Rally Monte Carlo
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Elfyn Evans has taken 1.6s out of Thierry Neuville at the first split. His first stage tyre choice was compromised for this one, so he'll be hoping he's quicker in this one.
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It looks like Ott Tanak will make his check in for this stage and not lose any time.
However, have they fixed the engine issue? They could lose time on the stage if not. Fingers crossed.
However, have they fixed the engine issue? They could lose time on the stage if not. Fingers crossed.
Dani Sordo joins the stage, and his team-mate Thierry Neuville has reached the first split. He manages it in 3m46.2s.
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Reports from the stage: no snow on the stage roads, but there is ice in places. There's snow on the sides of the road, lets hope the Monte spectators are well behaved and don't throw any on the road. It's caused havoc on previous Monte rallies.
Elfyn Evans is also into our stage.
Two splits in this stage, plenty of chance to keep up with our runners through the stage.
Two splits in this stage, plenty of chance to keep up with our runners through the stage.
Green flag
Here we go, Thierry Neuville is into the stage and heading for the Col de Turini. Lookout!
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Here's the running order for SS15, providing Ott Tanak does make the start after his engine trouble.
Neuville
Evans
Sordo
Breen
Latvala
Tanak
Ogier
Lefebvre
Hanninen
Mikkelsen
Kopecky
Neuville
Evans
Sordo
Breen
Latvala
Tanak
Ogier
Lefebvre
Hanninen
Mikkelsen
Kopecky
Did someone say Col de Turini? That's as good an excuse as any for some retro fever. Here's Monte legend Walter Rohrl on his way to victory over the Turini in his Opel Ascona in 1982. He took the WRC title that year.
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Wow, that was frantic for a three mile stage! And we've got a more substantial stage guide from PAUL NAGLE - Kris Meeke's Citroen team-mate - to get you up to speed. Less than 10 minutes until the next stage.
SS15/17 La Bollene Vesubie-Peira Cava (13.27 miles)
"This is one of the classics. But the question will be about the weather – when we did this on the recce, it was eight degrees and bone dry. If it’s the same today then we won’t be using super soft tyres, we’ll need the softs to get us through the loop. Even if the snow doesn’t come, there will be some bits and pieces of ice around and the spectators will find some snow to throw on the road.
"The atmosphere across the Col de Turini is fantastic, it’s a real buzz. Straight over the top you dive down towards Peira Cava and that first 500 metres or so can be tricky with ice lingering under the trees and you get this kind of grease which washes off the mountains and can make the road quite slippery."
SS15/17 La Bollene Vesubie-Peira Cava (13.27 miles)
"This is one of the classics. But the question will be about the weather – when we did this on the recce, it was eight degrees and bone dry. If it’s the same today then we won’t be using super soft tyres, we’ll need the softs to get us through the loop. Even if the snow doesn’t come, there will be some bits and pieces of ice around and the spectators will find some snow to throw on the road.
"The atmosphere across the Col de Turini is fantastic, it’s a real buzz. Straight over the top you dive down towards Peira Cava and that first 500 metres or so can be tricky with ice lingering under the trees and you get this kind of grease which washes off the mountains and can make the road quite slippery."
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Tanak has left his spot on the road section and he's got to fly to reach his time control check in as to not be late for the next stage.
BUT, BUT...
The Fiesta sounds a lot better when it pulled off. Could the Estonian be safe? Time will tell.
BUT, BUT...
The Fiesta sounds a lot better when it pulled off. Could the Estonian be safe? Time will tell.
David Evans
DAVID EVANS: Jari-Matti Latvala emerged shunt-free from the first couple of days of Monte Carlo action. Or so we thought… clearly, the Finn suffered an accident with his coffee – as can be seen from the stain down the front of his shiny new Toyota overalls. Wonder if it was the Finn’s own blend of coffee he spilled down his front?
David Evans
DAVID EVANS: Citroen’s full-time return to the World Rally Championship has brought a new recce car as well as a new World Rally Car. Subaru WRXs have replaced the French firm’s fleet of Mitsubishi Lancer E10s.
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TANAK UPDATE: The Estonian has stopped just up the road from the end of SS14 according to the tracking system. He was down to two cylinders on the stage and his second place position is at risk.
We've played up Breen's chances of a podium there, but as we alluded to, don't expect that just yet.
The fastest man on the last stage, Dani Sordo, had powersteering issues yesterday and dropped down the order. He's got three stages to steer his pacesetting Hyundai - almost certainly the car to have this weekend - past Breen. He's only 11.2s behind the Irishman. It's certainly the best battle remaining in the top five.
The fastest man on the last stage, Dani Sordo, had powersteering issues yesterday and dropped down the order. He's got three stages to steer his pacesetting Hyundai - almost certainly the car to have this weekend - past Breen. He's only 11.2s behind the Irishman. It's certainly the best battle remaining in the top five.
Andreas Mikkelsen is through and second quickest in WRC2, but he's only lost a couple of seconds to Kopecky and he has a three minute lead over the Czech driver.
Hanninen is through and slowest so far. He's compromising tyre choice for the longer stages.
Stephane Lefebvre's awful Monte continues as he has a spin on SS14, he's seventh quickest.
