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Ostberg looks good through the third split at the moment, while Sordo could also capitalise on Mikkelsen's slow time to jump the Norwegian on the leaderboard.
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Mikkelsen has damage to his front-end after hitting a tree stump and has completed the stage 19.9s slower than Ogier.
He's OK to continue, but doesn't hold out too much hope for his chances of challenging his team-mate for the victory.
"In the left hand corner I lost the rear, a tree stump was sticking out and I didn't see it and turned the car around.
I think first place is gone so we have to concentrate on second place now."
He's OK to continue, but doesn't hold out too much hope for his chances of challenging his team-mate for the victory.
"In the left hand corner I lost the rear, a tree stump was sticking out and I didn't see it and turned the car around.
I think first place is gone so we have to concentrate on second place now."
We didn't catch all of what Ogier said, but he reckons the second run was a bit more difficult that this morning's.
Stopwatch
Ogier stops the clock with a time of 12m51.9s, which is four seconds slower than his benchmark from earlier this morning.
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Reports of some front-end damage for Mikkelsen, who has continued and has clocked a time through the third split.
Good first split for Mikkelsen, who matches his team-mate's pace. Neuville, with transmission problems of his own, is also up and running on this stage, while Ostberg has started a minute late.
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Stopwatch
Ogier's first split is a 3m17.4s, which is three seconds slower than his run this morning.
David Evans
SS7: Svullrya 15.05 miles
The only completely new stage on the Rally Sweden route. With a good ice base, the drivers will really look forward to this one, with wide, fast roads giving them the chance to play with the cars at full speed.
The only completely new stage on the Rally Sweden route. With a good ice base, the drivers will really look forward to this one, with wide, fast roads giving them the chance to play with the cars at full speed.
Green flag
The afternoon loop is now back underway.
If you weren’t with us for the first running of Svullrya a couple of hours ago, here’s a preview from our man on the ground David Evans:
If you weren’t with us for the first running of Svullrya a couple of hours ago, here’s a preview from our man on the ground David Evans:
We're very close to the start of SS7, but there's a quick chance for a Britwatch (and Ireland, too).
We're pleased to report there have been some pretty good performances from the boys from the British Isles so far today.
Kris Meeke reclaimed third on SS4 after a composed run through Svullrya and leads the chasing pack, while PH Sport team-mate Craig Breen – who is making his bow in factory WRC machinery – holds ninth after an assured morning loop, just behind the experienced Henning Solberg – who we’re delighted to see in action, too.
Elfyn Evans meanwhile is embroiled in an almighty battle for WRC2 honours with Fredrik Ahlin, who heads the Welshman by half-a-second after this morning’s loop. They’ve pulled slightly clear of Pontus Tidemand, while Anders Grondal and Esapekka Lappi remain in contention too.
We're pleased to report there have been some pretty good performances from the boys from the British Isles so far today.
Kris Meeke reclaimed third on SS4 after a composed run through Svullrya and leads the chasing pack, while PH Sport team-mate Craig Breen – who is making his bow in factory WRC machinery – holds ninth after an assured morning loop, just behind the experienced Henning Solberg – who we’re delighted to see in action, too.
Elfyn Evans meanwhile is embroiled in an almighty battle for WRC2 honours with Fredrik Ahlin, who heads the Welshman by half-a-second after this morning’s loop. They’ve pulled slightly clear of Pontus Tidemand, while Anders Grondal and Esapekka Lappi remain in contention too.
The heater will probably come in handy now at least, with temperatures having dropped considerably in the past couple of days to allay fears about the running of the rally.
David Evans
The heated port-a-loo’s are always a bit of a novelty, but so far this year they’re also a bit unnecessary. And, without the super-cold temperatures, they’re also a bit whiffy (without wishing to be too base about such things…).
Before we rejoin the action, here's a brief aside from our man on the ground DAVID EVANS.
After this morning's faux pas (see 08:33), we're sad to report the latest interjection follows on a similar trail...
After this morning's faux pas (see 08:33), we're sad to report the latest interjection follows on a similar trail...
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Ogier may have got off lightly, then, but his Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala didn’t fare quite so well.
The Finn hit trouble on the first stage of the day when he broke the driveshaft at the front of his car, meaning he’s only had power from the rear wheels on the past two stages.
