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Rally Germany, Belgian GP supports
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GP2 - Belgium: Takuya Izawa will not compete any further this session after spinning out.
Leal goes fifth fastest, 0.562s behind Palmer.
Leal goes fifth fastest, 0.562s behind Palmer.
Lights out
WRC - Germany: The three VWs have begun Waxweiler and it's looking good for Ogier again, he's nine tenths up on Latvala at split one.
GP2 - Belgium: Dillmann has been on the radio complaining about Cecotto blocking him on a flying lap. He is P15 currently.
WRC - Germany: A quick word for Ireland's WRC newcomer Sam Moffett.
He's 13th overall, only 4.7s down on returnee Kuipers and 21.6s ahead of WRC2 frontrunner Protasov, who's in a WRC Ford this weekend. We think that's a really good effort considering his inexperience.
He's 13th overall, only 4.7s down on returnee Kuipers and 21.6s ahead of WRC2 frontrunner Protasov, who's in a WRC Ford this weekend. We think that's a really good effort considering his inexperience.
GP2 - Belgium: Takuya Izawa has a moment just going wide into the gravel.
GP2 - Belgium: Drivers start their first flying laps.
Cecotto goes top with a 1m57.601s. Nasr encounters traffic from Tom Dillmann ahead.
Stoffel Vandoorne goes ahead by 0.591s before Palmer goes top.
Cecotto goes top with a 1m57.601s. Nasr encounters traffic from Tom Dillmann ahead.
Stoffel Vandoorne goes ahead by 0.591s before Palmer goes top.
WRC - Germany: In WRC2, Sousa has brought his lead up to 7.1s over Tidemand.
Riedemann still leads WRC3 on the timing screens, but a penalty is looming as he was late out of service due to a gearbox change over-running. That will put WRC debutant Eric Camilli into the class lead.
Riedemann still leads WRC3 on the timing screens, but a penalty is looming as he was late out of service due to a gearbox change over-running. That will put WRC debutant Eric Camilli into the class lead.
GP2 - Belgium: All cars are out as drivers are weaving across the track to get heat into the tyres.
GP2 - Belgium: The track temperature is warmer than the morning practice, as the clouds seemed to have disappeared for now.
WRC - Germany: Battle is going to resume on the 10-mile Waxweiler stage in five minutes.
This was the stage earlier where the problem of leading cars dragging dirt onto the road was worst, with a very dirty line for those further down.
But this time bear in mind that even Ogier will be encountering the mud spread by 70-odd cars on the first running of the stage this morning, so it might be more equal - and Sordo might not be so sweary.
This was the stage earlier where the problem of leading cars dragging dirt onto the road was worst, with a very dirty line for those further down.
But this time bear in mind that even Ogier will be encountering the mud spread by 70-odd cars on the first running of the stage this morning, so it might be more equal - and Sordo might not be so sweary.
Green flag
GP2 - Belgium: The green flag waves, and qualifying begins.
Drivers are out on the quicker medium compound tyres for the 30 minute qualifying session.
Johnny Cecotto Jr is out first to gain crucial track position for a first flying lap.
Drivers are out on the quicker medium compound tyres for the 30 minute qualifying session.
Johnny Cecotto Jr is out first to gain crucial track position for a first flying lap.
GP2 - Belgium: Stefano Coletti spun out of practice this morning after touching the gravel - he will be hoping to have a cleaner qualifying session.
GP2 - Belgium: Teams will be running the hard and medium Pirelli tyres this weekend, as Spa is the longest circuit on the GP2 calendar.
GP2 - Belgium: Jolyon Palmer has qualified on pole three times this year, and an impressive run of front rows has helped him score consistent points this season.
Rain
WRC - Germany: It's currently dry on the stages, but the rain icon gets an outing as where DAVID EVANS is standing there are big black clouds in every direction - except directly above our man, where there is sunshine...
The Citroens have taken two spare soft tyres this afternoon in case of rain, a choice spurned by everyone else, with the rest sticking to hards.
Ogier had two spare softs this morning but as it didn't rain he felt he'd just carried pointless extra weight around.
The Citroens have taken two spare soft tyres this afternoon in case of rain, a choice spurned by everyone else, with the rest sticking to hards.
Ogier had two spare softs this morning but as it didn't rain he felt he'd just carried pointless extra weight around.
WRC - Germany - SS4 summary:
* Ogier adds 3.8s to his lead over Latvala
* Battle for fifth closes up: 5.2s now covers Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Hirvonen and Neuville...
* ...and Evans is gaining on that group too.
* Ogier adds 3.8s to his lead over Latvala
* Battle for fifth closes up: 5.2s now covers Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Hirvonen and Neuville...
