Rally Sweden 2014
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Before that picture - a WRC2 update with 30 minutes remaining before the afternoon loop kicks off. It's as you were, with Al-Rajhi, Ketomaa and Kruuda the top three.
The previous stage winner was home rally hero Fredrik Ahlin.
The previous stage winner was home rally hero Fredrik Ahlin.
Since we are, apparently, discussing bizarre ways in which to have a crack at Rally Sweden...this would probably be a bit of fun.
You do get some brilliant finds when you're travelling towards Solberg country, and this Volvo (complete with a roll cage) is right up there for us.
Another favourite of AUTOSPORT was a Lancia with a worrying amount of rust on the boot.
Oh, and if you're thinking "Solberg country? Come on AUTOSPORT, he's Norwegian" - then we can explain that with another picture...
This is the zero car, in case you were wondering.
Would you feel brave tackling Rally Sweden (in the most innocuous way admittedly) in one of those?
We can't help but feel that being the first to drive those roads would be a heart-stopper, even for Waldergaard or Eklund. Conditions have been a massive, massive talking point in Sweden.
After Jean Ragnotti and Giles Panizzi drove the road-inspecting zero cars in Monte Carlo, Sweden has matched round one for fever, wheeling out the first world champion Bjorn Waldergaard and Per Eklund.
Who's coming for Mexico?
Who's coming for Mexico?
One of the best things about Race Centre Live is the ability to share some paddock insight.
So with that in mind, here's an idea the M-Sport set-up looks like in the Rally Sweden service area.
Apparently, David Evans - delighted at his fancy use of a panoramic iPhone shot - is easily impressed by a high number of blue easy-up awnings.
So with that in mind, here's an idea the M-Sport set-up looks like in the Rally Sweden service area.
Apparently, David Evans - delighted at his fancy use of a panoramic iPhone shot - is easily impressed by a high number of blue easy-up awnings.
Breaking news
So, with under an hour until we get back underway, these are the main talking points as Rally Sweden reaches its conclusion:
* Will Latvala continue his stunning morning form to clinch his second Volkswagen win - 12 months after Ogier earned the Polo WRC its first win?
* Can Mikkelsen fend off the charging Ostberg, or at least claim a maiden WRC podium?
* Does Ogier have time to leapfrog Henning Solberg for sixth in the remaining three stages?
* Will Latvala continue his stunning morning form to clinch his second Volkswagen win - 12 months after Ogier earned the Polo WRC its first win?
* Can Mikkelsen fend off the charging Ostberg, or at least claim a maiden WRC podium?
* Does Ogier have time to leapfrog Henning Solberg for sixth in the remaining three stages?
Worth reminding you of the timetable for this afternoon - with SS22, 23 and 24 all set to run at the same time as previously stated after the cancellation of SS21.
SS22 Torntorp (19.26km) - 12:02
SS23 Vargasen (24.63km) - 12:36
SS24 Varmullsasen (15.87km) - 14:13
All times GMT
SS22 Torntorp (19.26km) - 12:02
SS23 Vargasen (24.63km) - 12:36
SS24 Varmullsasen (15.87km) - 14:13
All times GMT
Breaking news
Just joining us? Then you'll need a recap.
Fortunately, we've got just the thing.
First of all, here's our report from Saturday morning:
Latvala extends lead as Mikkelsen slips back
That means we'll have just over an hour before the afternoon loop - and the conclusion to Rally Sweden. Stick with us, we've got plenty to share!
Breaking news
Big news in the fight for second - not to mention Ogier's bid to overhaul Solberg for sixth - there will be NO SS21.
The delay starting SS20 is to blame. The remaining stages will run to schedule.
The delay starting SS20 is to blame. The remaining stages will run to schedule.
Checkered flag
Overall leaderboard:
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
Leading SS20 times:
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Ostberg (Citroen) +4.2s
3 Mikkelsen (VW) +5.8s
4 Ogier (VW) +8.9s
5 Neuville (Hyundai) +8.9s
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
Leading SS20 times:
1 Latvala (VW)
2 Ostberg (Citroen) +4.2s
3 Mikkelsen (VW) +5.8s
4 Ogier (VW) +8.9s
5 Neuville (Hyundai) +8.9s
...and Neuville pushes him down to eighth, slotting into fifth himself.
Now the Hyundais bring SS20 to an end (for the WRC runners). Hanninen is seventh quickest...
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A happy Jari-Matti Latvala can often be a rarity, but in 8m47.2s he's delighted at how his rally his going.
"The car is going really, really well. I'm really enjoying driving the car."
