Rally GB, Macau, NASCAR finale
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WRC - Rally GB: Little to choose between Latvala and Ogier on the splits so far.
But if he's going to close down his team-mate's 13s lead, Latvala needs to not just match Ogier, but beat him.
But if he's going to close down his team-mate's 13s lead, Latvala needs to not just match Ogier, but beat him.
WRC - Rally GB: Up front, the big questions are whether Latvala's pace at the end of the morning can translate into a surge onto leader Ogier's tail, and whether Neuville can fight back.
Kubica is out, Hirvonen is out, and the rest are falling away.
Kubica is out, Hirvonen is out, and the rest are falling away.
Lights out
WRC - Rally GB: Right, the cars are heading onto Hafren again and AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live is back for another quick-fire afternoon of rallying in Wales.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB: So with the morning loop done, here's how they stand:
Stage: 1 Latvala 18m16.0s; 2 Ogier +4.6s; 3 Ostberg +14.7s; 4 Novikov +15.2s; 5 Sordo +15.9s; 6 Mikkelsen +17.2s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +13.5s; 3 Neuville +35.4s; 4 Ostberg +57.4s; 5 Novikov +1m07.6s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m08.8s.
The cars are now off to service, so AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live will return when the rally resumes for SS7 at 1.40pm UK time.
Stage: 1 Latvala 18m16.0s; 2 Ogier +4.6s; 3 Ostberg +14.7s; 4 Novikov +15.2s; 5 Sordo +15.9s; 6 Mikkelsen +17.2s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Latvala +13.5s; 3 Neuville +35.4s; 4 Ostberg +57.4s; 5 Novikov +1m07.6s; 6 Mikkelsen +1m08.8s.
The cars are now off to service, so AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live will return when the rally resumes for SS7 at 1.40pm UK time.
Crash
WRC - Rally GB: Sordo reports that team-mate Hirvonen has had a big crash, but he and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen are OK.
WRC - Rally GB: So for the second time this morning, we're waiting for Sordo to come through and tell us what's happened to a missing Citroen team-mate, after first Kubica and now Hirvonen hit trouble.
With Sordo taking a five-minute pre-rally penalty, this is already a rubbish weekend for Citroen.
With Sordo taking a five-minute pre-rally penalty, this is already a rubbish weekend for Citroen.
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WRC - Rally GB: Mads Ostberg is safely through and impressed with Latvala's rapid pace and the marks it is leaving on the stage surface.
"I can see some lines, and if those are Jari-Matti's, I can see he's having fun. He's very brave. You have to be a bit crazy to take those lines."
"I can see some lines, and if those are Jari-Matti's, I can see he's having fun. He's very brave. You have to be a bit crazy to take those lines."
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: Looks like fourth-placed Hirvonen might be stopped on the stage...
WRC - Rally GB: So the top three is now Ogier leading Latvala by 13s and Neuville by 35s.
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WRC - Rally GB: Neuville says he had no particular problems, he just couldn't find the pace on that stage.
"I had so much wheelspin. I'm staying on the road but I'm not going forward. In the beginning I couldn't understand what was happening, so I slowed the rhythm down a bit and tried to learn the stage."
"I had so much wheelspin. I'm staying on the road but I'm not going forward. In the beginning I couldn't understand what was happening, so I slowed the rhythm down a bit and tried to learn the stage."
WRC - Rally GB: Ogier loses 5s to Latvala but is fairly relaxed.
Neuville won't be, he's lost over 20s to the leaders and Latvala is now comfortably ahead in second.
Neuville won't be, he's lost over 20s to the leaders and Latvala is now comfortably ahead in second.
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WRC - Rally GB: Latvala is now 3.7s quicker than Ogier at the final split.
The Finn says he has now woken up and got oj it.
"I really pushed hard now, I didn't have any speed to push harder. It was very slippery in the beginning of the stage, but I managed to get more rhythm towards the end.
"I went a lot bit softer on the set-up, but maybe it was just too early a wake-up call this morning..."
The Finn says he has now woken up and got oj it.
"I really pushed hard now, I didn't have any speed to push harder. It was very slippery in the beginning of the stage, but I managed to get more rhythm towards the end.
"I went a lot bit softer on the set-up, but maybe it was just too early a wake-up call this morning..."
WRC - Rally GB: Does Neuville have a problem? He's now 11s down on the SS6 splits.
Timing information is... odd... though. So Belgian and Cumbrian fans, don't panic till the cars reach the flying finish.
Timing information is... odd... though. So Belgian and Cumbrian fans, don't panic till the cars reach the flying finish.
