Rally Mexico, Las Vegas NASCAR
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Despite his roll, Kubica's not been classified as a retiree. He did attempt to take part in the final superspecial but was stopped and given a standard +2m30s time.
So while he's now almost seven minutes off the lead, he's still in the running for points. In fact, he's still ninth - very close to Chris Atkinson's Hyundai and not a million miles away from the top six (such has been the Rally Mexico drama thus far).
So while he's now almost seven minutes off the lead, he's still in the running for points. In fact, he's still ninth - very close to Chris Atkinson's Hyundai and not a million miles away from the top six (such has been the Rally Mexico drama thus far).
Breaking news
Friday's running provided plenty of talking points – and here's a look at the biggest ones:
* Ostberg led after the morning for Citroen but Volkswagen's Ogier fought back with a quartet of stage wins to hold a 26.1s lead
* Hirvonen suffered a mechanical problem before Meeke crashed and Kubica rolled on a dramatic afternoon
* Chaos around them elevated Evans, Neuville and Prokop into the top six
Of course, if you want more, then you'll love our full report from yesterday:
Ogier leads after chaotic first day
Hello and welcome back to live coverage of Rally Mexico. Action resumes on SS12 in about half an hour – will we have another breathless day of action?
So, that's that for AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's Friday coverage of Rally Mexico.
The afternoon report will be live on AUTOSPORT.com in just over an hour's time - after the day's final two superspecials - and we will be back with live updates of the resumption of the event from 3pm UK time tomorrow.
We'll leave you with the biggest storylines of that short SS9 blast, which were:
* Latvala beats Ogier by half a second, but the Frenchman has a strong lead as Ostberg loses more time
* Kubica holds comfortable fourth after being beaten only by VWs on SS9
* Neuville closes in on Evans for fifth for Hyundai
The afternoon report will be live on AUTOSPORT.com in just over an hour's time - after the day's final two superspecials - and we will be back with live updates of the resumption of the event from 3pm UK time tomorrow.
We'll leave you with the biggest storylines of that short SS9 blast, which were:
* Latvala beats Ogier by half a second, but the Frenchman has a strong lead as Ostberg loses more time
* Kubica holds comfortable fourth after being beaten only by VWs on SS9
* Neuville closes in on Evans for fifth for Hyundai
Checkered flag
SS9 results:
1 Latvala 2m22.2s
2 Ogier +0.5s
3 Kubica +2.7s
4 Neuville +2.8s
5 Ostberg +3.0s
6 Evans +5.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 1h42m59.4s
2 Ostberg +23.1s
3 Latvala +40.3s
4 Kubica +1m46.8s
5 Evans +2m22.2s
6 Neuville +2m29.3s
1 Latvala 2m22.2s
2 Ogier +0.5s
3 Kubica +2.7s
4 Neuville +2.8s
5 Ostberg +3.0s
6 Evans +5.2s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 1h42m59.4s
2 Ostberg +23.1s
3 Latvala +40.3s
4 Kubica +1m46.8s
5 Evans +2m22.2s
6 Neuville +2m29.3s
Quote
"It's going OK," says Kubica as he comes in in 2m24.9s, and third quickest. "I would be happy to keep this pace. It's quite difficult to approach these stages for the first time. I think the pace is good.
"We have to stay on the road. Otherwise the learning process will not be there."
"We have to stay on the road. Otherwise the learning process will not be there."
Prokop is through, 0.3s slower than Evans.
Neuville gets in between the VWs and Ostberg, just 2.8s slower than Latvala.
The Hyundai has definitely found some pace - despite the team's fears to the contrary before the event.
The Hyundai has definitely found some pace - despite the team's fears to the contrary before the event.
Evans is in, by the way, and is 5.2.s slower than stage leader Latvala.
Quote
Meeke, in his first time competing on Mexico's high-altitude stages, will have added reason to be disappointed with his incident.
He had hoped, despite his inexperience, his experience of Super 2000 rallying would help him. And it was, for a while...
"I was talking to Sebastien Ogier in Sweden about Mexico," said Meeke.
"He told me it was like driving a Super 2000 car because of the altitude. If that's the case, I have pretty good experience of that!"
Meeke won his 2009 IRC title at the wheel of a naturally-aspirated Peugeot 207 S2000.
