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Elfyn Evans and Stephane Lefebvre are next to complete ahead of Neuville. He's the one we're really waiting for.
And then attention will skip to Kris Meeke and whether he can hold third, with Tanak on a flier.
And then attention will skip to Kris Meeke and whether he can hold third, with Tanak on a flier.
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Craig Breen is the next to complete and he ends up 14s down on Tanak.
"Not terrible but not far away," says a disappointed Craig Breen. "We'll comeback stronger tomorrow."
"Not terrible but not far away," says a disappointed Craig Breen. "We'll comeback stronger tomorrow."
Stopwatch
Sordo is in and drops 20.9s to Ott Tanak.
Neuville's first split is in and he's faster than Latvala. He's 0.6s slower than Tanak but that can soon change. We'll keep an eye on his splits.
Neuville's first split is in and he's faster than Latvala. He's 0.6s slower than Tanak but that can soon change. We'll keep an eye on his splits.
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So, Tanak is in and fastest, he overtakes Ogier and leads him by sixth overnight. Will he be third or fourth? We'll wait for Kris Meeke before we answer that.
"I tried to push really hard," says Tanak. "It's been a difficult day. I'd say Sebastien has done a good job today as some of those stages must have been difficult to clean."
Sounds like Tanak wanted more over Ogier heading into tomorrow.
"I tried to push really hard," says Tanak. "It's been a difficult day. I'd say Sebastien has done a good job today as some of those stages must have been difficult to clean."
Sounds like Tanak wanted more over Ogier heading into tomorrow.
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Despite being 4.2s up at the last split, Latvala only takes 1.8s out of Ogier. That's good news for Ogier who will be hunting him tomorrow.
"This one was different," says Latvala. "The tyres were worn, you had to be sideways. It will be interesting to see the times."
"This one was different," says Latvala. "The tyres were worn, you had to be sideways. It will be interesting to see the times."
Stopwatch
"We couldn't have done any more," says Ogier. It's been a frustrating day for the Frenchman who is likely going to start tomorrow just under a minute down on the leader. That's unheard of.
Stopwatch
Tanak is 2.8s up on Latvala and 7s up on Ogier at the final split. The battle for third/fourth/fifth is still on.
Stopwatch
Sordo is just under 10s slower than Tanak through the first split. Doesn't look like the Hyundai man will be a threat for a stage win here. At least it's not far back to service after this.
Stopwatch
And Latvala continues to steal seconds away from Ogier. He's 4.2s up at the second split.
BUT...
Tanak has gone 2.3s quicker than Latvala and 5.2s quicker than Ogier. Tanak trails Ogier by 0.1s entering this stage and could take fourth back from his team-mate.
BUT...
Tanak has gone 2.3s quicker than Latvala and 5.2s quicker than Ogier. Tanak trails Ogier by 0.1s entering this stage and could take fourth back from his team-mate.
Latvala reaches the first split, he's 2.9s up on Ogier.
Ott Tanak has joined the stage.
Ott Tanak has joined the stage.
We've also got Jari-Matti Latvala into the stage too.
The tyres are coming to the end of their life cycle now so that could be a theme in this stage. The tungsten spikes will have been sprinkling out over the previous test and through this one and looking after them will be paramount.
The tyres are coming to the end of their life cycle now so that could be a theme in this stage. The tungsten spikes will have been sprinkling out over the previous test and through this one and looking after them will be paramount.
Green flag
Here we go, Sebastien Ogier is into the final stage of the day.
After sweeping the road like a JCB, he'll be happy to see the end of this day.
After sweeping the road like a JCB, he'll be happy to see the end of this day.
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We've got just under 15 minutes until SS8 Torsby gets underway. Here's ELFYN EVANS to fill you in on what to expect from our night stage.
SS8 Torsby (10.20miles)
"This is the same as it’s been in years before. There was a new bit added for last year and that’s quite cresty and jumpy again, but it’s generally medium speed for the majority of the first part.
"Like the last one, there are some sections where you go into the trees, but then there are some places with some very, very long straights – they’ve put some chicanes in to slow the cars down there. We come close to the airport – which is where service is – and then we turn off into a quarry which is quite twisty before we come into the manmade section, which is really twisty!