WRC - Rally GB: More splits coming in from SS6, and Neuville has dropped five seconds to the VWs.
That is going to cost him second place to Latvala at this rate.
That is going to cost him second place to Latvala at this rate.
WRC - Rally GB: Back on Sweet Lamb, local hero Elfyn Evans is safely through.
He was leading WRC 2 until the Hafren stoppage, which will mean times have to be reset as the Ford driver was one of those who had to slow after Kubica's crash.
He was leading WRC 2 until the Hafren stoppage, which will mean times have to be reset as the Ford driver was one of those who had to slow after Kubica's crash.
Lights out
WRC - Rally GB: Myherin is now running, and at the first split Ogier has added another second to the gap back to Latvala. Neuville is next on the road behind the VWs.
Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS5 results:
Stage: 1 Sordo 2m54.7s; 2 Ogier +1.2s; 3 Latvala +2.1s; 4 Novikov +2.4s; 5 Hirvonen +2.8s; 6 Neuville +5.4s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +17.1s; 3 Latvala +18.1s; 4 Hirvonen +29.9s; 5 Ostberg +47.3s; 6 Mikkelsen +56.2s.
Stage: 1 Sordo 2m54.7s; 2 Ogier +1.2s; 3 Latvala +2.1s; 4 Novikov +2.4s; 5 Hirvonen +2.8s; 6 Neuville +5.4s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +17.1s; 3 Latvala +18.1s; 4 Hirvonen +29.9s; 5 Ostberg +47.3s; 6 Mikkelsen +56.2s.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: Sordo comes through fastest on Sweet Lamb, 1.2s quicker than Ogier.
That means his deficit to the lead is now a mere 6m05.6s after the pre-rally penalty he got for Citroen exceeding its chassis allowance...
That means his deficit to the lead is now a mere 6m05.6s after the pre-rally penalty he got for Citroen exceeding its chassis allowance...
WRC - Rally GB: Hirvonen seems to be picking things up. He was fourth quickest, 1.6s down on Ogier on Sweet Lamb. That keeps him fourth, but within a dozen seconds of Neuville and Latvala's battle.
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: Just to recap for readers recently arrived - Kubica rolled into a ditch on this morning's first stage when running seventh.
He and co-driver Ferrara are unhurt, but the car is stuck and out of the day. If he can rejoin for Saturday, he will be running with 30 minutes of penalties.
He and co-driver Ferrara are unhurt, but the car is stuck and out of the day. If he can rejoin for Saturday, he will be running with 30 minutes of penalties.
WRC - Rally GB: Not a great stage for Neuville there.
He reports no particular problems but loses 4.2s to Ogier in 4.26kms.
That increases Ogier's lead to 17s, with Neuville now just 1s ahead of Latvala.
He reports no particular problems but loses 4.2s to Ogier in 4.26kms.
That increases Ogier's lead to 17s, with Neuville now just 1s ahead of Latvala.
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: No information on damage to Kubica's car yet, but Citroen says the main reason he couldn't continue is because his DS3 is stuck in a ditch.
WRC - Rally GB: The stages are back-to-back this morning and the quick blast around the spectator-friendly Sweet Lamb is already underway.
The VWs are through, with Ogier 0.9s quicker than Latvala.
Ogier's enjoying himself - pointing out what a great place to spectate it is with so much of the stage visible and jumps and watersplashes.
The VWs are through, with Ogier 0.9s quicker than Latvala.
Ogier's enjoying himself - pointing out what a great place to spectate it is with so much of the stage visible and jumps and watersplashes.
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: Citroen confirms that Kubica and co-driver Michele Ferrara are unhurt after that crash.
WRC - Rally GB: Difficult to get information at the moment, but it seems the stage has been stopped following Kubica's accident. Crews who had already started at coming through at reduced pace.
Breaking news
WRC - Rally GB: Kubica's team-mate Dani Sordo comes through. The stage has now been stopped.
"I saw the car off," Sordo reports, but he believes the crew are OK.
"I saw the car off," Sordo reports, but he believes the crew are OK.
Crash
WRC - Rally GB: Reports coming through at the stage end that Robert Kubica has rolled on this stage...
More info as soon as we have it.
More info as soon as we have it.
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville does indeed keep second. He's now 12.9s behind the flying Ogier, but 5s clear of Latvala.
Everyone else is significantly slower so far. Mikko Hirvonen is in fourth and about half a minute off the lead, while Mads Ostberg's Thursday night gearbox issues are solved, but he's 43s adrift of first place and not over-excited about his pace.
