Rally Mexico, Las Vegas NASCAR
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Ostberg, by contrast, is having a superb middle of the stage. He's quicker than Latvala and Ogier after six splits!
36m24.4s for Neuville, who overturns Meeke's advantage and sneaks in ahead.
Looks like Meeke just lost his way a bit on the middle of the stage.
Looks like Meeke just lost his way a bit on the middle of the stage.
Prokop survives a major moment, almost rolling out of the rally, but he's still quicker than Guerra.
36m48.5s for Evans, who is next through. That's a good run. Not long to go now...
36m48.5s for Evans, who is next through. That's a good run. Not long to go now...
Great stuff from Guerra, who clocks in at 37m34.9s.
Neuville's running strongly, and will probably outpace Hirvonen at this rate.
His team-mate Atkinson has just completed the stage in 38m06.0s.
His team-mate Atkinson has just completed the stage in 38m06.0s.
Latvala and Ogier are both much faster than Meeke as the stage goes on. Ostberg is about a second slower than Latvala after the third split.
Hirvonen finishes the stage 13.6s slower than Meeke.
Ogier, meanwhile, is neck-and-neck with Meeke's time after four splits. This could be very close!
Ostberg's still quicker than Meeke at the second split, but he's fallen behind Latvala.
Latvala's 7s quicker than Meeke after four splits, but after two Ogier is slower.
Ostberg, meanwhile, is a whopping 5.9s quicker than Meeke at the first split!
Ostberg, meanwhile, is a whopping 5.9s quicker than Meeke at the first split!
First time on the board – Meeke's through in 36m26.1s.
Latvala's making good inroads into that time, but Ogier is barely any quicker after two splits and Mikkelsen is slower.
Latvala's making good inroads into that time, but Ogier is barely any quicker after two splits and Mikkelsen is slower.
Hirvonen's starting to reduce Meeke's advantage - he's less than 10s slower at the sixth split.
Evans has fallen away from his M-Sport team-mate, and is only a fraction quicker than Prokop after four splits.
Evans has fallen away from his M-Sport team-mate, and is only a fraction quicker than Prokop after four splits.
Neuville joins the long list of drivers who can't match Meeke's pace right now – though Latvala's passed the first split and is a couple of seconds quicker.
Those darn VWs...
Those darn VWs...
Five splits down for Meeke, who is 20 minutes into the stage. Fellow Brit Elfyn Evans has just appeared on the timing screen, 4.1s slower at the first split.
Meeke clocks in at the fourth split in 15m13.9s, and Hirvonen is 10.8s down at the same point.
Hirvonen cannot live with Meeke at the moment. He's 7.3s down at the second split. Atkinson, Guerra and Prokop are also flashing up after the first split now, both considerably slower than the Brit.
Good news, Meeke fans – he's made it to the first split. And in 5m03.1s, 3.7s quicker than Hirvonen behind him.
Three and a half minutes later, he passes through the second split.
Three and a half minutes later, he passes through the second split.
Breaking news
So much can change on SS20, such is the nature of the challenge. With that in mind, here are three things to look out for:
* Ogier's lead over Latvala is 64s – but if he picks up any damage at any point on this stage, that could change fast
* Neuville's handled everything Rally Mexico's thrown at him so far...but will his Hyundai i20 WRC survive Guanajuatito's toughest challenges?
* Can Evans, Prokop and Guerra make it through the longest stage of the rally and tighten their grip on sensational respective results?
* Ogier's lead over Latvala is 64s – but if he picks up any damage at any point on this stage, that could change fast
* Neuville's handled everything Rally Mexico's thrown at him so far...but will his Hyundai i20 WRC survive Guanajuatito's toughest challenges?
* Can Evans, Prokop and Guerra make it through the longest stage of the rally and tighten their grip on sensational respective results?
Right then...let's get stuck into this! Meeke is on the stage.
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The crews must have have maximum respect for and attention on Guanajuatito. That included runaway rally leader Sebastien Ogier last night – though he's still got a good sense of humour.
"We will definitely not be relaxing," he said. "Rally Mexico is one of the toughest on the calendar, and a lot can happen on the coarse gravel between now and the finish – especially given the fact that we still have to tackle the longest stage, Guanajuatito, tomorrow.
"55.92 kilometres across country at full throttle, with temperatures in the cockpit reaching up to 40 degrees. But unless we suddenly come across a closed gate tomorrow, it is looking good for us.”
All told, this stage will be an hour and a half in the making. We'll do our best to keep you entertained in the meantime – even if we're battling a potentially unreliable live timing system!
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Al Qassimi is a Citroen man who is more positive about the efforts of Ostberg and Meeke in Mexico, despite neither driver being able to deliver the podium finish their pace suggested they might yesterday.
Team boss Yves Matton was a bit more guarded.
"Mads' strategy was to drive at a strong pace in order to consolidate his second position. Unfortunately, an ill-judged pace note means his name has been added to the long list of drivers caught out at this Rally Mexico," he said.
"Kris' goal was to complete all of the stages. He drove at a sensible pace to ensure he built up some more experience. He is improving on a rally where he is competing for the first time."
Team boss Yves Matton was a bit more guarded.
"Mads' strategy was to drive at a strong pace in order to consolidate his second position. Unfortunately, an ill-judged pace note means his name has been added to the long list of drivers caught out at this Rally Mexico," he said.
"Kris' goal was to complete all of the stages. He drove at a sensible pace to ensure he built up some more experience. He is improving on a rally where he is competing for the first time."
Twitter
Khalid Al Qassimi lends his support to Citroen pair Mads Ostberg and Kris Meeke via Twitter.
@khalidbinfaisal: "Difficult Rally with all the problems but the boys done a good stage times. Go Go Mads & Go Go Kris."