As a result, he’s dropped to 30th overall – but the bad news doesn’t stop there for Latvala, who will have to toil away with the problem for the remainder of the day, with no service between SS4 and SS7.
The Finn hit trouble on the first stage of the day when he broke the driveshaft at the front of his car, meaning he’s only had power from the rear wheels on the past two stages.
As a result, he’s dropped to 30th overall – but the bad news doesn’t stop there for Latvala, who will have to toil away with the problem for the remainder of the day, with no service between SS4 and SS7.
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Ogier’s margin might look comfortable at the front, but his run this morning wasn’t quite as smooth as it seemed.
The first man through Svullrya, Ogier encountered what he at first described as a ‘big water splash’ and went off into a tree just before the third split on the 15-mile stage.
Despite that incident the Frenchman was still quicker than anyone else and extended his lead to the 24.2s advantage he now holds over team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen.
Ogier was able to change a steering link on the road section after the stage – and reported that his car is working as normal – but he admitted he had been caught out by the standing water:
“We had a lot of fun, the grip was amazing and it was very nice,” he said. “But then something like six, seven kilometres from the end of the stage there was like a swimming pool on the road and on the corner the was a lot of water.
“When we arrived in the corner we did not expect it and unfortunately I spun the car and we understeered into a small tree –it bent my steering a little.
“[But] yes, it’s fixed. I had the parts in the car and I’ve changed them now.”
The first man through Svullrya, Ogier encountered what he at first described as a ‘big water splash’ and went off into a tree just before the third split on the 15-mile stage.
Despite that incident the Frenchman was still quicker than anyone else and extended his lead to the 24.2s advantage he now holds over team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen.
Ogier was able to change a steering link on the road section after the stage – and reported that his car is working as normal – but he admitted he had been caught out by the standing water:
“We had a lot of fun, the grip was amazing and it was very nice,” he said. “But then something like six, seven kilometres from the end of the stage there was like a swimming pool on the road and on the corner the was a lot of water.
“When we arrived in the corner we did not expect it and unfortunately I spun the car and we understeered into a small tree –it bent my steering a little.
“[But] yes, it’s fixed. I had the parts in the car and I’ve changed them now.”
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The second running of Svullrya is coming up in about five minutes or so but in case you missed this morning’s coverage, here’s a quick recap of how the land lies at the moment:
*Ogier leads by 24.2s from team-mate Mikkelsen, with Meeke four seconds further back
*Leading duo among a number of drivers to aquaplane on SS4 through standing water
*Latvala breaks driveshaft on opening stage, drops four minutes to leaders
*Neuville suffers similar problem on SS4, drops to 10th
*Blistering SS4 pace from Evans brings him to within 0.5s of WRC2 leader Ahlin
*Ogier leads by 24.2s from team-mate Mikkelsen, with Meeke four seconds further back
*Leading duo among a number of drivers to aquaplane on SS4 through standing water
*Latvala breaks driveshaft on opening stage, drops four minutes to leaders
*Neuville suffers similar problem on SS4, drops to 10th
*Blistering SS4 pace from Evans brings him to within 0.5s of WRC2 leader Ahlin
Hello, we’re back!Three further stages to bring you this afternoon, as we head back down this morning’s loop from Svullrya to Rojden and back to Torsby to complete day one of Rally Sweden.
There's a bit of a break now before SS7 - a re-run of Svullrya - as we head back towards where we started this morning in Torsby.
We're off for a quick breather now, but Race Centre Live will be back in plenty of time ahead of this afternoon's three stages.
Why not pop the kettle on (it's a bit chilly out there) and join us back here at 12:10 GMT.
We're off for a quick breather now, but Race Centre Live will be back in plenty of time ahead of this afternoon's three stages.
Why not pop the kettle on (it's a bit chilly out there) and join us back here at 12:10 GMT.
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Ahlin comes through and he too is slower than Evans, but his time is good enough to retain the WRC2 lead by half a second.
Tidemand is third, with a bit of a gap now back to Grondal and Lappi - who sounded slightly crestfallen after learning of Evans' pace.
There's plenty of time for things to change, Esapekka.
Tidemand is third, with a bit of a gap now back to Grondal and Lappi - who sounded slightly crestfallen after learning of Evans' pace.
There's plenty of time for things to change, Esapekka.
