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Rally Mexico, WTCC opener
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WRC - Mexico: Ostberg's extending his advantage over Mikkelsen in the fight for third as it stands, 4.5s quicker than the VW at the third split.
WTCC - Argentina: It's lunchtime at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo (on the menu: beef, of course) but Citroen's rivals have something else to digest. Reigning champ Jose Maria Lopez has been in sparkling form throughout today's opening practice sessions.
Meanwhile, Campos Racing faces a busy afternoon and evening assessing the damage to Hugo Valente's Chevrolet Cruze. Valente suffered brake failure at the end of the main straight during second practice.
"When I put my foot on the brake pedal it went straight to the end," he said. "I had to change down the gears, so the engine was screaming. Then I tried to turn the car because I had a head-on crash at Paul Ricard last week and I did not want another one.
"My neck hurts a bit and there are some cuts on my back but otherwise I am OK."
Upon impact with the tyre wall, the Cruze caught fire almost immediately. Prompt and liberal application of extinguisher foam by the marshals prevented the fire from spreading back from the engine bay to the main body of the car.
The team is presently assessing whether the damage is repairable, but Valente admitted that he is "pessimistic" about his chances of racing tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Campos Racing faces a busy afternoon and evening assessing the damage to Hugo Valente's Chevrolet Cruze. Valente suffered brake failure at the end of the main straight during second practice.
"When I put my foot on the brake pedal it went straight to the end," he said. "I had to change down the gears, so the engine was screaming. Then I tried to turn the car because I had a head-on crash at Paul Ricard last week and I did not want another one.
"My neck hurts a bit and there are some cuts on my back but otherwise I am OK."
Upon impact with the tyre wall, the Cruze caught fire almost immediately. Prompt and liberal application of extinguisher foam by the marshals prevented the fire from spreading back from the engine bay to the main body of the car.
The team is presently assessing whether the damage is repairable, but Valente admitted that he is "pessimistic" about his chances of racing tomorrow.
WRC - Mexico: And Latvala completes his run, ending up 0.2s slower than Ogier. Thats the gap from first to second up to 13.7s then.
WRC - Mexico: Ostberg's in now, eight seconds slower than Ogier but crucially nine faster than Mikkelsen. That boosts his advantage in the fight for the final podium place quite handily, although a lot of work is still to be done.
WRC - Mexico: Worth looking at Evans' pace, which is good and he takes 1.6s out of Mikkelsen. He's closer to the VW than the VW is to the Citroen in third.
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WRC - Mexico: Latvala hit a rock three miles before the end of the stage, TV personnel report.
"It was not really a moment," Latvala insists, as he explains that at best it might have hurt a damper. "It will be absolutely fine."
"It was not really a moment," Latvala insists, as he explains that at best it might have hurt a damper. "It will be absolutely fine."
WRC - Mexico: Sordo's in, and he's quicker than Evans - fourth for the Hyundai man, but he's still some way behind the M-Sport Fiesta overall.
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WRC - Mexico: "I was very nervous," admits Ostberg as he reaches the TV pen. "I hope to enjoy it."
Citroen's ace has consolidated third on that run. Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans says catching Andreas Mikkelsen for fourth is not his immediate priority.
Citroen's ace has consolidated third on that run. Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans says catching Andreas Mikkelsen for fourth is not his immediate priority.
WRC - Mexico: As we await the rest of the top 10, Prokop's just come through quicker than the likes of Neuville and Meeke.
Big chance for people like Prokop and WRC2 leader Yuriy Protasov. They ended yesterday seventh and eighth overall.
Big chance for people like Prokop and WRC2 leader Yuriy Protasov. They ended yesterday seventh and eighth overall.
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WRC - Mexico: "It was OK but I lost a little bit of brakes," says a rushed Sordo, who spends very little time talking to the TV people at the end of the stage.
He struggled through the end of the stage but still managed to post the fourth-best time.
He struggled through the end of the stage but still managed to post the fourth-best time.
WRC - Mexico: There's going to a very good fight for the WRC2 lead as this rally continues. Nassir Al-Attiyah is set to take a good chunk out of Protasov. There was only 17.5s between them at the start of the day.