Meeke and Hirvonen's absence is very noticeable on the timing screen, with two big gaps on the split times.
It's a shame for both, not least the former who - on his Mexico debut - was set to inherit third following the latter's electrical problem.
It's a shame for both, not least the former who - on his Mexico debut - was set to inherit third following the latter's electrical problem.
There is a trio of drivers due before Kubica, though - and the first of them (Elfyn Evans) is on the stage now.
Quote
Coming through soon will be Kubica, who will no doubt be delighted with his running at the moment - particularly as M-Sport looks like to have solved that pesky hydraulics issue.
The ex-F1 driver explained to David Evans earlier the impact the issue was having on his rally:
"I have been at 70 per cent sometimes this morning. The conditions are tough anyway, but especially for me when I have the limitation with my arm. And, if you obligate me to put my hand on the gear lever and use only one hand then it’s even harder.
"It was not such a nice moment when the problem came this morning – I was downshifting and the car wouldn’t shift down. We almost went off.”
"It's not been difficult it's just not been perfect," reflects Ostberg as he comes through 3.0s slower than Latvala and falls to 23.1s behind Ogier. "To be honest I am quite happy with what I've done so far."
Can he beat Ogier or is he defending from Latvala?
"It depends what we can do," is his coy reply.
Can he beat Ogier or is he defending from Latvala?
"It depends what we can do," is his coy reply.
Ogier's point is clear as he finishes the stage, 0.5s slower than his team-mate: "The rally is very long."
It may be, Sebastien, but your lead is rather healthy. Latvala will need to take more than half a second out of the champion if he's to overhaul him.
That'd be a spectacular couple of days if he did, mind.
It may be, Sebastien, but your lead is rather healthy. Latvala will need to take more than half a second out of the champion if he's to overhaul him.
That'd be a spectacular couple of days if he did, mind.
Latvala gets SS9 out of the way quickly, and he's pretty happy with his work so far - 2m22.2s for the Sweden winner.
And on to SS9 we go. Race Centre Live will cease for the day after that, but there's plenty to get through first.
Breaking news
So, if you're joining late, here are the big stories on SS7/8:
* Ogier wrests the lead back from Ostberg as the latter struggles on SS7
* Hirvonen and Meeke drop out on SS8 with an electrical issue and suspension arm damage respectively
* Kubica, Evans and Neuville move into the top six
Checkered flag
SS8 results:
1 Ogier 11m06.1s
2 Latvala +3.1s
3 Ostberg+3.9s
4 Kubica +8.7s
5 Neuville +11.4s
6 Evans +19.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 1h40m36.7s
2 Ostberg +20.6s
3 Latvala +40.8s
4 Kubica +1m44.6s
5 Evans +2m17.5s
6 Neuville +2m27.0s
1 Ogier 11m06.1s
2 Latvala +3.1s
3 Ostberg+3.9s
4 Kubica +8.7s
5 Neuville +11.4s
6 Evans +19.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 1h40m36.7s
2 Ostberg +20.6s
3 Latvala +40.8s
4 Kubica +1m44.6s
5 Evans +2m17.5s
6 Neuville +2m27.0s
Quote
Guerra slots in behind Prokop, and is philosophical as his learning experience continues.
"I'm doing better but other drivers are doing better," he muses. "I think the rally's getting very rough. I need to stay focused and learn how to drive the car.
"Today I want to stay on the road. It's very easy to go off."
He's not wrong, as Kris Meeke will testify.
"I'm doing better but other drivers are doing better," he muses. "I think the rally's getting very rough. I need to stay focused and learn how to drive the car.
"Today I want to stay on the road. It's very easy to go off."
He's not wrong, as Kris Meeke will testify.
Prokop before Kubica came through in 11m32.0s, but it seems the WRC timing system is a little behind its drivers. Guerra and Atkinson are both through.
Kubica is in and confirms the gear problem from earlier has eased. It's impressive from the Pole, 11m14.8s, and he's fourth quickest and now fourth overall too.
"It's enjoyable but very, very difficult," he says. "I would really like to finish this rally."
M-Sport probably would too...
"It's enjoyable but very, very difficult," he says. "I would really like to finish this rally."
M-Sport probably would too...
Breaking news
Here's an update on Meeke: it's a damaged suspension arm.
Neuville comes through without problems, he'll be up to sixth now.
