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So, assuming Tidemand doesn't shock us all again, we can bring you the results from SS2:
1) Ogier 8m36.6s
2) Latvala +2.7s
3) Meeke +7.0s
4) Ostberg +8.0s
5) Mikkelsen +8.6s
6) Neuville +9.4s
7) Kubica +13.3s
8) Paddon +14.8s
And the overall standings:
1) Ogier 10m09.8s
2) Latvala +2.0s
3) Ostberg +7.2s
4) Mikkelsen +8.2s
5) Meeke +8.5s
6) Neuville +8.9s
7) Kubica +14.2s
8) Paddon +17.0s
1) Ogier 8m36.6s
2) Latvala +2.7s
3) Meeke +7.0s
4) Ostberg +8.0s
5) Mikkelsen +8.6s
6) Neuville +9.4s
7) Kubica +13.3s
8) Paddon +14.8s
And the overall standings:
1) Ogier 10m09.8s
2) Latvala +2.0s
3) Ostberg +7.2s
4) Mikkelsen +8.2s
5) Meeke +8.5s
6) Neuville +8.9s
7) Kubica +14.2s
8) Paddon +17.0s
It sounds like Abbring hit a snowbank in what he described as the "Mickey Mouse" section at the end of the stage - his error induced by a fogged-up windscreen.
A shame, since the Hyundai driver was going well until that point. His time loss is 1m44.4s.
A shame, since the Hyundai driver was going well until that point. His time loss is 1m44.4s.
Paddon completes the stage 14.8s off the pace, while Abbring - making his factory bow in the WRC, deputising for the injured Dani Sordo - is nine tenths quicker than the Kiwi at the second split.
But it appears the Dutchman has suffered an off - we'll bring you more when we hear what's happened.
But it appears the Dutchman has suffered an off - we'll bring you more when we hear what's happened.
Kubica arrives at the finish with light front-right damage to his Fiesta - plenty of drivers taking liberties with the snow banks this morning, it seems.
The Pole drops 13.3s on that one, slotting him into seventh for the stage.
The Pole drops 13.3s on that one, slotting him into seventh for the stage.
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Despite that mishap, if you’re looking for a dark horse on this week’s Rally Sweden, Tanak could be your man, reckons DAVID EVANS. Starting 10th on the road, M-Sport’s Estonian star is reckoned to be ideally placed for today’s snowy Norwegian stages.
“Some stages were really nice during the recce and it can be good to go at the front of the field in some as well,” said Tanak.
“The conditions are changing all of the time. Anyway, whatever the conditions, we have to go flat out from the start – you can’t sleep too long on this event; if you get a big gap, it’s really hard to make it back.”
Asked what was more important to him this week, showing his speed or being at the finish, he replied: “To be at the finish having shown my speed!”
“Some stages were really nice during the recce and it can be good to go at the front of the field in some as well,” said Tanak.
“The conditions are changing all of the time. Anyway, whatever the conditions, we have to go flat out from the start – you can’t sleep too long on this event; if you get a big gap, it’s really hard to make it back.”
Asked what was more important to him this week, showing his speed or being at the finish, he replied: “To be at the finish having shown my speed!”
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Tanak was only 2.9s down on Ogier at the first split, but he arrives at the flying finish having lost 18.1s with signs of damage to his M-Sport Fiesta.
"There was a really bad mistake in the notes, so I went in too fast," explains the Estonian.
"There was a really bad mistake in the notes, so I went in too fast," explains the Estonian.
Here's how the stage times are shaping up so far:
1) Ogier 8m36.6s
2) Latvala +2.7s
3) Meeke +7.0s
4) Ostberg +8.0s
5) Mikkelsen +8.6s
6) Neuville +9.4s
1) Ogier 8m36.6s
2) Latvala +2.7s
3) Meeke +7.0s
4) Ostberg +8.0s
5) Mikkelsen +8.6s
6) Neuville +9.4s
Here's Meeke, and he slots into third for the stage, dropping seven seconds, with some light damage to the right side of his Citroen DS3 WRC.
Next up we have Henning Solberg, Yuri Protasov, Ott Tanak, Lorenzo Bertelli, Robert Kubica, and the Hyundais of Hayden Paddon and Kevin Abbring.
Next up we have Henning Solberg, Yuri Protasov, Ott Tanak, Lorenzo Bertelli, Robert Kubica, and the Hyundais of Hayden Paddon and Kevin Abbring.
M-Sport Ford driver Evans struggled for pace last night, and things haven't got much better for the Welshman on this stage - lacking confidence, he drops 15 seconds to Ogier.
Meeke meanwhile gets through the opening split just half a second down on Ogier, so it would appear the Ulsterman is much more comfortable in these icy conditions.
Meeke meanwhile gets through the opening split just half a second down on Ogier, so it would appear the Ulsterman is much more comfortable in these icy conditions.