"There are also some quite aggressive jumps in here as well, we’ll have to be careful on those; historically, those kind of jumps have tended to send the nose down on landing. OK, we’re at the end of the loop, but we don’t want to be breaking the front splitter."
SS8 Torsby (10.20miles)
"This is the same as it’s been in years before. There was a new bit added for last year and that’s quite cresty and jumpy again, but it’s generally medium speed for the majority of the first part.
"Like the last one, there are some sections where you go into the trees, but then there are some places with some very, very long straights – they’ve put some chicanes in to slow the cars down there. We come close to the airport – which is where service is – and then we turn off into a quarry which is quite twisty before we come into the manmade section, which is really twisty!
"There are also some quite aggressive jumps in here as well, we’ll have to be careful on those; historically, those kind of jumps have tended to send the nose down on landing. OK, we’re at the end of the loop, but we don’t want to be breaking the front splitter."
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We said no more retro for today, but, we lied. When else do we get a chance to populate our live service with Saab rally cars, or any Saabs for that matter! Here's another landmark, Stig Blomqvist/Arne Hertz guide their Saab 96 V4 to victory on the event 45 years ago in 1972.
Autosport
The cars are making there way to Torsby for the final stage of the day, which runs in the dark. The action gets underway in just over 30 minutes and we'll keep you entertained until then.
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Mads Ostberg is at the stage end, he was 13th quickest and still lacking that rear wing.
"Over the last stages it's been so hard to stay on the road," he says. "The car is oversteering a lot."
The news that his spoiler is back in service is also relayed to him.
"That's good news," he adds. "The cars are brand new and there hasn't been many spare parts. I wouldn't have been happy if we didn't get it back, we probably would have had to do the rest of the rally without it."
"Over the last stages it's been so hard to stay on the road," he says. "The car is oversteering a lot."
The news that his spoiler is back in service is also relayed to him.
"That's good news," he adds. "The cars are brand new and there hasn't been many spare parts. I wouldn't have been happy if we didn't get it back, we probably would have had to do the rest of the rally without it."
Information
As good as Thierry Neuville's gap at the head of the field is, you'd have to say there's and even more impressive time gap in a different class.
Home favourite Pontus Tidemand is leading WRC2 by 38.1s. The Swede is on for a breakout year spearheading Skoda Motorsport's WRC2 assault. He's proving why he's got that opportunity today.
Home favourite Pontus Tidemand is leading WRC2 by 38.1s. The Swede is on for a breakout year spearheading Skoda Motorsport's WRC2 assault. He's proving why he's got that opportunity today.
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Nice to see the rally family helping out Mads Ostberg.
After a social media campaign asking that his rear wing is returned to service, as you can see in the tweet below, it has been returned.
Kudos to the person that returned it. Now an investigation can get underway as to why it came off.
After a social media campaign asking that his rear wing is returned to service, as you can see in the tweet below, it has been returned.
Kudos to the person that returned it. Now an investigation can get underway as to why it came off.
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Interesting words from Paddon at the end of the stage. He only took five tyres and lost most of the spikes from his tyres on the last test. That means he only has one spare for the final stage of the day.
Checkered flag
Here's your times for the stage and overall.
Times for SS7:
1 Neuville 13m04s
2 Meeke +11.8s
3 Ogier +16.4s
4 Paddon +17.4s
5 Latvala +17.9s
6 Tanak +21.8s
After SS7 overall:
1 Neuville 1h06m59.2s
2 Latvala +24s
3 Meeke +41.6s
4 Ogier +50.3s
5 Tanak +50.4s
6 Paddon +1m02.5s
Times for SS7:
1 Neuville 13m04s
2 Meeke +11.8s
3 Ogier +16.4s
4 Paddon +17.4s
5 Latvala +17.9s
6 Tanak +21.8s
After SS7 overall:
1 Neuville 1h06m59.2s
2 Latvala +24s
3 Meeke +41.6s
4 Ogier +50.3s
5 Tanak +50.4s
6 Paddon +1m02.5s
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Even Kris Meeke is pointing out Neuville's time.