* ...and Evans is gaining on that group too.
Checkered flag
WRC - Germany - SS4 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 7m17.0s
2 Latvala +3.8s
3 Meeke +5.1s
4 Mikkelsen +5.8s
5 Sordo +6.1s
6 Evans +6.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +5.7s
3 Meeke +29.1s
4 Sordo +34.7s
5 Mikkelsen +37.2s
6 Ostberg +40.9s
7 Hirvonen +41.7s
8 Neuville +42.4s
9 Evans +47.1s
10 Bouffier +1m04.9s
Stage times:
1 Ogier 7m17.0s
2 Latvala +3.8s
3 Meeke +5.1s
4 Mikkelsen +5.8s
5 Sordo +6.1s
6 Evans +6.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +5.7s
3 Meeke +29.1s
4 Sordo +34.7s
5 Mikkelsen +37.2s
6 Ostberg +40.9s
7 Hirvonen +41.7s
8 Neuville +42.4s
9 Evans +47.1s
10 Bouffier +1m04.9s
GP2 - Belgium: Black clouds were surrounding the Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the Formula 1 practice session this afternoon, so the potential of rain is a possibility.
GP2 - Belgium: Welcome back to our GP2 coverage. Qualifying for the feature race begins shortly.
Julian Leal was quickest in practice from Johnny Cecotto Jr.
The championship leaders were further down the order this morning, Jolyon Palmer 0.5s off Leal's time in 12th and Felipe Nasr in 14th.
Julian Leal was quickest in practice from Johnny Cecotto Jr.
The championship leaders were further down the order this morning, Jolyon Palmer 0.5s off Leal's time in 12th and Felipe Nasr in 14th.
WRC - Germany: Fifth fastest for Sordo on that one, which keeps him 2.5s ahead of Mikkelsen in fourth overall.
Twitter
WRC - Germany: We're now playing another game of 'wait for Sordo' - a game only possible when last year's winner is 11th on the start order but in the top four in the results.
Also playing is long-time British rally star Guy Wilks: "@DaniSordo come on!! Eyes on the prize! #AshphaltLover"
Also playing is long-time British rally star Guy Wilks: "@DaniSordo come on!! Eyes on the prize! #AshphaltLover"
WRC - Germany: Only mild dramas for Kubica on this stage, he stalls at the start as he gets used to the new clutch fitted in service. He comes through at the same pace as Hirvonen and Ostberg.
WRC - Germany: Ogier is still 3.8s faster than anyone else, which is a hefty margin on a stage that doesn't take a lot more than seven minutes to complete.
Latvala's time looked like a relative disaster, but he's still second quickest ahead of Meeke, Mikkelsen and Evans.
Latvala's time looked like a relative disaster, but he's still second quickest ahead of Meeke, Mikkelsen and Evans.
WRC - Germany: Evans was very quick on this stage this morning, and he's repeated that performance - he's fifth quickest so far.
That makes him quicker than Neuville, Hirvonen and Ostberg, and only eight tenths off Mikkelsen's VW.
Wonderful stuff from the Welsh rookie.
That makes him quicker than Neuville, Hirvonen and Ostberg, and only eight tenths off Mikkelsen's VW.
Wonderful stuff from the Welsh rookie.
WRC - Germany: A smooth run for Neuville, he creeps a bit closer to Ostberg and Hirvonen.
Quote
WRC - Germany: And Meeke's reaction to his third-fastest time: "I'm less than a second behind Jari but Seb really pulled one out there."
WRC - Germany: Meanwhile Hirvonen has closed to within eight tenths of Ostberg overall.
Amid a pretty lacklustre season, Hirvonen is having to find reasons to be cheerful. This time he chooses: going a second faster than the morning; not crashing; being in a reasonably close battle with the likes of Ostberg.
Amid a pretty lacklustre season, Hirvonen is having to find reasons to be cheerful. This time he chooses: going a second faster than the morning; not crashing; being in a reasonably close battle with the likes of Ostberg.
WRC - Germany: Another strong run from Meeke, who is third quickest so far, ahead of Mikkelsen and only just behind Latvala.
But that still means 5s lost to leader Ogier.
But that still means 5s lost to leader Ogier.
WRC - Germany: Slightly muted times and vibes from Mikkelsen and Ostberg as they come through slower than the leaders.
Ostberg notes that the stage is getting pretty dirty, but adds that the main problem is that he's not driving fast enough.
Ostberg notes that the stage is getting pretty dirty, but adds that the main problem is that he's not driving fast enough.
Quote
WRC - Germany: No major problem, says Latvala, he was just too careful.
