Rally Sweden 2014
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Ostberg comes through in 13m18.3s, and Mikkelsen has indeed bolstered his advantage. He finishes the stage in 13m16.1s, which gives him just over 13s heading into the powerstage.
When we say "the drivers we are waiting for", we mean for the significant positions.
Of course, the Hyundai duo is still running - though mired in the midfield after myriad dramas.
And Neuville's rally's just taken another turn for the worse, as it looks as though he's stopped on stage.
Of course, the Hyundai duo is still running - though mired in the midfield after myriad dramas.
And Neuville's rally's just taken another turn for the worse, as it looks as though he's stopped on stage.
Tanak, Hirvonen, Ostberg, Mikkelsen and Latvala are the drivers we are waiting for.
The first two shouldn't be too long.
Meanwhile, Mikkelsen has responded to Ostberg's pressure - and is a couple of seconds quicker at the middle split.
The first two shouldn't be too long.
Meanwhile, Mikkelsen has responded to Ostberg's pressure - and is a couple of seconds quicker at the middle split.
Solberg's time was 13m34.0s - which Pontus Tidemand comes through and eclipses by 1.6s. Hopefully Henning's rally doesn't peter out.
Ogier's fightback ultimately proves too much for Solberg, who has fought very gamely. And he's injected genuine passion and enthusiasm into this event, which has been fantastic to see.
Evans has finished, by the way. He was a fraction faster than Breen, about 37s slower than Ogier.
Evans has finished, by the way. He was a fraction faster than Breen, about 37s slower than Ogier.
Solberg comes through...and he's lost sixth place!
Vargasen, a near-as-dammit 25km route, is a tough way to round out the normal stages before the powerstage finale.
Breen is next through and 13m51.9s briefly puts him top - before Ogier comes through some 34s quicker!
Evans, Solberg and Tidemand are next through. Those keen on that battle for sixth...Solberg has given away several seconds at the halfway point on this stage.
Breen is next through and 13m51.9s briefly puts him top - before Ogier comes through some 34s quicker!
Evans, Solberg and Tidemand are next through. Those keen on that battle for sixth...Solberg has given away several seconds at the halfway point on this stage.
Attention shifts to SS23, then. The penultimate stage. Kubica's in (14m18.2s), with Solowow two and a half minutes behind after an unknown drama.
Al-Qassimi is also through, 19s slower than Kubica.
Al-Qassimi is also through, 19s slower than Kubica.
Checkered flag
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Mikkelsen (VW) +47.2s
3 Ostberg (Citroen) +58.8s
4 Hirvonen (M-Sport Ford) +2m08.7s
5 Tanak (M-Sport Ford) +2m37.8s
6 Solberg (Solberg Ford) +4m09.9s
7 Ogier (VW) +4m30.3s
8 Tidemand (M-Sport Ford) +5m06.0s
9 Evans (M-Sport Ford) +6m04.1s
10 Breen (KelTech Ford) +8m09.7s
Leading SS22 times:
1 Latvala (VW) 10m02.9s
2 Ostberg (Citroen) +0.5s
3 Mikkelsen (VW) +5.0s
4 Ogier (VW) +6.7s
5 Neuville (Hyundai) +8.3s
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Mikkelsen (VW) +47.2s
3 Ostberg (Citroen) +58.8s
4 Hirvonen (M-Sport Ford) +2m08.7s
5 Tanak (M-Sport Ford) +2m37.8s
6 Solberg (Solberg Ford) +4m09.9s
7 Ogier (VW) +4m30.3s
8 Tidemand (M-Sport Ford) +5m06.0s
9 Evans (M-Sport Ford) +6m04.1s
10 Breen (KelTech Ford) +8m09.7s
Leading SS22 times:
1 Latvala (VW) 10m02.9s
2 Ostberg (Citroen) +0.5s
3 Mikkelsen (VW) +5.0s
4 Ogier (VW) +6.7s
5 Neuville (Hyundai) +8.3s
Al-Rajhi got stuck in a ditch. But there's no serious damage, so he'll fight to the end. Is there a change...
...yes there is! Ketomaa leads WRC2 by 1.1s!
...yes there is! Ketomaa leads WRC2 by 1.1s!
Despite that slight brush with the banking for Neuville, he slots in ahead of Hanninen in fifth. Nice work.
WRC2 drama: Al-Rajhi's had a serious delay, and we reckon there might be a change for the lead...Ketomaa has a great chance to nick it now.
The Hyundais are in, completing the WRC running for SS22. Hanninen is fifth, Neuville nudges one of the snow banks on the stage. No big drama though.
Little bit of a moment for Latvala on that stage, and he ends up 0.5s slower than Ostberg. He admits it was a "wake-up call".
Quote
"No problem, little bit too careful in some places," is Mikkelsen's verdict on that stage.
"Yeah, Mads is putting on the pressure so we need to step it up."
"Yeah, Mads is putting on the pressure so we need to step it up."
Ostberg - 10m02.9s. This could be a stage win for the Citroen man.
And Mikkelsen loses 5s! That's much better for Ostberg...game on!
And Mikkelsen loses 5s! That's much better for Ostberg...game on!
Word from the stage is Prokop - still yet to get going - is attempting to dig his own car out of the snow. Impressive effort.
On the stage now are Ostberg and the two VWs. Ostberg's about a second quicker than Mikkelsen at the moment - he'll need a bigger gain than that to nick second.
Let's fill in some gaps. Tidemand came through in 10m16.9s - just 0.1s slower than Solberg. Meeke slots into second, completing the stage in 10m15.5s.
Tanak (10m24.4s) and Hirvonen (10m19.9s) are the next guys through. That battles has quietened right down.
Tanak (10m24.4s) and Hirvonen (10m19.9s) are the next guys through. That battles has quietened right down.
