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SS15 summary:
* Ogier struggles with being first on the road and falls 12.6s behind leader Mikkelsen
* Flying Neuville wins the stage, takes second from Ogier and closes to within 8.7s of Mikkelsen
* Meeke and Evans third and fourth quickest as their comebacks continue
* Ogier struggles with being first on the road and falls 12.6s behind leader Mikkelsen
* Flying Neuville wins the stage, takes second from Ogier and closes to within 8.7s of Mikkelsen
* Meeke and Evans third and fourth quickest as their comebacks continue
Lovely back-to-back stages today, we're immediately onto the 14 miles of Rammen. That starts in seven minutes.
Checkered flag
SS15 results:
Stage times:
1 Neuville 10m27.6s
2 Mikkelsen +3.7s
3 Meeke +3.8s
4 Evans +4.3s
5 Tanak +5.1s
6 Kubica +6.9s
(13 Ogier +14.6s)
Overall leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Neuville +8.7s
3 Ogier +12.6s
4 Ostberg +59.0s
5 Tanak +1m28.4s
6 Paddon +2m31.7s
Stage times:
1 Neuville 10m27.6s
2 Mikkelsen +3.7s
3 Meeke +3.8s
4 Evans +4.3s
5 Tanak +5.1s
6 Kubica +6.9s
(13 Ogier +14.6s)
Overall leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Neuville +8.7s
3 Ogier +12.6s
4 Ostberg +59.0s
5 Tanak +1m28.4s
6 Paddon +2m31.7s
Abbring completes our WRC field. He's running a solid 11th overall on his debut for Hyundai, which came a bit earlier than planned after Dani Sordo fell off his bicycle.
Paddon is a couple of seconds slower than Prokop, who he's battling for sixth overall. The Hyundai is now only 10s ahead of the Czech privateer's Ford.
Robert Kubica
Kubica slots in sixth quickest on the stage - which has been a pretty regular place for him today. He's 7s off Neuville's pace.
If it hadn't been for that propshaft breaking yesterday, Kubica would basically be where Tanak is right now.
Odd, maybe even slightly dull, day for Tanak. He's not in a battle with anyone at all, he's holding a safe fifth place, he's keeping his pace consistent, and he's down in 11th in the start order so he sort of surprises you when he turns up and reminds you that he's in the overall top five.
Prokop has completed and suggested the conditions are pretty rubbish even for those further down the road, while Solberg is a bit happier having cured the gearshift issue that's interfered with quite a few of his stages.
After matching Neuville on the first split, Protasov drifts away to being 11s down as he reaches the finish.
Drivers don't get split times beamed into their cars anymore, so Protasov doesn't realise quite how good his early pace was until he's told at the stage. His English is still developing but that news prompts plenty of giggles and a lot of "good!"
After matching Neuville on the first split, Protasov drifts away to being 11s down as he reaches the finish.
Drivers don't get split times beamed into their cars anymore, so Protasov doesn't realise quite how good his early pace was until he's told at the stage. His English is still developing but that news prompts plenty of giggles and a lot of "good!"
Just to reiterate, here's what the lead battle looks like now:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Neuville +8.7s
3 Ogier +12.6s
1 Mikkelsen
2 Neuville +8.7s
3 Ogier +12.6s
Now this does suggest that road conditions are getting better and better for those further down the start order, with Meeke now taking third on the stage times, and Protasov setting some very rapid times.
Neuville's still having an outstanding rally, though.
Neuville's still having an outstanding rally, though.
Also flying: Elfyn Evans. The Welshman is third-fastest, only 4s slower than Neuville.
Quote
And as usual, Neuville just made that all sound very routine and like it hadn't been the most thrilling thing he'd done today.
"I pushed very hard, sometimes a bit too much, so at the end I got a bit smoother, had a cleaner run. And the time is good."
Good... Thierry, it's brilliant. And we have a three-way battle for Rally Sweden victory.
"I pushed very hard, sometimes a bit too much, so at the end I got a bit smoother, had a cleaner run. And the time is good."