Meanwhile, looking at the order, should anything happen to Tanak with his car down on two cylinders, Craig Breen is fourth and in prime position to be promoted onto the podium. There's a long way to go yet.
Meanwhile, looking at the order, should anything happen to Tanak with his car down on two cylinders, Craig Breen is fourth and in prime position to be promoted onto the podium. There's a long way to go yet.
Stopwatch
And here's your overall order with the leading contenders through.
1 Ogier 3h29m47.8s
2 Tanak +58.5s
3 Latvala +2m20.3s
4 Breen +3m50.6s
5 Sordo +4m01.8s
6 Evans +7m28.1s
1 Ogier 3h29m47.8s
2 Tanak +58.5s
3 Latvala +2m20.3s
4 Breen +3m50.6s
5 Sordo +4m01.8s
6 Evans +7m28.1s
Stopwatch
Ogier confirms he's "cruising" to the end of the rally now, especially as he's told Ott Tanak is in trouble in second.
With the leading contenders through, here's your times for SS14:
1 Sordo 3m35.7s
2 Latvala +1.1s
3 Ogier +1.4s
4 Neuville +2s
5 Evans +2.3s
6 Breen +4.7s
With the leading contenders through, here's your times for SS14:
1 Sordo 3m35.7s
2 Latvala +1.1s
3 Ogier +1.4s
4 Neuville +2s
5 Evans +2.3s
6 Breen +4.7s
Ogier completes the stage and that's our major contenders through.
He's third quickest, giving up 1.4s to Sordo, the pacesetter on this one.
He's third quickest, giving up 1.4s to Sordo, the pacesetter on this one.
Crash
Tanak is your next driver in, he's lost 12.8s.
He's 1m21.8s clear of Latvala in third but the engine note is not good in Tanak's car.
"We have only two cylinders."
Heartbreak. Can Tanak keep going?
He's 1m21.8s clear of Latvala in third but the engine note is not good in Tanak's car.
"We have only two cylinders."
Heartbreak. Can Tanak keep going?
Latvala goes second quickest on the stage so far, 1.1s down on Sordo. The Finn is looking to defend third place on Toyota's works return to the WRC.
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Craig Breen is next in and he's 2.7s down in his 2016-spec Citroen.
Given the stage was relatively dry, that's an excellent time by Breen given how much he's giving up with his outdated machinery.
"Bone dry. I tried my best, but it's bone dry. It's uphill a lot too. I tried everything in there. I'm praying for snow, I'm praying it snows out of the high heavens like it's never snowed before."
Craig's always good for a quote.
Given the stage was relatively dry, that's an excellent time by Breen given how much he's giving up with his outdated machinery.
"Bone dry. I tried my best, but it's bone dry. It's uphill a lot too. I tried everything in there. I'm praying for snow, I'm praying it snows out of the high heavens like it's never snowed before."
Craig's always good for a quote.
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Into the stage are Breen, Latvala and Tanak.
Sordo is understandably happy with his quickest time so far.
"It's really fun. In these conditiosn it was really fun to drive. The stage is completely dry."
Sordo is understandably happy with his quickest time so far.
"It's really fun. In these conditiosn it was really fun to drive. The stage is completely dry."
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Sordo completes and he goes two seconds quicker than Neuville, fastest through so far.
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It's a cunning Elfyn Evans at stage end. He's playing the long game...
"We're not sure what's going to happen later on so we've compromised [tyre choice] these first two stages and hopefully it will pay off later on."
"We're not sure what's going to happen later on so we've compromised [tyre choice] these first two stages and hopefully it will pay off later on."
Stopwatch
Elfyn Evans completes the stage and he's 0.7s down on Neuville.
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Neuville is understandably neutral at stage end given his off yesterday.
"It was a good stage for us, the guys have fixed the car. I really enjoyed the stage. It's enjoyable but you have to be careful.
"We'll see what the conditions are like in the powerstage and hopefully we can get some points."
"It was a good stage for us, the guys have fixed the car. I really enjoyed the stage. It's enjoyable but you have to be careful.
"We'll see what the conditions are like in the powerstage and hopefully we can get some points."
Stopwatch
And he completes in 3m37.7s. Not much context to apply here until we get a couple more times in. Neuville isn't competing for anything other than powerstage points today, anyway.
Speaking of Sordo, he'll be next into the stage.
No splits in this test as it's as short as Paul Nagle's description of it. Neuville is approaching stage end already.
No splits in this test as it's as short as Paul Nagle's description of it. Neuville is approaching stage end already.
Elfyn Evans was on fire yesterday, taking three of five stage wins yesterday. If the weather was dry and he'd had a bit more luck with the same bank Sebastien Ogier hit on Friday, he'd likely be in contention in the DMACK-shod Fiesta.
Instead, he's three minutes behind fifth place Dani Sordo.
Instead, he's three minutes behind fifth place Dani Sordo.
Green flag
Thierry Neuville is into this short test to start the day.
The Belgian made a mistake and went out yesterday, but his improvised repairs were admirable and kept him in the rally in 15th overall.
The Belgian made a mistake and went out yesterday, but his improvised repairs were admirable and kept him in the rally in 15th overall.
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By: Geoff Creighton
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