@khalidbinfaisal: "Difficult Rally with all the problems but the boys done a good stage times. Go Go Mads & Go Go Kris."
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Evans and Evans
After taking an hour and 10 minutes to recce the 34-mile, Guanajuatito stage, M-Sport's charging youngster Elfyn Evans told our man DAVID EVANS he couldn’t remember talking for so long.
"It's non-stop when you're making the notes," he said. "And there's so much to take in and so much to concentrate on. I was surprised when we were only half way through!"
Remember us congratulating ace WRC snapper Colin McMaster for snapping two Evanses for the price of one...outside of the toilets? Here it is.
After you, Mr Evans.
Right. GUANAJUATITO. That'll kick off in about 20 minutes. Bring it on.
Checkered flag
SS19 results:
1 Ogier 3m22.0s
2 Mikkelsen +1.6s
3 Ostberg +2.2s
4 Neuville +2.5s
5 Tanak +3.5s
6 Latvala +3.7s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 3h40m04.2s
2 Latvala +1m04.0s
3 Neuville +4m39.5s
4 Evans +5m29.7s
5 Prokop +8m06.6s
6 Guerra +10m38.5s
1 Ogier 3m22.0s
2 Mikkelsen +1.6s
3 Ostberg +2.2s
4 Neuville +2.5s
5 Tanak +3.5s
6 Latvala +3.7s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 3h40m04.2s
2 Latvala +1m04.0s
3 Neuville +4m39.5s
4 Evans +5m29.7s
5 Prokop +8m06.6s
6 Guerra +10m38.5s
Amazing effort form Tanak on that stage – he's fifth quickest in the R5 Fiesta!
Ostberg makes sure Neuville doesn't even get a top three finish on that stage, slotting into third 2.2s slower than Ogier.
Protasov's in and had a bit of a drama – he span, but isn't sure if it was a mistake or a car problem.
Despite his massive lead (about 23 minutes) he'll desperately hope it's the former. We've got a fairly long stage coming up – and no service before the rally's over.
Protasov's in and had a bit of a drama – he span, but isn't sure if it was a mistake or a car problem.
Despite his massive lead (about 23 minutes) he'll desperately hope it's the former. We've got a fairly long stage coming up – and no service before the rally's over.
Beetles
The Volkswagens are on top form this weekend, and the Polo WRC just looks a cut above the rest.
Here's a question: would a Beetle fair as well in WRC trim?
Mexico does love a Volkswagen Beetle, it's been produced here since 1955 and even has its own dedicated website (mexibug.org.uk if you're interested).
Here's the old and the new at the traffic lights outside the service park yesterday.
That apparently takes Ogier onto 249 stage wins. Impressive stat, but the Frenchman's only concerned with getting his second rally victory of the season.
Ogier robs Neuville/Hyundai of the stage win! 3m22.0s for the rally leader, while Mikkelsen slots into second, 1.6s slower than his team-mate.
Just Ostberg and Protasov to come and we'll have times for the WRC drivers and the WRC2 leader.
Waiting for Ogier's time, and that of Mikkelsen (on that superspecial for the first time after a crash-filled rally).
Waiting for Ogier's time, and that of Mikkelsen (on that superspecial for the first time after a crash-filled rally).
Latvala admits he made a couple of mistakes on that run.
Storming run from Neuville – he's the quickest through so far! Could this be a maiden stage win for Hyundai's i20 WRC?
Next up are Neuville and Latvala.
Prokop matches Meeke's time, while Evans comes in slower than everyone bar Atkinson.
Prokop and Evans, both driving strong and sensible rallies so far, are on the stage now.
The atmosphere in Evans' car will be particularly positive this morning after co-driver Dan Barritt's beloved football team Burnley beat local rivals Blackburn.
This is the first time in seven years than Barritt's missed the match and he wouldn't let himself follow it after it started at local time 06:30 this morning.
The atmosphere in Evans' car will be particularly positive this morning after co-driver Dan Barritt's beloved football team Burnley beat local rivals Blackburn.
This is the first time in seven years than Barritt's missed the match and he wouldn't let himself follow it after it started at local time 06:30 this morning.
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Benito Guerra
Benito Guerra has driven a fine rally thus far, and he's in a good mood.
He's just 1.2s slower than Hirvonen and beats Atkinson by 2.1s.
"It's a good beginning to the day. It's going to very tough, I just want to take it easy. It's very easy to make a mistake.
"Everything will be fine, I think today has to be a great day."
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Mexico rookie Meeke's just grown in confidence as this rally has continued. And it showed in his attitude after that stage win yesterday.
"The stages are really complicated when you haven’t experienced them before," he said. "You have to find the right rhythm. The roads are slippery with some very narrow, twisty sections.
"I was struggling to feel confident on the first pass. We are doing everything for the first time, which is part and parcel of the learning process. Once you’re more familiar with the stages, everything is a lot more straightforward.
"So, the feeling was a lot better in the afternoon and I think you can see that in the times.”
"The stages are really complicated when you haven’t experienced them before," he said. "You have to find the right rhythm. The roads are slippery with some very narrow, twisty sections.
"I was struggling to feel confident on the first pass. We are doing everything for the first time, which is part and parcel of the learning process. Once you’re more familiar with the stages, everything is a lot more straightforward.
"So, the feeling was a lot better in the afternoon and I think you can see that in the times.”
Meeke and Hirvonen are in, and Meeke's not going to replicate his stage victory from SS18 last night.
Hirvonen completes the stage in 3m25.7s, 0.4s faster than the Citroen man.
Hirvonen completes the stage in 3m25.7s, 0.4s faster than the Citroen man.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Pablo Elizalde
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