Rally Mexico, Las Vegas NASCAR
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Latvala in, almost a minute quicker than Prokop. The Belgian completes the stage in 30m37.0s as he edges ever-closer to a podium - and what would be the new Hyundai's first points finish as well.
Evans is about 14s down.
Evans is about 14s down.
Prokop's through, significantly quicker than either Atkinson or Guerra. 31m.39.7s is 24.8s faster than the Mexican manages.
We've not featured it thus far, but you could probably identify Guerra's car in a line-up...
Neuville is streaking clear of Evans now, and is going to put at least another 10s between himself and the Welshman on this stage.
Meanwhile, Guerra's in - and has hit a tree. No lasting damage, other than to the aesthetics of his M-Sport Ford.
Meanwhile, Guerra's in - and has hit a tree. No lasting damage, other than to the aesthetics of his M-Sport Ford.
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Huge pessimism from Atkinson after that stage. 31m51.9s for the Hyundai man.
"I thought it was a bit worse than this morning," he says, and reveals they tweaked the set-up to a negative effect. "I couldn't push at all, it was just too dangerous for me to take any risks."
"I thought it was a bit worse than this morning," he says, and reveals they tweaked the set-up to a negative effect. "I couldn't push at all, it was just too dangerous for me to take any risks."
At the second split, Meeke's just a few tenths shy of the second VW. This is an impressive run from the Citroen man.
Meeke, growing with confidence as he gains experience on Rally Mexico, has just matched Latvala's time at the first split!
Guerra's slower that Atkinson through the latest splits, Prokop's a fair way quicker.
Neuville is pulling clear of Evans while Latvala and Ogier are typically close.
Neuville is pulling clear of Evans while Latvala and Ogier are typically close.
No massive updates to bring you at the moment as the drivers make their way through/on to SS15. Prokop, Neuville, Evans and Latvala have joined Atkinson and Guerra on the partial repeat of Otates.
Twitter
Ace WRC snapper Colin McMaster caught DAVID EVANS in the act! No, not that, he's been papped interviewing Elfyn Evans...in a service park toilet!
Well, maybe not literally. But if you follow @colmcklein on Twitter, you can see our man interrogating the M-Sport star...who is standing worryingly closer to the women's door than the men's...
Well, maybe not literally. But if you follow @colmcklein on Twitter, you can see our man interrogating the M-Sport star...who is standing worryingly closer to the women's door than the men's...
Guerra's a whopping 0.1s quicker than Atko through the first split.
While we were talking/dreaming about AUTOSPORT conch shells, the stage started...Atkinson's kicked things off.
Actually, it's usually a text or an e-mail that prompts a reply from our man-on-the-ground.
But the idea of a specialised conch shell is pretty cool.
But the idea of a specialised conch shell is pretty cool.
What is rather frustrating with WRC timing is not quite being able to tell whether or not the stage has started.
The other option is to utilise the AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live conch shell. No matter where he is in the world, DAVID EVANS will always immediately respond upon hearing its sound.
The other option is to utilise the AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live conch shell. No matter where he is in the world, DAVID EVANS will always immediately respond upon hearing its sound.
Atkinson should be taking to the stage in a minute or two. SS14 was surprisingly calm after what we've experienced so far...
In case you're wondering about Otatitos - yes, it is Otates-lite.
Breaking news
Speaking of Las Vegas NASCAR, here's a quick recap of Friday night's qualifying session, just in case you missed.
A new lap record from Joey Logano secured him pole position for the third round of the Sprint Cup season. Brad Keselowski made it an all-Penske front row.
For a bit more information, including the full qualifying result, click below:
Logano on pole with new lap record
This seems like a good chance to tell you about our coverage plan for the rest of Saturday's action, and also Sunday as well.
We will continue to bring you live, as-it-happens coverage on Race Centre Live until the culmination of SS16 (which will probably be around 23.45 GMT). If you're a hardy WRC type, we'll have a report of the day's action after the SS17/18 superspecials just over an hour later.
Then we'll back tomorrow at 14:30 GMT primed and ready to cover what we hope - and expect - will be a fraught end to an incredibly dramatic rally.
Of course, it doesn't just end there. We'll also be bringing you live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Las Vegas. Viva Race Centre Live, eh?
We will continue to bring you live, as-it-happens coverage on Race Centre Live until the culmination of SS16 (which will probably be around 23.45 GMT). If you're a hardy WRC type, we'll have a report of the day's action after the SS17/18 superspecials just over an hour later.
Then we'll back tomorrow at 14:30 GMT primed and ready to cover what we hope - and expect - will be a fraught end to an incredibly dramatic rally.
Of course, it doesn't just end there. We'll also be bringing you live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Las Vegas. Viva Race Centre Live, eh?
About 20 minutes until the start of Otatitos - and this will be another long one, 43.06km to be precise.
Breaking news
From Mexico, mud and four wheels to Qatar, tarmac and two wheels: Alvaro Bautista has topped the second day of MotoGP testing at Losail.
Bautista tops second day in Qatar
So, how long before Hirvonen and Meeke (the latter about 55s behind the former) overhaul Protasov?
Hirvonen took roughly 1m20s out of the WRC2 leader on that one stage (admittedly a bit of a long one). That's halved the gap already.
Hirvonen took roughly 1m20s out of the WRC2 leader on that one stage (admittedly a bit of a long one). That's halved the gap already.