WRC - Mexico: Al-Attiyah loses time in the final part of SS11 and ends up slower than Protasov on this run.
Checkered flag
Right, here are the leading positions after SS11:
1 Ogier 2h02m44.4s
2 Latvala +13.7s
3 Ostberg +37.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m02.2s
5 Evans +1m19.3s
6 Sordo +1m53.1s
And the leading times from that stage:
1 Ogier 17m41.4s
2 Latvala +0.2s
3 Ostberg +8.0s
4 Sordo +12.6s
5 Evans +15.4s
6 Mikkelsen +17.0s
1 Ogier 2h02m44.4s
2 Latvala +13.7s
3 Ostberg +37.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m02.2s
5 Evans +1m19.3s
6 Sordo +1m53.1s
And the leading times from that stage:
1 Ogier 17m41.4s
2 Latvala +0.2s
3 Ostberg +8.0s
4 Sordo +12.6s
5 Evans +15.4s
6 Mikkelsen +17.0s
WRC - Mexico: We're moments away from the start of SS12. And we'll bring you up to date with what the Rally 2 runners need to do to get points from this rally in a moment as well.
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WRC - Mexico: We've got an update from M-Sport from DAVID EVANS shortly, but before then, our man on the ground has something important to share:
"Looks like M-Sport aren't the only ones with water-related problems on Rally Mexico. There's a lot of banging from a team of plumbers in the gent's toilets here in the press office. Think that problem could be slightly easier to fix than the Fiesta..."
"Looks like M-Sport aren't the only ones with water-related problems on Rally Mexico. There's a lot of banging from a team of plumbers in the gent's toilets here in the press office. Think that problem could be slightly easier to fix than the Fiesta..."
WRC - Mexico: Right, just to put into perspective the task facing the likes of Neuville, Meeke and Kubica in terms of scoring points this weekend...
To Ketomaa in 10th (who has taken over the position from Fuchs, who has hit trouble), Neuville must find 11 minutes. Meeke's 28 minutes further back, nine seconds ahead of Kubica...
For ninth-placed Al-Attiyah, add four minutes to the above totals...
To Ketomaa in 10th (who has taken over the position from Fuchs, who has hit trouble), Neuville must find 11 minutes. Meeke's 28 minutes further back, nine seconds ahead of Kubica...
For ninth-placed Al-Attiyah, add four minutes to the above totals...
WRC - Mexico: Onto SS12 we go. Paddon, one of those Rally 2 runners, has started his run. Kubica's also on stage.
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WRC - Mexico: Want insight into what makes up the mammoth 26-mile Otates route? Here's Evans' co-driver Barritt on "the trickiest stage of the rally":
"The first six miles are quite nadgery and quite tight, but then it turns right onto another common section used in Sunday's long stage and that's a nice section for about nine miles.
"After that it's really twisty and tricky for another nine miles – here there are lots of things to look out for on the inside of the corners, not to mention a few bridge parapets and things.
"This is the trickiest stage of the rally."
Told you.
"The first six miles are quite nadgery and quite tight, but then it turns right onto another common section used in Sunday's long stage and that's a nice section for about nine miles.
"After that it's really twisty and tricky for another nine miles – here there are lots of things to look out for on the inside of the corners, not to mention a few bridge parapets and things.
"This is the trickiest stage of the rally."
Told you.
WRC - Mexico: Barritt, as DAVID EVANS likes to remind us, is a massive Burnley fan. Well, AUTOSPORT Live is a Charlton Athletic fan today. The Addicks have just completed a 2-1 win at Cardiff.
Meeke and Bertelli have started SS12 as well. Sorry, when that action picks up we will be right back on WRC form. No more football talk.
Meeke and Bertelli have started SS12 as well. Sorry, when that action picks up we will be right back on WRC form. No more football talk.
WRC - Mexico: Paddon's halfway through the stage right now, which has Neuville on it as well now.
Looking at the early split times, Kubica's struggling a bit while Meeke is setting the pace.
Looking at the early split times, Kubica's struggling a bit while Meeke is setting the pace.
Breaking news
WRC - Mexico: DAVID EVANS has been getting the full story of Tanak's latest problems from M-Sport. In short, the car's still a bit too wet:
Tanak unable to start Saturday stages
Tanak unable to start Saturday stages
WRC - Mexico: Neuville's slightly slower than Meeke at the first split. Ogier starts his run.
WRC - Mexico: Mikkelsen is on the stage. Paddon's not quite at the end of it though. It's a biggie, this.
SPLITS! Ogier's first is a good'un. He's 2.6s quicker than Meeke, while Neuville at the second split is 0.2s up on the Citroen. Nice work from the Hyundai.
SPLITS! Ogier's first is a good'un. He's 2.6s quicker than Meeke, while Neuville at the second split is 0.2s up on the Citroen. Nice work from the Hyundai.
WRC - Mexico: Latvala makes it three Volkswagen Polo WRCs on SS12.
WRC - Mexico: Bertelli has stopped on stage.
Neuville is now a few seconds quicker than Meeke at their respective splits, while Latvala is 0.5s faster than Ogier at the opening split.
Neuville is now a few seconds quicker than Meeke at their respective splits, while Latvala is 0.5s faster than Ogier at the opening split.
Stopwatch
WRC - Mexico: Guerra's the latest to stop within the stage.
Paddon, though, is through to the stage end - in 31m09.6s.
Paddon, though, is through to the stage end - in 31m09.6s.
WRC - Mexico: Ostberg and Evans have started their respective runs.
Latvala's 0.3s down on Ogier's time at the second split. We need more, Jari-Matti.
Latvala's 0.3s down on Ogier's time at the second split. We need more, Jari-Matti.
WRC - Mexico: Guerra's on the move again, but Bertelli remains stopped 10 miles into the stage.
Kubica's come through, 4.9s slower than Paddon.
Kubica's come through, 4.9s slower than Paddon.
WRC - Mexico: Could be VW lock-out of the top three positions on this stage - Mikkelsen's quicker than Neuville in the opening two splits.
Stopwatch
WRC - Mexico: Meeke's in, a whopping 44s quicker than Paddon.
But Neuville, Ogier, Mikkelsen, Latvala, and Ostberg are poised to be better.
But Neuville, Ogier, Mikkelsen, Latvala, and Ostberg are poised to be better.
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WRC - Mexico: "To be honest, just trying to find my lines," said Meeke. "It's quite clear I need to be doing a better job..."
Very honest from the man who needs to stop crashing.
Very honest from the man who needs to stop crashing.
WRC - Mexico: Latvala's a full second down on Ogier at split three, but fair play Mads Ostberg - he's right in the mix on this stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Mexico: Neuville goes quickest of all, 30m22.3s.
Crash
WRC - Mexico: Latvala! A problem for Latvala! He's hit trouble halfway through the stage.
He's lost half a minute between the third split and the fourth. That's the Finn's challenge for the lead very much ruined, subject to further dramas.
He's lost half a minute between the third split and the fourth. That's the Finn's challenge for the lead very much ruined, subject to further dramas.
WRC - Mexico: Ostberg's still keeping the pressure up on Ogier, just 0.6s slower at the fourth split.
Mikkelsen's on course to pip Neuville.
Mikkelsen's on course to pip Neuville.
WRC - Mexico: Latvala crossed the fourth split 47.7s behind Ogier.
WRC - Mexico: Guerra gets through to the end of the stage, after he too lost time earlier. He's in with the slowest time so far.
Stopwatch
WRC- Mexico: A very chirpy Ogier gets to the end with a blistering new best of 29m58.0s.
He says this is a "perfect" rally for him and the team.
He says this is a "perfect" rally for him and the team.
WRC- Mexico: Wow, Latvala is running at a real snail's pace.
He's 2m22.5s down on Ogier at the fifth split!
He's 2m22.5s down on Ogier at the fifth split!
WRC- Mexico: Ostberg, who is due to overtake Latvala on the road as well as on the leaderboard, is just 1.4s slower than Ogier two-thirds into this stage. Good effort from the Citroen man.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, David Evans, Stuart Codling, Scott Mitchell
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