"The car is going really, really well. I'm really enjoying driving the car."
Mikkelsen loses 1.6s to Ostberg (who completed it in 8m51.4s) on that run.
Ostberg goes quickest of anyone on SS20, and for those keen on whether he can catch Mikkelsen for second...the VW man is slower through the splits.
Correction, Tanak is quicker than Hirvonen. 2.2s quicker in fact.
Meeke is in, and is second quickest, 8.7s behind Ogier. Then Hirvonen finishes and extends his gap over Tanak even further.
Tidemand finishes his run in 9m13.1s, third quickest so far. Meeke, Tanak and Hirvonen are on the stage now.
That's big for Ogier. Solberg ends up 12.9s slower, which means there's about 26s between them. Exciting stuff as the champion homes in on sixth.
Solberg shaded Ogier at the first split but lost 8s at the halfway stage.
"I had a spin 5km into the stage. Oy, oy, oy!"
"I had a spin 5km into the stage. Oy, oy, oy!"
Ogier's time of 8m56.1s was almost 20s quicker than Breen.
Now Evans come through, and again does so without drama. More good work from the M-Sport Ford youngster, who slots into second.
Now Evans come through, and again does so without drama. More good work from the M-Sport Ford youngster, who slots into second.
Breen pipped Prokop's time by 0.1s, and next through is Ogier who makes his point very clear: "Our target is sixth place."
The champion, considerably quicker than Breen, reckons there's nothing to lose as he chases Henning Solberg.
The champion, considerably quicker than Breen, reckons there's nothing to lose as he chases Henning Solberg.
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Craig Breen comes in. He's not moaning about that being particularly difficult.
"I found that better than the other stages really," is his view.
"I found that better than the other stages really," is his view.
Kubica dropped three and a half minutes in that latest crash.
Some times. Prokop is next (and fastest) through in 9m15.9s. Al-Qassimi is some way back (30-odd seconds) but 2.7s quicker than Solowow.
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Al-Qassimi finishes the stage and points to the conditions yet again: "It was very difficult. You cannot keep the car in a proper straight line."
Kubica reckons a pace note error caused that latest crash, but thinks that windscreen and aesthetics aside, the car is OK.
No concerns for Solowow in negotiating Kubica's stricken car. Solowow is the first to finish SS20 and as Kubica follows not far behind, the damage on the front of the car is evident.
Big wobble for Ogier, who is on the stage now. He survives, but that heart in mouth!
A driver's rally is never finished if the spectators have anything to do with it!
The latest on Kubica is that with the help of the fans, his car's back on the road and he's back on the move.
He's had more than his fair share of outside assistance this week!
The latest on Kubica is that with the help of the fans, his car's back on the road and he's back on the move.
He's had more than his fair share of outside assistance this week!
Rally Sweden isn't the same without snow.
The drivers certainly like it less when the water's less frozen, and AUTOSPORT's David Evans - a man who usually loves mud - is similarly underwhelmed by the impact it's had:
"There's nothing glorious about this mud... This is the route the rally cars are taking from the in control into the service park.
"Take away the snow and it could be a seen from a very (very, very) wet Safari!"
Solowow passes the stricken Ford and it would seem that Kubica's rally is done.
Looks like that pre-stage update on the conditions was a bad omen for Kubica...
Kubica has tagged a bank with the rear, and it looks like the resulting spin ends with him crunching into a tree.
Crash
Reports that Kubica's off!
As Kubica finally gets SS20 underway, here's a look at how the rest of the day will shake out (all times GMT).
SS21 Hara (11.32km) - 11:24
SS22 Torntorp (19.26km) - 12:02
SS23 Vargasen (24.63km) - 12:36
SS24 Varmullsasen (15.87km) - 14:13
SS21 Hara (11.32km) - 11:24
SS22 Torntorp (19.26km) - 12:02
SS23 Vargasen (24.63km) - 12:36
SS24 Varmullsasen (15.87km) - 14:13
Rain
However, on a more serious note - those tricky conditions drivers have been complaining about this morning.
The temperature here is 2.5 degrees and the snow has been melting quickly all morning.
The sheer volume of snow overnight has meant an awful lot of water as it has melted on the stages today.
The temperature here is 2.5 degrees and the snow has been melting quickly all morning.
The sheer volume of snow overnight has meant an awful lot of water as it has melted on the stages today.
For those wondering about WRC2 frontrunner Karl Kruuda's livery, the Estonian's primary sponsor ME3 is a dairy firm producing probiotic drinks - hence the crazy cows on the side of the car.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Scott Mitchell
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