Rally Mexico, WTCC opener
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WRC - Mexico: The next stage is already under way, Kubica unsurprisingly slower than Paddon. We're going to drop into end-of-stage updates now, rather than regular commentary.
Here is the SS16 result:
1 Ostberg 29m30.0s
2 Mikkelsen +1.1s
3 Ogier +1.7s
4 Neuville +16.0s
5 Evans +20.2s
6 Prokop +47.4s
And the overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 3h25m35.3s
2 Ostberg +1m12.2s
3 Mikkelsen +1m18.2s
4 Evans +2m17.1s
5 Sordo +4m00.8s
6 Prokop +4m25.9s
Here is the SS16 result:
1 Ostberg 29m30.0s
2 Mikkelsen +1.1s
3 Ogier +1.7s
4 Neuville +16.0s
5 Evans +20.2s
6 Prokop +47.4s
And the overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier 3h25m35.3s
2 Ostberg +1m12.2s
3 Mikkelsen +1m18.2s
4 Evans +2m17.1s
5 Sordo +4m00.8s
6 Prokop +4m25.9s
WRC - Mexico: Looks like Sordo's lost some of his front bumper as well. And that's the main frontrunners finished for SS16.
WRC - Mexico: Sordo's in, and he's slower than Meeke - 51.8s off the pace.
He had a front-left puncture on the previous stage and had to manage the spare which was a soft tyre.
He had a front-left puncture on the previous stage and had to manage the spare which was a soft tyre.
WRC - Mexico: Fourth-quickest time for Evans, who has been incredibly consistent on this rally as he looks to match his career-best result. Sordo's nowhere near him on this stage.
Protasov has stopped again...
Protasov has stopped again...
WRC - Mexico: Ostberg goes quickest, 1.1s ahead of Mikkelsen. So Mikkelsen did whittle that right down, as Ostberg had been as much as 5.5s quicker at one point on that stage.
WRC - Mexico: Small issue for WRC2 leader Yuriy Protasov, briefly stopped in the stage.
He was only half a minute or so clear of Al-Attiyah in the race for the class lead.
He was only half a minute or so clear of Al-Attiyah in the race for the class lead.
WRC - Mexico: Mikkelsen does it! He's edged Ogier by 0.6s on this stage. That's a good effort from the third-placed man.
Will Ostberg maintain his advantage and deny Mikkelsen the stage win?
Will Ostberg maintain his advantage and deny Mikkelsen the stage win?
WRC - Mexico: We've a new fastest time, as Ogier comes in with an effort 14.3s quicker than Neuville's best.
It's not out of the question that Mikkelsen will be quicker. He's been taking a couple of tenths out of his team-mate at each split.
It's not out of the question that Mikkelsen will be quicker. He's been taking a couple of tenths out of his team-mate at each split.
WRC - Mexico: Clarification on Kubica - he had a front-right puncture and stopped to change it, but has now got a problem with the left-rear tyre, which is hanging off the rim.
And he hasn't got another spare...
And he hasn't got another spare...
WRC - Mexico: Neuville in, and he's quickest so far, a full minute faster than his Hyundai team-mate Paddon.
Mikkelsen's about a second slower than Ogier but Ostberg's still faster than both of them.
Mikkelsen's about a second slower than Ogier but Ostberg's still faster than both of them.
WRC - Mexico: Kubica and Meeke have come in. Kubica's 2m19.0s off the pace, Meeke is 26.3s quicker.
Seems a puncture has ruined Kubica's stage.
Seems a puncture has ruined Kubica's stage.
WRC - Mexico: Paddon gets the first time on the board, a 30m47.7s.
Looking back through the splits, Ostberg is the man to watch out for. He said he needed to up his pace and he's certainly doing that at the moment.
Looking back through the splits, Ostberg is the man to watch out for. He said he needed to up his pace and he's certainly doing that at the moment.
WRC - Mexico: Seems Meeke has caught Kubica and is following the Pole's dust cloud. Not at all ideal.
Mikkelsen's 0.1s slower than than Ogier at split one, but Ostberg's even quicker than Ogier! By 1.2s.
Mikkelsen's 0.1s slower than than Ogier at split one, but Ostberg's even quicker than Ogier! By 1.2s.
WRC - Mexico: Potential timing glitch, with Meeke not recording a split time for the third point.
Or...is there a problem for Meeke?
Or...is there a problem for Meeke?
WRC - Mexico: With the two remaining Volkswagens on the road, we can have a bit of a more meaningful look at the first split times.
It's good reading for Ogier, Meeke and Neuville (in that order). Neuville's quicker than Meeke by split two.
It's good reading for Ogier, Meeke and Neuville (in that order). Neuville's quicker than Meeke by split two.
Crash
WRC - Mexico: There's been a problem for Robert Kubica. A problem of rather sizable proportions.
He's lost more than two minutes between the first and second splits, having stopped about five miles in.
He's lost more than two minutes between the first and second splits, having stopped about five miles in.
WRC - Mexico: Back to SS16. Thierry Neuville and Benito Guerra are on stage now, as Paddon passes the halfway point.
Meeke's looking good early on, quickest of anyone through the first split.
Meeke's looking good early on, quickest of anyone through the first split.
WRC - Mexico: Our man has also had time to send us this...
"Security is taken pretty seriously around Rally Mexico. Two army trucks passed service at lunchtime complete with one fella on a machine gun on the back of the trucks.
"They didn't seem to want their picture taken, but AUTOSPORT went the extra mile to bring you this shot. Kate Adie would have been proud."
(AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live would also have accepted Alex Crawford as the reference point for quality war reporting).
"Security is taken pretty seriously around Rally Mexico. Two army trucks passed service at lunchtime complete with one fella on a machine gun on the back of the trucks.
"They didn't seem to want their picture taken, but AUTOSPORT went the extra mile to bring you this shot. Kate Adie would have been proud."
(AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live would also have accepted Alex Crawford as the reference point for quality war reporting).
army
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WRC - Mexico: We just mentioned how Otates can bite, DAVID EVANS has tracked down Jari-Matti Latvala...
"If you want to win all you can do is put pressure to the leading driver," Latvala explained. "I had a really good rhythm through stage 12 and in my mind I knew I couldn't afford the big risks - I still need the championship points.
"There was a hole on the inside of the corner and I got a bit scared; in the previous stage I hit the bedrock and the damper went a bit soft. So I was a bit afraid of the hole, so I went off the line and into the loose in a really narrow place.
"The rear touched the bank on the left side. That damaged the rear suspension. I carried on, but I felt the wheel moving in the arch. I thought it would be OK and we could fix it after the stages, but it was completely gone at the end."
"If you want to win all you can do is put pressure to the leading driver," Latvala explained. "I had a really good rhythm through stage 12 and in my mind I knew I couldn't afford the big risks - I still need the championship points.
"There was a hole on the inside of the corner and I got a bit scared; in the previous stage I hit the bedrock and the damper went a bit soft. So I was a bit afraid of the hole, so I went off the line and into the loose in a really narrow place.
"The rear touched the bank on the left side. That damaged the rear suspension. I carried on, but I felt the wheel moving in the arch. I thought it would be OK and we could fix it after the stages, but it was completely gone at the end."
WRC - Mexico: Three cars on the stage, Kubica and Meeke joining in. Kubica's 1.9s quicker than Paddon at the first split.
WRC - Mexico: A reminder of the challenge of Otates - it's a 26.6-mile test, one that caught out Jari-Matti Latvala earlier today and ruined his rally.
Breaking news
WTCC - Argentina: As Hayden Paddon kicks off SS16 in North America, further south qualifying day is more or less finished at the World Touring Car Championship opener in Argentina.
There, 2012 champion Rob Huff caused a stir by posting the fastest Q1 time in Lada's brand new, barely tested Vesta.
Here's what Huff has had to say about that. Note his genuine surprise at the car's performance - and a bold statement about challenging Citroen.
Huff shocked by new Lada's pace
There, 2012 champion Rob Huff caused a stir by posting the fastest Q1 time in Lada's brand new, barely tested Vesta.
Here's what Huff has had to say about that. Note his genuine surprise at the car's performance - and a bold statement about challenging Citroen.
Huff shocked by new Lada's pace
Rob Huff Lada Argentina
WRC - Mexico: Getting close to the start of the next stage.
A problem for WRC2 challenger Jari Ketomaa on that last stage. He remains third in class (ninth overall!) despite losing a minute.
Yuriy Protasov, seventh overall, leads WRC2 still from Nassir Al-Attiyah.
A problem for WRC2 challenger Jari Ketomaa on that last stage. He remains third in class (ninth overall!) despite losing a minute.
Yuriy Protasov, seventh overall, leads WRC2 still from Nassir Al-Attiyah.
WRC - Mexico: We've got the WRC2 leaders coming through now, and amazingly thanks to the rate of attrition on this rally, that means the final top 10 runners!
SS16 kicks off in 20 minutes.
SS16 kicks off in 20 minutes.
WRC - Mexico: So, leading runners through.
Standings after SS15:
1 Ogier 2h56m03.6s
2 Ostberg +1m13.9s
3 Mikkelsen +1m18.8s
4 Evans 1m58.6s
5 Sordo +3m10.7s
6 Prokop +3m40.2s
Leading SS15 times:
1 Ogier 17m26.7s
2 Mikkelsen +0.8s
3 Ostberg +5.6s
4 Evans +6.1s
5 Neuville 9.7s
6 Meeke +14.3s
Standings after SS15:
1 Ogier 2h56m03.6s
2 Ostberg +1m13.9s
3 Mikkelsen +1m18.8s
4 Evans 1m58.6s
5 Sordo +3m10.7s
6 Prokop +3m40.2s
Leading SS15 times:
1 Ogier 17m26.7s
2 Mikkelsen +0.8s
3 Ostberg +5.6s
4 Evans +6.1s
5 Neuville 9.7s
6 Meeke +14.3s
WRC - Mexico: Sounds like he hit a rock in the road and fears he's broken the wheel as well.
Crash
WRC - Mexico: Painful run for Sordo. Front-left puncture for the Spaniard, and that loses him 52.9s to Evans in the fight for fourth!
He comes through a grand total of 59s slower than the pace-setting Ogier. The Hyundai man had ended the morning so promisingly.
He comes through a grand total of 59s slower than the pace-setting Ogier. The Hyundai man had ended the morning so promisingly.
WRC - Mexico: Ooh, some sort of problem for Dani Sordo, who has shipped a load of time in the penultimate split...
WRC - Mexico: Very good run from Elfyn Evans, this. The Welshman's next through, and he's been on Ostberg's pace right the way through. He comes through 0.5s slower than the Citroen man.
What's more, he's looking set to slightly extend the gap back to Sordo in the fight for fourth.
What's more, he's looking set to slightly extend the gap back to Sordo in the fight for fourth.
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WRC - Mexico: Ostberg is in, and he's given away 4.8s to Mikkelsen on this stage. That's effectively halved the difference between the two.
"Nothing," he replies when asked what is wrong.
"I have to go faster," he responds when asked what he can do about it.
Smooth.
"Nothing," he replies when asked what is wrong.
"I have to go faster," he responds when asked what he can do about it.
Smooth.
WRC - Mexico: Mikkelsen's lost time in the penultimate split, he's come in a second slower than Ogier there. That's a shame.
By the time he reaches the stage end he's 0.8s slower than Ogier. He should still get close to Ostberg though.
By the time he reaches the stage end he's 0.8s slower than Ogier. He should still get close to Ostberg though.
WRC - Mexico: Mikkelsen will probably run out of time to overhaul Ostberg in this stage but he'll be pretty damn close.
Ogier's in, and sets a new fastest time - 17m26.7s.
Before him, a rather slow Guerra finished his run. No issues for the home hero, who is just taking it easy.
Ogier's in, and sets a new fastest time - 17m26.7s.
Before him, a rather slow Guerra finished his run. No issues for the home hero, who is just taking it easy.
WRC - Mexico: Neuville continues his pace to the end and, in 17m36.4s, is 4.6s quicker than Meeke.
Mikkelsen's 0.5s quicker than Ogier at the third split, while Ostberg's 3.1s slower than Mikkelsen at split two.
There's an outside chance of second place changing by the end of this stage.
Mikkelsen's 0.5s quicker than Ogier at the third split, while Ostberg's 3.1s slower than Mikkelsen at split two.
There's an outside chance of second place changing by the end of this stage.
WRC - Mexico: Meeke is 7.6s quicker than Kubica to go P1 for now, though Neuville is poised to take that spot in a couple of minutes.
Mikkelsen is still quicker than Ogier at the second split. Mads Ostberg drops a second to Mikkelsen, who is hunting him down in the overall standings, in the first split.
Mikkelsen is still quicker than Ogier at the second split. Mads Ostberg drops a second to Mikkelsen, who is hunting him down in the overall standings, in the first split.
WRC - Mexico: Kubica's in, 3.1s quicker than Paddon.
Strong first split for Mikkelsen, who is a second faster than Ogier. The Frenchman, meanwhile, has stepped it up against Neuville and is 3s up on the Hyundai at the next split.
Strong first split for Mikkelsen, who is a second faster than Ogier. The Frenchman, meanwhile, has stepped it up against Neuville and is 3s up on the Hyundai at the next split.
WRC - Mexico: Paddon's in, in 17m51.7s.
Neuville is quicker than Meeke in the first and second splits.
Ogier's started his run, and at the first split is 0.7s quicker than Neuville.
Neuville is quicker than Meeke in the first and second splits.
Ogier's started his run, and at the first split is 0.7s quicker than Neuville.
WTCC - Argentina: There’s a lot of work for the Campos mechanics to do if they’re going to fix Hugo Valente's car for tomorrow.
As you can see, it’s going to need a new engine and front suspension, and various bits of bodywork and trim are still peeling off...
As you can see, it’s going to need a new engine and front suspension, and various bits of bodywork and trim are still peeling off...
Valente
WRC - Mexico: By the second split Kubica's got back on terms with Paddon, who is nearing the final part of the stage.
Meeke's quickest through the first part, 1.2s up on Paddon.
Meeke's quickest through the first part, 1.2s up on Paddon.
WRC - Mexico: Kris Meeke's on the stage, as Kubica clocks in 0.2s slower than Paddon at the first split.
WRC - Mexico: Kubica joins Paddon on stage. The Hyundai man's through the first split.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, David Evans, Stuart Codling, Scott Mitchell
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