"We've picked up the rhythm again," says Meeke. "We had a lot of understeer so we had to back off a bit. The time looked good but Thierry had a blinder."
"We've picked up the rhythm again," says Meeke. "We had a lot of understeer so we had to back off a bit. The time looked good but Thierry had a blinder."
Stopwatch
Kris Meeke goes second quickest, 11.8s down on Neuville.
It puts the Northern Irishman back on the podium, ahead of Ogier and Tanak.
It puts the Northern Irishman back on the podium, ahead of Ogier and Tanak.
We're going to have to regroup from that, what a time by Neuville.
The one saving grace for the hoped-for lead battle is that we saw Neuville go this quickly in Monte Carlo before throwing it away with a small mistake.
But to lead by 24s on the first full day of action, not to mention the longest, is some feat by Neuville.
The one saving grace for the hoped-for lead battle is that we saw Neuville go this quickly in Monte Carlo before throwing it away with a small mistake.
But to lead by 24s on the first full day of action, not to mention the longest, is some feat by Neuville.
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Incredible from Neuville and he's cool as a cucumber in that Hyundai.
"I had a really good stage, the car felt really good," says a sub-zero Neuville. "I kept it in the line, it must have been difficult for Jari-Matti but he had the advantage this morning and this afternoon it's ours and i've tried to make the most out of it."
"I had a really good stage, the car felt really good," says a sub-zero Neuville. "I kept it in the line, it must have been difficult for Jari-Matti but he had the advantage this morning and this afternoon it's ours and i've tried to make the most out of it."
Stopwatch
WHAT A TIME! Neuville completes and he's 16.4s quicker than Ogier, 17.9s quicker than Latvala.
His lead is up to 24s. On Friday afternoon! This rally is supposed to be a close one!
His lead is up to 24s. On Friday afternoon! This rally is supposed to be a close one!
Stopwatch
Neuville is 12.8s up on Latvala at the last split. What a time this could be from Neuville. A rally-defining stage if he keeps this up.
Stopwatch
Craig Breen says the losing the aero is an "incredible" difference as he loses 9.3s to Neuville on the stage.
Elfyn Evans arrives and he's 9.7s down on Neuville.
Elfyn Evans arrives and he's 9.7s down on Neuville.
Stopwatch
Kris Meeke is 3.4s up on Ogier. If it stays like that then Meeke will overtake Ogier for third. Tanak has already lost third to Ogier and Meeke is set to slot in third.
Stopwatch
Neuville has taken another four seconds out of Latvala at the second split, making it eight seconds in total so far. The Belgian is driving well so far.
Stopwatch
This could be the defining stage of the rally.
At the first split, Neuville is 4s up on Latvala. If he keeps that up, the Belgian will be difficult to catch. It's rare drivers can take 10-15s on one stage because of the nature of the stages. If Neuville goes that far ahead on Friday evening he'll be tough to catch.
Tanak is in 5.4s slower than Ogier. That means Ogier takes third. Remember Ott is being hunted by Kris Meeke who started just a couple of seconds behind the Estonian. When he gets to the end of the stage, Meeke will likely take third ahead of Ogier who started the stage fifth. A good one for the Frenchman.
At the first split, Neuville is 4s up on Latvala. If he keeps that up, the Belgian will be difficult to catch. It's rare drivers can take 10-15s on one stage because of the nature of the stages. If Neuville goes that far ahead on Friday evening he'll be tough to catch.
Tanak is in 5.4s slower than Ogier. That means Ogier takes third. Remember Ott is being hunted by Kris Meeke who started just a couple of seconds behind the Estonian. When he gets to the end of the stage, Meeke will likely take third ahead of Ogier who started the stage fifth. A good one for the Frenchman.
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Latvala isn't happy at stage end.
"It was not a good stage for me," says Latvala. "I tried to much and I did mistakes. I ran wide and I didn't get good acceleration. I will lose quite a lot of time in this one."
"It was not a good stage for me," says Latvala. "I tried to much and I did mistakes. I ran wide and I didn't get good acceleration. I will lose quite a lot of time in this one."
By: Matt Beer
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