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Rally Mexico, WTCC opener
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WRC - Mexico: Ouch. Latvala's loss to Ogier at the fifth split: 5m00.6s...
WRC - Mexico: Ostberg's slipped back at the end of the stage, now 9.1s slower than Ogier at the penultimate stage. That might well be because he's overtaken Latvala, but if he doesn't keep this together he'll end up slower than Mikkelsen.
WRC - Mexico: Reports of "considerable damage" to the front of Latvala's car.
WRC - Mexico: Mikkelsen comes through 15s slower than Ogier.
Ostberg has passed Latvala on the stage.
Ostberg has passed Latvala on the stage.
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.
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!
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: Guerra gets through to the end of the stage, after he too lost time earlier. He's in with the slowest time so far.
WRC - Mexico: Latvala crossed the fourth split 47.7s behind Ogier.
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.
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.
Stopwatch
WRC - Mexico: Neuville goes quickest of all, 30m22.3s.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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: 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.
WRC - Mexico: Latvala makes it three Volkswagen Polo WRCs on SS12.
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: Neuville's slightly slower than Meeke at the first split. Ogier starts his run.
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: 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.
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.
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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: Onto SS12 we go. Paddon, one of those Rally 2 runners, has started his run. Kubica's also on stage.
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...
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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: 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.
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: Al-Attiyah loses time in the final part of SS11 and ends up slower than Protasov on this run.
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.
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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: 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: "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: 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: 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: 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.
By: AUTOSPORT staff, David Evans, Stuart Codling, Scott Mitchell
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