Checkered flag
SS14 results:
1 Ogier 17m30.0s
2 Latvala +3.5s
3 Hirvonen +6.3s
4 Meeke +8.9s
5 Neuville +19.4s
6 Evans +20.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 2h58m19.7s
2 Latvala +52.5s
3 Neuville +4m11.0s
4 Evans +4m23.3s
5 Prokop +6m35.6s
6 Guerra +8m39.3s
1 Ogier 17m30.0s
2 Latvala +3.5s
3 Hirvonen +6.3s
4 Meeke +8.9s
5 Neuville +19.4s
6 Evans +20.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 2h58m19.7s
2 Latvala +52.5s
3 Neuville +4m11.0s
4 Evans +4m23.3s
5 Prokop +6m35.6s
6 Guerra +8m39.3s
Hirvonen knocks Meeke down a place, though. He's 6.3s slower than Ogier and goes third, 2.6s quicker than Meeke.
Meeke's not taking any chances now after that unfortunate incident yesterday, but he's still through quicker than Neuville and Evans. Only the VWs beat him.
Just the Rally 2 runners to go now of the main guys, and that's Meeke and Hirvonen.
Having said that, we do need to keep an eye on Yuriy Protasov, the WRC2 leader who is in the top 10 overall!
Having said that, we do need to keep an eye on Yuriy Protasov, the WRC2 leader who is in the top 10 overall!
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Ogier does beat that time - 17m30s, 3.5s quicker than his team-mate. It's all going smoothly for the Frenchman - well, apart from a minor incident with a rock.
"It's a nice stage. The grip is quite high now. Good fun, there was a rock in the line and I couldn't avoid it so I hit it, that's a tricky part of the rally."
"It's a nice stage. The grip is quite high now. Good fun, there was a rock in the line and I couldn't avoid it so I hit it, that's a tricky part of the rally."
Latvala beats Neuville's time by 15.9s there, so Ogier's time to beat is now 17m33.5s.
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Latvala through, and he's also in a good mood - but doesn't think beating Ogier is on right now.
"It was still quite slippery but on the fast section I had a good feeling - but no risks. The only thing we can do at the moment is keep going with the same speed. We cannot catch Ogier."
"It was still quite slippery but on the fast section I had a good feeling - but no risks. The only thing we can do at the moment is keep going with the same speed. We cannot catch Ogier."
Evans is happier. "There was definitely more grip. It was an OK run, there was no drama. I think we have to do our best and if it's not [good enough], it's not."
He's keen not to do anything silly here, despite a podium being tantalisingly close. He loses just a second to Neuville there.
He's keen not to do anything silly here, despite a podium being tantalisingly close. He loses just a second to Neuville there.
Prokop's time is 18m10.2s. Neuville, struggling a little bit with brakes and grip, beats that comfortably - by 20.8s.
"I lose the rear quite a lot, the tyres get too warm and it was moving like hell. I tried to do my best."
"I lose the rear quite a lot, the tyres get too warm and it was moving like hell. I tried to do my best."
Guerra is 1.9s slower than Atkinson, and now Prokop's in as well. We're just waiting for a time. Neuville's also reached the stage end.
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Guerra's through to the end. He's happy, "feels more comfortable" and is looking to consolidate a shock top six finish.
"It's a little bit tricky but I think we improved a lot. We have to be fast, we have to keep sixth position so we can get a big smile [for] the sponsors!"
"It's a little bit tricky but I think we improved a lot. We have to be fast, we have to keep sixth position so we can get a big smile [for] the sponsors!"
Atkinson's time is 18m15.6s. That's almost 30s quicker than on the first run.
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Atko's in: "Bit better but the line's not great," he says. "I struggled to find a good rhythm and push but it's not too much of a problem.
"I think we're making a lot of steps forward. I think it could be better during the longer stages but we'll have to wait and see."
"I think we're making a lot of steps forward. I think it could be better during the longer stages but we'll have to wait and see."
Looks like Atko's woes regarding running first will not stop just yet. Guerra, Prokop and Neuville are all quicker at the first split.
Evans and Latvala are both on the stage too.
Evans and Latvala are both on the stage too.
Just to keep you up to speed, the running order is now: Atkinson; Guerra; Prokop; Neuville; Evans; Latvala; Ogier; Meeke; Hirvonen.
We've obviously Ostberg, Kubica and Mikkelsen, none of whom will reappear before tomorrow under Rally 2 rules.
Atkinson, meanwhile, is through the first split in 2m39.4s.
We've obviously Ostberg, Kubica and Mikkelsen, none of whom will reappear before tomorrow under Rally 2 rules.
Atkinson, meanwhile, is through the first split in 2m39.4s.
We are underway on Ibarrilla.
Breaking news
So if you're just joining us, here's what happened:
* Sebastien Ogier stormed into a commanding lead with VW team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala now his closest challenger
* Mads Ostberg hit a bank, broke his Citroen's left-rear upright and was forced out of the rally
* Thierry Neuville assumed third place with Hyundai chasing its first points
* Elfyn Evans in career-best fourth but M-Sport team-mate Robert Kubica rolled out again - as did Andreas Mikkelsen
The full report is available by the link just below the picture of Ogier doing his thing.
Hello and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's continued coverage of Saturday's running on Rally Mexico.
The second running of the 30.33km Ibarrilla stage awaits in about 10 minutes time. And there's plenty for us to be excited about.
The second running of the 30.33km Ibarrilla stage awaits in about 10 minutes time. And there's plenty for us to be excited about.
Ogier Rally Mexico
Race Centre Live is going into service hibernation now. SS14 is scheduled to start at 20:19 GMT, so we'll resume full coverage at 20:00.
Thanks for joining us for the first two Saturday stages – but there's a lot to look forward to still. We'll see you again shortly.
Breaking news
Right, you can breathe again! Struggling to digest all that excitement from SS12/13? This should help – it's our Saturday morning report:
Ogier leads, Ostberg out as Neuville goes third
Ogier leads, Ostberg out as Neuville goes third
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Pablo Elizalde
Published:
Lap:
