Rally Sweden
Live Text
Sort by
Twitter
Happy Finish fans at SS 5 Røgden ???????? #RallySweden http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C4TYA_tWEAA0wzg.jpg
David Evans
When the conditions are right, the thinking is that there’s simply no better rally to drive than this one. The grip from the studded tyres is better than anything the crews will get on gravel or dry asphalt.
Toyota’s Jari-Matti Latvala is starting a winter WRC round for the 14th time this week, so he’s a good man to ask about the sensation of driving a World Rally Car in the perfect conditions.
“It’s so nice when you have good ice,” he said. “In the shakedown [on Wednesday] we had some gravel coming through in some places, but on the rally I don’t think there will be too much of that.
“The difference when you come from the recce to the rally is incredible. On the recce you are having small studs and no more than 100 – that is the maximum number allowed in each tyre.
"Then we come in the rally with nearly 400 studs in each tyre and they are much longer. The performance from the car is just incredible. When you push for the first time you sit there and say: 'Wow!' The lateral grip is amazing. The only problem is when you get some snow on top of the ice, this can make it slippery for braking.
“The only thing we are missing on this rally is some snowbanks, it’s nice when you can lean on them a little bit. But also, the snowbanks can be your enemy – you always have to be careful when you use them.”
Toyota’s Jari-Matti Latvala is starting a winter WRC round for the 14th time this week, so he’s a good man to ask about the sensation of driving a World Rally Car in the perfect conditions.
“It’s so nice when you have good ice,” he said. “In the shakedown [on Wednesday] we had some gravel coming through in some places, but on the rally I don’t think there will be too much of that.
“The difference when you come from the recce to the rally is incredible. On the recce you are having small studs and no more than 100 – that is the maximum number allowed in each tyre.
"Then we come in the rally with nearly 400 studs in each tyre and they are much longer. The performance from the car is just incredible. When you push for the first time you sit there and say: 'Wow!' The lateral grip is amazing. The only problem is when you get some snow on top of the ice, this can make it slippery for braking.
“The only thing we are missing on this rally is some snowbanks, it’s nice when you can lean on them a little bit. But also, the snowbanks can be your enemy – you always have to be careful when you use them.”
Information
Here’s a rough timetable for this afternoon (all times GMT):
- SS5 Rojden 2 1220
- SS6 Hof-Finnskog 2 1327
- SS7 Svullrya 2 1451
- SS8 Torsby 1 1615
- SS5 Rojden 2 1220
- SS6 Hof-Finnskog 2 1327
- SS7 Svullrya 2 1451
- SS8 Torsby 1 1615
Information
Thierry Neuville was our rally leader, but overnight leader Jari-Matti Latvala reclaimed top spot with a stellar run through Svullrya - SS4 - and now leads the way by 8.5s overall.
The cars are clean(er), pristine(er), and back out after a service park break, ready to tackle the repeat loop of this morning’s three stages as well as a late-afternoon run of the Torsby stage.
Autosport
Hello, good afternoon, and welcome back to Autosport Race Centre live for uninterrupted updates from Rally Sweden.
With the cars heading to service, Autosport live is going to take a break until just after 1200hrs UK time. We'll have the afternoon's action ready to go, with SS5 starting at 1220hrs.
In the meantime, here's our comprehensive report from the morning's action. See you soon.
In the meantime, here's our comprehensive report from the morning's action. See you soon.
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
Information
We've had a change of lead in WRC2 to end the morning.
Works Skoda driver Pontus Tidemand was on a charge all morning and takes the top spot on SS4. Even the familiarity of his families' forest couldn't aid Ole Christian Veiby in his defence. He had to settle for second in his similar Skoda Fabia R5.
Works Skoda driver Pontus Tidemand was on a charge all morning and takes the top spot on SS4. Even the familiarity of his families' forest couldn't aid Ole Christian Veiby in his defence. He had to settle for second in his similar Skoda Fabia R5.
Checkered flag
With your frontrunners through SS4, here's your stage times and order.
SS4
1 Latvala 12m52.3s
2 Neuville +8.5s
3 Ogier +9.6s
4 Tanak +12.9s
5 Ostberg +14s
6 Meeke +14.4s
Overall
1 Latvala 34m19.2s
2 Neuville +3.9s
3 Meeke +18.8s
4 Ogier +19.1s
5 Tanak +20s
6 Ostberg +20.9s
SS4
1 Latvala 12m52.3s
2 Neuville +8.5s
3 Ogier +9.6s
4 Tanak +12.9s
5 Ostberg +14s
6 Meeke +14.4s
Overall
1 Latvala 34m19.2s
2 Neuville +3.9s
3 Meeke +18.8s
4 Ogier +19.1s
5 Tanak +20s
6 Ostberg +20.9s
Stopwatch
Kris Meeke holds third, 14.4s slower than Latvala.
"Jari's done a flyer," says Meeke. "I'm driving to my rhythm."
"Jari's done a flyer," says Meeke. "I'm driving to my rhythm."
Neuville explains the time loss.
"I hit something very hard on the front so I took it a bit easy after that," says Neuville. "I lost a bit of time there."
"I hit something very hard on the front so I took it a bit easy after that," says Neuville. "I lost a bit of time there."
Stopwatch
LEAD CHANGE! LATVALA TAKES THE LEAD
Neuville is in and loses 8.5s to Latvala, now sits 3.9s behind the Finn.
Neuville is in and loses 8.5s to Latvala, now sits 3.9s behind the Finn.
Crash
It's a rear right puncture for Evans, he'd dropped nearly two minutes.
"I got dragged into a snowbank and there was a big rock in the snowbank," explains Evans. He's disappointed to say the least.
"I got dragged into a snowbank and there was a big rock in the snowbank," explains Evans. He's disappointed to say the least.
Information
The splits confirm Elfyn Evans has had trouble on the stage. We're not sure what's caused it yet but we'll have a gap because of it.
Stopwatch
Neuville is 7s down on Latvala at the final split.
The Belgian led by 4.6s entering this stage.
Are we in for a lead change?
The Belgian led by 4.6s entering this stage.
Are we in for a lead change?
Quote
Craig Breen is in and drops 27.4s to Latvala.
"It was incredibly slippery. i clipped a rock and we broke a damper, we were lucky not to get a puncture. But we lost a lot of time."
"It was incredibly slippery. i clipped a rock and we broke a damper, we were lucky not to get a puncture. But we lost a lot of time."
Stopwatch
Neuville is 3.2s down on Latvala at the final split. Neuville led the rally by 4.6s entering the stage...
Information
Sordo is in and drops 29.5s to Latvala.
Reports from the stage, Elfyn Evans is driving slowly at 14km through the stage. He could have an issue.
Reports from the stage, Elfyn Evans is driving slowly at 14km through the stage. He could have an issue.
Quote
Tanak is 3.3s slower than Ogier, 12.9s slower than Latvala. With the top 10 being so close together, there could be a few changes here.
"It was really difficult," he says. "We have gearbox issues under braking."
Sounds like the car is defaulting to neutral. Poor look AGAIN for Tanak!
"It was really difficult," he says. "We have gearbox issues under braking."
Sounds like the car is defaulting to neutral. Poor look AGAIN for Tanak!
Quote
Latvala is in and 9.6s quicker than Ogier.
Looking at the splits, there's no one anywhere near Latvala at this point. This could be a corker of a time.
"Very nice stage, beautiful stage, I really enjoyed it," he says. "We've changed the front suspension and it's helping."
Earlier he complained of the rear suspension setup so that looks to have helped.
Looking at the splits, there's no one anywhere near Latvala at this point. This could be a corker of a time.
"Very nice stage, beautiful stage, I really enjoyed it," he says. "We've changed the front suspension and it's helping."
Earlier he complained of the rear suspension setup so that looks to have helped.
Quote
A content Ogier reaches stage end, happy with his driving an accepting of the fact that he'll lose time this morning.
"It's very difficult," he says. "Where there's fresh snow there's no grip. I'm happy with my driving, I can't go faster than that. That's how it is."
"It's very difficult," he says. "Where there's fresh snow there's no grip. I'm happy with my driving, I can't go faster than that. That's how it is."
Stopwatch
Ogier completes in 13m01.9s.
Breen is through the first split and has also lost time, 9.7s to be exact from Latvala. We'll keep an eye on that.
Breen is through the first split and has also lost time, 9.7s to be exact from Latvala. We'll keep an eye on that.
Stopwatch
And the time loss continues for Ogier. Latvala is 7.9s quicker through the final split. It's definitely going to be a tough day for the Rally Monte Carlo winner.
Latvala is continuing to take time out of Ogier, 3.7s quicker now at that point.
Sordo has lost 15s at the first split. Maybe a half spin or a problem for the Spaniard? We'll see.
Sordo has lost 15s at the first split. Maybe a half spin or a problem for the Spaniard? We'll see.
Stopwatch
Latvala is 2.5s up on Ogier at the first split, and Tanak is 0.1s up on Ogier. More of the same roadsweeping for the Frenchman?
Tanak and Latvala are also into our stage. Tanak will be looking to recover after losing second place and falling to sixth on the last test.
This stage has a bit of everything; technical and twisty sections plus medium-speed and flat out elements. A real test for the drivers.
There's three splits in this stage, which has been reversed from last year.
There's three splits in this stage, which has been reversed from last year.
Green flag
And we're underway. Sebastien Ogier has powered his Ford Fiesta (still feels weird typing that after four years of VW) into the longest test of the day so far.
Will he suffer badly again cleaning the road?
Will he suffer badly again cleaning the road?
Twitter
Just a couple of minutes until SS4 starts. Here's the running order:
Sebastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Craig Breen (Citroen C3 WRC)
Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen DS 3 WRC)
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Juho Hanninen (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Kris Meeke (Citroen C3 WRC)
Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Sebastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Craig Breen (Citroen C3 WRC)
Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen DS 3 WRC)
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Juho Hanninen (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Kris Meeke (Citroen C3 WRC)
Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Twitter
Twitter
Here's our second and final wakeup retro of the day, and it's another corker. Stig Blomqvist/Hans Sylvan took the Rally Sweden win in a Saab 99EMS 40 years ago.
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