Stopwatch
Even better news for the Brit now, as Tidemand - who had got ahead of him on SS3 - comes home a full 8.9s slower.
Lappi, having finished, the stage, praises Evans' performance.
"Elvyn is driving very well to be honest. I can't do much better," he says.
Lappi, having finished, the stage, praises Evans' performance.
"Elvyn is driving very well to be honest. I can't do much better," he says.
Stopwatch
Indeed, Lappi clocks his stage time now.
He's second fastest of the WRC2 runners through, but almost nine seconds down on Evans.
He's second fastest of the WRC2 runners through, but almost nine seconds down on Evans.
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Foulon has come through and was 5m10.1s down on Ogier there - so the six minutes headstart he had on Lappi should see the latter through any second now.
With the WRC field out of the way for a little while now ahead of this afternoon's loop, we can turn our attention back to WRC2.
Evans is the first of the frontrunners through there, and he's set a pretty competitive pace compared to Lappi and Tidemand, who are close to completing the stage.
Evans is the first of the frontrunners through there, and he's set a pretty competitive pace compared to Lappi and Tidemand, who are close to completing the stage.
Stopwatch
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier2 Mikkelsen +24.2s3 Meeke +28.7s4 Sordo +30.3s5 Ostberg +36.3s6 Tanak +37.6s7 Paddon +45.7s8 Solberg +1m15.4s9 Breen +1m15.7s10 Neuville 1m42.1s
1 Ogier2 Mikkelsen +24.2s3 Meeke +28.7s4 Sordo +30.3s5 Ostberg +36.3s6 Tanak +37.6s7 Paddon +45.7s8 Solberg +1m15.4s9 Breen +1m15.7s10 Neuville 1m42.1s
Checkered flag
SS3 results:
Stage times:
Ogier 12m47.9sMeeke +6.5sOstberg +6.9sSordo +8.1sTanak +10.3sPaddon +10.4s
Stage times:
Ogier 12m47.9sMeeke +6.5sOstberg +6.9sSordo +8.1sTanak +10.3sPaddon +10.4s
Stopwatch
Breen is also through and it's another steady time from the Irishman. He's ninth overall, but has closed to within 0.3s of Solberg after making up a second on the Norwegian on that stage.
Reports now that Ogier has joined Mikkelsen on his way to the regroup after his hit on SS4.
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All of the WRC runners are either on or have completed the stage now, with Al Qassimi the latest man through, while the first four WRC2 runners - Evans through to Foulon - are also onto SS4.
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Paddon is next through, and loses 10.4s to the leader - but it's enough to move him into seventh overall.
The Kiwi echoes Meeke's sentiments that those who are first on the road have the best of the conditions at the moment.
The Kiwi echoes Meeke's sentiments that those who are first on the road have the best of the conditions at the moment.
Stopwatch
Latvala was home just ahead of the Brit, but he lost another 1m47s with his driveshaft problem.
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"Not too bad," says Meeke of his effort. "The rhythm on the stage before wasn't perfect.
"Seb has an advantage when there's ice; every time you come out of these corners you can see lines that you can't use.
"I'm here to get experience of the snow."
"Seb has an advantage when there's ice; every time you come out of these corners you can see lines that you can't use.
"I'm here to get experience of the snow."
Stopwatch
A bit of encouragement for Meeke, who goes back to third quickest overall with the second quickest time on this stage.
Here's a shot of Ogier's damage from those at the end of the stage.
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Tanak, the latest man through, says the patches of water that are catching everyone out were there on the recce.
Sordo is through, and he takes third overall from his team-mate Neuville with a time 8.1s slower than Ogier.
The Spaniard encountered some problems too with aquaplaning, but said he'd enjoyed the rest of Svullrya.
The Spaniard encountered some problems too with aquaplaning, but said he'd enjoyed the rest of Svullrya.
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Ostberg behind has fared much better, though. The M-Sport driver is through and 'only' 6.9s down, and faced similar problems to those ahead of him - but says he was assisted by their lines:
"Oh yes, I think it 's impossible to go through without some problems. There are some crazy conditions. It was unexpected, I could see the lines from the cars ahead going everywhere. That helped us in a few places."
"Oh yes, I think it 's impossible to go through without some problems. There are some crazy conditions. It was unexpected, I could see the lines from the cars ahead going everywhere. That helped us in a few places."
By: Matt Beer
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