"I'm really pleased with myself so far," he says, "I'm doing really well.
"We know that we're not at the pace of the others so we can't do any more, we just have to give the information to the engineers so they can work on it."
"I'm really pleased with myself so far," he says, "I'm doing really well.
"We know that we're not at the pace of the others so we can't do any more, we just have to give the information to the engineers so they can work on it."
Quote
Evans says from what he could see both Meeke and Hirvonen were parked with mechanical problems. M-Sport has confirmed it was an electrical issue for Hirvonen.
"Kris has stopped, Mikko's stopped as well. It's a tricky rally and it obviously bites."
"Kris has stopped, Mikko's stopped as well. It's a tricky rally and it obviously bites."
Here's a man that is still running: Elfyn Evans finishes the stage.
Breaking news
Meeke has now come to a halt on the stage.
This is going to elevate Latvala to third and Kubica to fourth.
This is going to elevate Latvala to third and Kubica to fourth.
Breaking news
And another shake-up in the order on the way... split times suggest trouble for Meeke and a one-minute time loss.
We know better than to always trust the split times, but the clock is ticking and no sign of the Citroen yet.
We know better than to always trust the split times, but the clock is ticking and no sign of the Citroen yet.
The Finn had been holding third place, 5.1s down on Meeke and closing in.
Breaking news
No he won't, because Hirvonen is in trouble - M-Sport reports he's stopped with an electrical problem.
Ostberg comes through and has dropped another 3s to Ogier.
"For sure we are not so perfect on the second pass. It looked really good on the first pass, we were a bit concerned for the second, and it's not bad but it's not where we want to be."
Ogier's lead is up to 16s, and Ostberg could come under threat from Hirvonen for second now.
"For sure we are not so perfect on the second pass. It looked really good on the first pass, we were a bit concerned for the second, and it's not bad but it's not where we want to be."
Ogier's lead is up to 16s, and Ostberg could come under threat from Hirvonen for second now.
Again we're pretty short on split times info, but what we can see is not good news for Ostberg, who is set to lose more time to Ogier.
Stopwatch
Ogier is 3s quicker than Latvala and generally relaxed, saying with a lower temperature on Las Minas it was an easier stage than El Chocolate.
Stopwatch
Latvala is at the finish.
"To be honest, the long stage was really difficult. It was slightly better than this morning but still surprisingly slippery and I really had to work hard over there.
"But now on this third stage, this is what I like. I hope we will have a good time on this stage."
He went onto Las Minas in fifth overall, just behind Meeke.
"To be honest, the long stage was really difficult. It was slightly better than this morning but still surprisingly slippery and I really had to work hard over there.
"But now on this third stage, this is what I like. I hope we will have a good time on this stage."
He went onto Las Minas in fifth overall, just behind Meeke.
Shoe
Leon is famed for its shoe making, which probably explains why this oversized boot was found in the Poliforum next to service. Not sure about the anti-car sign though...
Lights out
SS8 is now live, Latvala is onto Las Minas.
Checkered flag
SS7 results: 1 Ogier 29m29.0s; 2 Meeke +7.8s; 3 Hirvonen +14.9s; 4 Ostberg +14.9s; 5 Latvala +17.9s; 6 Kubica +25.9s.
Overall leaderboard: 1 Ogier; 2 Ostberg +13.7s; 3 Hirvonen +21.8s; 4 Meeke +35.3s; 5 Latvala +37.7s; 6 Kubica +1m35.9s
Overall leaderboard: 1 Ogier; 2 Ostberg +13.7s; 3 Hirvonen +21.8s; 4 Meeke +35.3s; 5 Latvala +37.7s; 6 Kubica +1m35.9s
A better afternoon for Hyundai so far. Neuville has pulled clear of Prokop after their earlier battle for eighth, and Atkinson's car is actually working.
Robert Kubica
Kubica is sixth quickest, just behind Latvala.
"It's all good, after service everything is working," says Kubica, who had problems with his hydraulic gearshift system earlier.
Stopwatch
With some results finally trickling in, we can confirm that it's Ogier leading the rally again, 13.7s ahead of Ostberg after that poor time for the Citroen man.
But while one Citroen loses ground, the other is flying. Meeke has taken fourth back from Latvala.
But while one Citroen loses ground, the other is flying. Meeke has taken fourth back from Latvala.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Pablo Elizalde
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