"I took the cuts and gravel places a bit too carefully. We didn't have any splits so I didn't know what his time was going to be. I was a little bit too cautious, that's it."
That raises Ogier's outright lead to 5.7s.
"I took the cuts and gravel places a bit too carefully. We didn't have any splits so I didn't know what his time was going to be. I was a little bit too cautious, that's it."
That raises Ogier's outright lead to 5.7s.
WRC - Germany: Significantly slower for Latvala - he loses 3.8s to his team-mate.
Stopwatch
WRC - Germany: Ogier sets a 7m17s benchmark, only a second quicker than he went this morning.
That might be because there's still a lot of dirt on the stage from the first loop.
"It's better - I'm much happier with the set-up. I did a clean stage, but sometimes a bit too cautious where I made mistakes this morning."
That might be because there's still a lot of dirt on the stage from the first loop.
"It's better - I'm much happier with the set-up. I did a clean stage, but sometimes a bit too cautious where I made mistakes this morning."
Lights out
WRC - Germany: The VWs are already on Sauertal, an 8.8-mile stage that kicks us off.
It was SS1 this morning too, and Ogier was fastest then ahead of Latvala.
It was SS1 this morning too, and Ogier was fastest then ahead of Latvala.
WRC - Germany: Welcome back, shall we resume some rallying?
This morning Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala blew the rest away, Kris Meeke got back up to a third after a spin, and Robert Kubica lost four minutes off the road.
Here's how they stand ready to begin SS4 in a moment:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1.9s
3 Meeke +24.0s
4 Sordo +28.6s
5 Mikkelsen +31.4s
6 Ostberg +31.7s
7 Hirvonen +32.9s
8 Neuville +34.6s
9 Evans +40.5s
10 Bouffier +53.8s
Irish newcomer Sam Moffett is a rather amazing 12th, Bernardo Sousa narrowly leads WRC2 over Pontus Tidemand, local man Christian Riedemann leads WRC3 and Kubica is now 34th.
Yes, our guess that Kubica would be outside the top 60 earlier was frankly appalling maths. Let's never speak of it again.
This morning Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala blew the rest away, Kris Meeke got back up to a third after a spin, and Robert Kubica lost four minutes off the road.
Here's how they stand ready to begin SS4 in a moment:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +1.9s
3 Meeke +24.0s
4 Sordo +28.6s
5 Mikkelsen +31.4s
6 Ostberg +31.7s
7 Hirvonen +32.9s
8 Neuville +34.6s
9 Evans +40.5s
10 Bouffier +53.8s
Irish newcomer Sam Moffett is a rather amazing 12th, Bernardo Sousa narrowly leads WRC2 over Pontus Tidemand, local man Christian Riedemann leads WRC3 and Kubica is now 34th.
Yes, our guess that Kubica would be outside the top 60 earlier was frankly appalling maths. Let's never speak of it again.
And with the WRC field also taking a break now for service, AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live will be pausing until 1.30pm UK time, when we're back for Rally Germany SS4-SS6 and GP2 qualifying.
GP2 - Belgium: GP2 returns later today at 2:50pm for qualifying.
GP2 - Belgium: Campos Racing's Kimiya Sato, who won the Auto GP title last weekend, finished the session bottom.
GP2 - Belgium: Leal ends the session quickest with his time of 1m57.877s.
Cecotto finishes second 0.153s behind. Marciello ended 0.3s off Leal's time in third, ahead of Berthon, Daly, Vandoorne, Canamasas, Coletti , Richelmi and Evans.
Palmer finished the session 12th, with Nasr in 14th.
Cecotto finishes second 0.153s behind. Marciello ended 0.3s off Leal's time in third, ahead of Berthon, Daly, Vandoorne, Canamasas, Coletti , Richelmi and Evans.
Palmer finished the session 12th, with Nasr in 14th.
WRC - Germany: Leader Ogier could be forgiven for not having his mind on the task in hand.
The Sunday after he didn't win Rally Finland, Ogier forgot all about rallying when he married his girlfriend Andrea Kaiser.
From the picture he tweeted, it looks like the ceremony might have taken place where the finish of Rally GB will be on Llandudno seafront.
The Sunday after he didn't win Rally Finland, Ogier forgot all about rallying when he married his girlfriend Andrea Kaiser.
From the picture he tweeted, it looks like the ceremony might have taken place where the finish of Rally GB will be on Llandudno seafront.
Checkered flag
GP2 - Belgium: Session time has elapsed, and the cars on track set their final times.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Gary Watkins, Dan Cross, Charles Bradley, Kevin Turner
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