Everyone else is significantly slower so far. Mikko Hirvonen is in fourth and about half a minute off the lead, while Mads Ostberg's Thursday night gearbox issues are solved, but he's 43s adrift of first place and not over-excited about his pace.
WRC - Rally GB: Still waiting for Neuville's stage result, but in the meantime we can let you know that Evgeny Novikov was mildly grumpy at the stage end. Much as he has been for the second half of the 2013 season.
Quote
WRC - Rally GB: Neuville admits he lost a bit of time with a mistake.
"I nearly stalled my engine out of a hairpin, but I don't think it was anything much," he says.
Just waiting for his time to pop up to see if he's kept second.
"I nearly stalled my engine out of a hairpin, but I don't think it was anything much," he says.
Just waiting for his time to pop up to see if he's kept second.
Stopwatch
WRC - Rally GB: Bang! Ogier completes with a time 10s faster than Latvala, and 12s quicker than Neuville, who has also now crossed the line.
And Ogier's complaining of understeer and reckons he can go faster.
And Ogier's complaining of understeer and reckons he can go faster.
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WRC - Rally GB: Latvala completes the stage and once again, sounds downcast...
"A clear run, but the time is not going to be good. I like the stages but I can't get the same feeling as I've have on these stages in the past."
But then, he cheers up...
"But we'll see. Let's go forward!"
"A clear run, but the time is not going to be good. I like the stages but I can't get the same feeling as I've have on these stages in the past."
But then, he cheers up...
"But we'll see. Let's go forward!"
WRC - Rally GB: The timing system isn't picking up Neuville's splits (don't worry, he's running, it's just the timing hamsters that aren't), but we do know that Ogier is so far five seconds quicker than VW team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala on this stage.
The Finn was 5s behind Ogier in third place after last night.
The Finn was 5s behind Ogier in third place after last night.
WRC - Rally GB: Good start to the morning for Ogier. At the first split of Hafren he's added three seconds to his lead over Neuville - which pretty much doubles his advantage.
WRC - Rally GB: Welcome back to Wales for the first full day of the 2013 World Rally Championship finale.
We've got three classic Welsh stages repeated today, with quick-fire runs through Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin in the morning and afternoon.
Can Thierry Neuville grab the lead from Sebastien Ogier? How will Robert Kubica fare today? We're about to find out, with the top cars onto Hafren now.
We've got three classic Welsh stages repeated today, with quick-fire runs through Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin in the morning and afternoon.
Can Thierry Neuville grab the lead from Sebastien Ogier? How will Robert Kubica fare today? We're about to find out, with the top cars onto Hafren now.
WRC - Rally GB: And that, rally fans, is the end of tonight's Rally GB coverage. We'll be back tomorrow morning, ahead of the first test of the day, which is the classic Hafren stage at 09:37 GMT.
In the meantime, here's how Ogier came to lead Rally GB after day one:
In the meantime, here's how Ogier came to lead Rally GB after day one:
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Checkered flag
WRC - Rally GB - SS3 results:
Stage: 1 Neuville; 2 Ogier +0.4s; 3 Latvala +3.4s; 4 Hirvonen +4.2s; 5 Mikkelsen +6.0s; 6 Kubica 6.3s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +3.2s; 3 Latvala +5.2s; 4 Hirvonen +16.2s; 5 Ostberg +24.7s; 6 Mikkelsen +27.8s.
Kubica has moved up to seventh overall thanks to that respectable time in tonight's final stage.
Stage: 1 Neuville; 2 Ogier +0.4s; 3 Latvala +3.4s; 4 Hirvonen +4.2s; 5 Mikkelsen +6.0s; 6 Kubica 6.3s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +3.2s; 3 Latvala +5.2s; 4 Hirvonen +16.2s; 5 Ostberg +24.7s; 6 Mikkelsen +27.8s.
Kubica has moved up to seventh overall thanks to that respectable time in tonight's final stage.
WRC - Rally GB: Nine drivers through and Sordo's the slowest of the lot with a 4m35.3s. A pretty torrid day for the Spaniard who trails Ogier by 5m40.8s after incurring a five-minute penalty.
WRC - Rally GB: Hirvonen's form appears to have returned as the Finn's set the fourth quickest time with a 4m30.1s.
Kubica's set a time 2.1s slower the his Citroen team-mate and has jumped Novikov in the overall standings, moving up to sixth.
Kubica's set a time 2.1s slower the his Citroen team-mate and has jumped Novikov in the overall standings, moving up to sixth.
WRC - Rally GB: Ostberg is still struggling with his gear woes, but even so, has set a respectable time of 4m35.2s.
By: Dan Cross, Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Marcus Simmons, Sam Tremayne, Charles Bradley
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