by an outstanding battle for fourth between Ostberg, Novikov and Mikkelsen.
Sordo is scrabbling to get back into the points after his big pre-rally penalty.
Kubica and Hirvonen rolled, Loeb is testing a Citroen WTCC car somewhere (probably).
That's your WRC summary.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS8 results:
Stage: 1 Ogier 2m56.8s; 2 Sordo +0.8s; 3 Novikov +1.8s; 4 Latvala +2.7s; 5 Ostberg +3.0s; 6 Mikkelsen +4.0s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +17.9s; 3 Neuville +53.4s; 4 Ostberg +1m19.4s; 5 Novikov +1m23.5s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m25.8s.
Stage: 1 Ogier 2m56.8s; 2 Sordo +0.8s; 3 Novikov +1.8s; 4 Latvala +2.7s; 5 Ostberg +3.0s; 6 Mikkelsen +4.0s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +17.9s; 3 Neuville +53.4s; 4 Ostberg +1m19.4s; 5 Novikov +1m23.5s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m25.8s.
Lights out
WRC - Rally GB: While the midfielders come through Sweet Lamb, the leaders are cracking into Myherin, today's final stage.
WRC - Rally GB: Sordo pinches that second place on the stage standings from Novikov as he again flies on Sweet Lamb.
He should get into the points this afternoon, as after Hafren he was up to 12th overall.
He should get into the points this afternoon, as after Hafren he was up to 12th overall.
Evgeny Novikov
WRC - Rally GB: Good burst of pace from Novikov (remember him?). He comes through the stage second fastest, and that brings him to within 4.1s of M-Sport team-mate Mads Ostberg.
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville is 4s slower than Ogier as he continues to fall away.
"Without the two Volkswagens in front, we are quite good..." says the Belgian, who can't quite figure out where he's losing the time.
"Without the two Volkswagens in front, we are quite good..." says the Belgian, who can't quite figure out where he's losing the time.
WRC - Rally GB: That brings Ogier's lead up to 17.9s, so he's almost rebuilt the lead he had before Latvala flew through Myherin this morning.
Looks like the Finn's going to have to respond on the final stage of the loop again.
Looks like the Finn's going to have to respond on the final stage of the loop again.
WRC - Rally GB: Straight onto the short Sweet Lamb stage and Ogier is still flying. In just four kilometres, he goes a couple of seconds quicker than Latvala.
WRC - Rally GB: The WRC2 battle has just turned in the home team's favour.
With times from the morning reset once the SS4 stoppage was taken into account, Elfyn Evans was narrowly ahead of Jari Ketomaa and Mark Higgins.
But Evans has just blitzed Hafren and pulled half a minute clear of Ketomaa. How will Higgins respond?
With times from the morning reset once the SS4 stoppage was taken into account, Elfyn Evans was narrowly ahead of Jari Ketomaa and Mark Higgins.
But Evans has just blitzed Hafren and pulled half a minute clear of Ketomaa. How will Higgins respond?
WRC - Rally GB: No repeat of Dani Sordo's pacesetting star turn from SS5 on this stage. He says conditions are getting worse for cars further down the order as the frontrunners break the mud up.
Sordo went into this afternoon only 16th overall following his five-minute pre-rally penalty for Citroen using a ninth chassis, one more than its season allowance.
Sordo went into this afternoon only 16th overall following his five-minute pre-rally penalty for Citroen using a ninth chassis, one more than its season allowance.
Andreas Mikkelsen
WRC - Rally GB: Mikkelsen's car is carrying a special livery this weekend, plastered with pictures of thousands of VW fans and staff.
See if you can spot yourself as he takes this watersplash earlier today!
WRC - Rally GB: The closest battle now is for fifth. Andreas Mikkelsen has just gone third fastest on Hafren, and that has closed him to within just 0.1s of Evgeny Novikov.
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville is through and is 13.8s off the pace.
He's pretty baffled by that lack of speed. Is the VW just quicker than the Ford in today's mud?
He's pretty baffled by that lack of speed. Is the VW just quicker than the Ford in today's mud?
WRC - Rally GB: After that mid-stage surge from Latvala, Ogier pulls it back.
He adds another 1.7s to his rally lead and the gap is now 15s.
He adds another 1.7s to his rally lead and the gap is now 15s.
WRC - Rally GB: This feels like a two-horse fight now. Neuville is dropping another 10s to the VWs so far, and is actually a little slower than his M-Sport team-mates Ostberg and Novikov.
WRC - Rally GB: Looking good for Latvala now. Three quarters of the way through the stage, he's 1.7s faster than Ogier.
By: Dan Cross, Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Marcus Simmons, Sam Tremayne, Charles Bradley
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