This is a brilliant find from David Evans: Mads Ostberg's "smile generator" in his car.
It isn't to remind Mads of his favourite fruit.
"It's to make me smile," said the Norwegian.
"Apparently, when the French want you to smile, they say "Bananas"..."
Hirvonen and Ostberg join the fun, as Tidemand and Meeke finish their runs.
And here is Henning, arguably the most excitable man in the WRC paddock.
He's dropped 7.2s to Ogier! Just 20.4s between them now. Fascinating.
He's dropped 7.2s to Ogier! Just 20.4s between them now. Fascinating.
Solberg - 27s ahead of Ogier - is nearing the stage end. Tidemand, Meeke and Tanak are on the stage now as well.
Elfyn Evans' latest run is solid. He's just 10.7s slower than Ogier. Not bad at all.
It's 10m09.6s for Ogier. Solberg was quicker at the first split but has since lost time...
Ogier says he lost a bit of time negotiating Prokop. But he's not ruling out overhauling Solberg before the rally's end.
Knowing his time would help us make a decision either way...
Knowing his time would help us make a decision either way...
Stuck in a snow bank was Prokop, and there's no immediate suggestion he'll get back going properly.
Meanwhile, Breen has crossed the finish line - he's 30s quicker than Solowow. And Ogier's in too...
Meanwhile, Breen has crossed the finish line - he's 30s quicker than Solowow. And Ogier's in too...
Breen and Evans sandwich Ogier on the stage.
We're not sure what Prokop's problem is, but we know his engine is still running - and that he's trying to get back going.
Ogier was coming up behind him, and hopefully there's no delay there. Ogier's already at a disadvantage in trying to clinch sixth place following the canning of SS21.
Ogier was coming up behind him, and hopefully there's no delay there. Ogier's already at a disadvantage in trying to clinch sixth place following the canning of SS21.
Prokop has stopped on the stage.
It's an 11m17.7s for Kubica. 10m59.4s for Solowow.
To Kubica's credit, he's ploughed on despite spending most of the rally...ploughing off the road.
The latest shunt on SS20 did a fair bit of damage, as we discovered.
Here's a nice shot from the inside of his car, looking out through the battered windscreen.
Ready to receive the first car - which is, of course, Robert Kubica. It's a very steady time. We know that because Solowow and Prokop are much, much quicker on the stage.
As Kubica finishes his run, here's VW team boss Jost Capito and team communications ace Stefan Moser waving the rally leader away.
Right then. Here we go. Latvala, can he do it? Mikkelsen, can he hold off Ostberg?
Those are the two big questions. Place your bets and enjoy. SS22 is underway.
Those are the two big questions. Place your bets and enjoy. SS22 is underway.
Just for you, here's a reminder of the top 10 heading into the final three stages:
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Mikkelsen (VW) +42.7s
3 Ostberg (Citroen) +59.3s
4 Hirvonen (M-Sport Ford) +1m54.2s
5 Tanak (M-Sport Ford) +2m16.8s
6 Solberg (Solberg Ford) +3m56.5s
7 Ogier (VW) +4m24.1s
8 Tidemand (M-Sport Ford) +4m52.5s
9 Evans (M-Sport Ford) +5m47.2s
10 Breen (KelTech Ford) +7m43.9s
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Mikkelsen (VW) +42.7s
3 Ostberg (Citroen) +59.3s
4 Hirvonen (M-Sport Ford) +1m54.2s
5 Tanak (M-Sport Ford) +2m16.8s
6 Solberg (Solberg Ford) +3m56.5s
7 Ogier (VW) +4m24.1s
8 Tidemand (M-Sport Ford) +4m52.5s
9 Evans (M-Sport Ford) +5m47.2s
10 Breen (KelTech Ford) +7m43.9s
We're very hopeful of having some proper cars-on-snow news to in just a matter of minutes.
So if you've stuck with us through this lull - and an abundance of behind-the-scenes pictures - we thank you, and hope you're rewarded with a stonking Rally Sweden conclusion.
So if you've stuck with us through this lull - and an abundance of behind-the-scenes pictures - we thank you, and hope you're rewarded with a stonking Rally Sweden conclusion.
Remember that pic of the M-Sport set-up in the service park? Here's a look at the "business end" of Hyundai's area, courtesy of David Evans.
Speaking of service, Volkwsagen mechanics were hoovering their side of the park this morning...while AUTOSPORT tucked into some VW scrambled eggs and bacon.
And should you want more detail about all that, then you'll appreciate another little plug for our morning report, which is right here.
Breaking news
Right, we're getting ever closer to the conclusion of what has been a very entertaining Rally Sweden.
If you missed it, here are the main talking points from this morning's quartet of stages:
* Latvala boosts his lead to 40+ seconds as Mikkelsen hits trouble
* Ostberg closes in on second VW in fight for second
* Ogier up to seventh as Meeke crashes out
* Kubica shunts again on the final stage of the AM loop
* SS21 cancelled after SS20 start delay
If you missed it, here are the main talking points from this morning's quartet of stages:
* Latvala boosts his lead to 40+ seconds as Mikkelsen hits trouble
* Ostberg closes in on second VW in fight for second
* Ogier up to seventh as Meeke crashes out
* Kubica shunts again on the final stage of the AM loop
* SS21 cancelled after SS20 start delay
But now, explaining that Solberg country comment.
That picture is from Thursday, when AUTOSPORT decided to do a bit of country hopping.
David Evans went truly international, heading out of the EU and into Norway before coming back to Sweden.
And, as promised, here's a shot from one country to another.
Glamorous, isn't it?
Breaking news
Oh, and additional info on that SS21 cancellation - the timetable needed to run to schedule before of planned live TV coverage of the final powerstage.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell
Published:
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