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Like his compatriot Mikkelsen, Ostberg loses a chunk of time towards the end of the stage, going third fastest, 8.0s off the pace, while Neuville in the Hyundai is 9.4s slower than pacesetter Ogier.
"It's a big advantage to be first on the road in this weather," shrugs Ostberg.
"It's a big advantage to be first on the road in this weather," shrugs Ostberg.
Mikkelsen reaches the flying finish, but he's lost 8.6s despite his slender advantage at the first split - he explains that he hit a hay bale, causing superficial damage to his VW Polo R.
Meanwhile, Ostberg is 3.4s down at the second split, while Neuville is a second down at the opening split.
Meanwhile, Ostberg is 3.4s down at the second split, while Neuville is a second down at the opening split.
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Ogier is through, setting a benchmark time of 8m36.6s, but Latvala loses 2.7s to his adversary in the final third of the stage.
"I'm struggling in the slow areas and the junctions - I'm struggling to find the braking point," explains the Finn. "Where it's fast I'm fine, but overall not an easy start. I know I need to improve in the tight sections."
"I'm struggling in the slow areas and the junctions - I'm struggling to find the braking point," explains the Finn. "Where it's fast I'm fine, but overall not an easy start. I know I need to improve in the tight sections."
The Norwegian duo of Mikkelsen and Ostberg are into the stage too now, and the next stage will see the pair enter home turf.
Mikkelsen is quicker than his VW team-mates at the first split to the tune of 0.3s, while Latvala is once again matching Ogier at the second split.
Mikkelsen is quicker than his VW team-mates at the first split to the tune of 0.3s, while Latvala is once again matching Ogier at the second split.
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Latvala's in the stage as well now, and at 4.5km in, he's level pegging with Ogier.
Last year’s Rally Sweden winner told DAVID EVANS that he has tweaked his 2015 strategy for round two – he will be gunning for victory in Karlstad, unlike round one in Monte Carlo.
“In Monte I was driving a tactical race, I was concentrating on the points not on the big fight for the victory. This rally is different. It’s a high-speed event with gaps a lot closer, which means you can’t start tactically and trying to be safe – or you can be, but you don’t fight for the win. Here I try to win.”
Last year’s Rally Sweden winner told DAVID EVANS that he has tweaked his 2015 strategy for round two – he will be gunning for victory in Karlstad, unlike round one in Monte Carlo.
“In Monte I was driving a tactical race, I was concentrating on the points not on the big fight for the victory. This rally is different. It’s a high-speed event with gaps a lot closer, which means you can’t start tactically and trying to be safe – or you can be, but you don’t fight for the win. Here I try to win.”
Just as Ogier sets the ball rolling for the second day of the rally, here's a quick run-down of the rally positions as they stand heading into SS2:
1) Tidemand 1m32.1s
2) Ostberg +0.3s
3) Latvala +0.4s
4) Neuville +0.6s
5) Mikkelsen +0.7s
6) Tanak +1.0s
7) Ogier +1.1s
8) Kubica +2.0s
1) Tidemand 1m32.1s
2) Ostberg +0.3s
3) Latvala +0.4s
4) Neuville +0.6s
5) Mikkelsen +0.7s
6) Tanak +1.0s
7) Ogier +1.1s
8) Kubica +2.0s
One of the main talking points this weekend so far has been the weather, with warmer conditions and a lack of snowfall a potential threat to proceedings on the calendar's only winter rally. DAVID EVANS has the story:
Warm weather a threat in Sweden
Warm weather a threat in Sweden
Sebastien Ogier, quickest in shakedown but only seventh fastest on the superspecial, will be first onto this morning's stages as the championship leader, having been the winner on last month's Monte Carlo Rally.
He'll be followed by VW team-mates Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen, then Ostberg, Thierry Neuville, Elfyn Evans, Martin Prokop and Kris Meeke.
He'll be followed by VW team-mates Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen, then Ostberg, Thierry Neuville, Elfyn Evans, Martin Prokop and Kris Meeke.
Latvala
The rally kicked off in slightly odd style last night on the Karlstad superspecial, which was topped by WRC-2 runner Pontus Tidemand.
The Swede therefore leads the rally heading into SS2 by three tenths from Mads Ostberg and four tenths from Jari-Matti Latvala (pictured).
Check out our full report of Thursday evening's action here:
Tidemand tops opening superspecial
Good morning and a very warm welcome to AUTOSPORT Live's coverage of Rally Sweden.
We're just over 10 minutes away from the start of this morning's loop of stages, commencing with SS2, the 14.76km Torsby test.
We're just over 10 minutes away from the start of this morning's loop of stages, commencing with SS2, the 14.76km Torsby test.
By: Jamie Klein, AUTOSPORT staff
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