Good... Thierry, it's brilliant. And we have a three-way battle for Rally Sweden victory.
Stopwatch
Neuville completes the stage 3s faster than Mikkelsen and retakes second from Ogier!
The Hyundai is now 8.7s behind leader Mikkelsen.
The Hyundai is now 8.7s behind leader Mikkelsen.
Neuville started this stage 10.7s behind second-placed Ogier, and at the mid-point split he's 7.7s faster than the world champion.
This is a brilliant, brilliant performance from the Hyundai man, who's not exactly a veteran on snow.
This is a brilliant, brilliant performance from the Hyundai man, who's not exactly a veteran on snow.
Stopwatch
This is a three-way fight - Neuville is on Mikkelsen's pace on the splits and that's going to put the Hyundai right back on Ogier for second place!
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"We pushed very hard," declares Mikkelsen. "I think the conditions are helping me a bit, but I still think it's a good time.
"We just need to keep going and push hard. We have a big job to do."
"We just need to keep going and push hard. We have a big job to do."
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen completes the stage 10.9s quicker than Ogier - the lead is up to 12.6s again!
Quote
Latvala completes the stage 3.8s faster than Ogier's benchmark.
"Very slippery - I think the most slippery stage I've done on this rally so far," says J-ML.
"The line was very narrow and there was a lot of loose snow on the side.
"Very demanding, it will be interesting to see how the boys do behind."
"Very slippery - I think the most slippery stage I've done on this rally so far," says J-ML.
"The line was very narrow and there was a lot of loose snow on the side.
"Very demanding, it will be interesting to see how the boys do behind."
Stopwatch
Sure enough, Mikkelsen is 6s quicker than Ogier at the next split.
Quote
Ogier's in, and on the splits we've got so far he's a couple of seconds down on Mikkelsen - but he fears it's going to get worse than that.
"If I lose 10 seconds, I will not be surprised. It was really, really bad. The lines are completely wrong from the two-wheel-drive [cars that have been through since this morning].
"I couldn't have done better - my rear was never touching any grip. It was so loose.
"I hope on the next one I can have a bit more fun."
"If I lose 10 seconds, I will not be surprised. It was really, really bad. The lines are completely wrong from the two-wheel-drive [cars that have been through since this morning].
"I couldn't have done better - my rear was never touching any grip. It was so loose.
"I hope on the next one I can have a bit more fun."
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is slightly faster than Ogier at the opening splits - which is exactly what he needs to get that 1.7s lead a bit more comfortable.
The Norwegian's advantage over Ogier got as high as 30s after this stage this morning, only to shrink to nothing when Mikkelsen made mistakes on two of the following three stages.
This was the only stage earlier where running first (well, second) on the road was really problematic for Ogier though, so it might be deceptive.
Mikkelsen is third in the start order, separated from Ogier by Latvala, who remains 19th overall.
The Norwegian's advantage over Ogier got as high as 30s after this stage this morning, only to shrink to nothing when Mikkelsen made mistakes on two of the following three stages.
This was the only stage earlier where running first (well, second) on the road was really problematic for Ogier though, so it might be deceptive.
Mikkelsen is third in the start order, separated from Ogier by Latvala, who remains 19th overall.
Lights out
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live - Mikkelsen vs Ogier is beginning again as the Fredriksberg stage kicks off Saturday afternoon's four-stage loop.
And now Ogier is back to his least favourite position of first on the road, thanks to Bertelli putting his Ford off the road on the last stage before service.
But with the whole field having tackled these stages once already today, will the loose snow be cleared already and will road position count for much less? Let's see...
And now Ogier is back to his least favourite position of first on the road, thanks to Bertelli putting his Ford off the road on the last stage before service.
But with the whole field having tackled these stages once already today, will the loose snow be cleared already and will road position count for much less? Let's see...
Man
We'll be back two hours from now for full live coverage of the afternoon loop, which is an exact repeat of the morning route.
Many people will be heading to see the cars in service, or getting some lunch, or they might be doing the same as this bloke DAVID EVANS encountered earlier:
"Spectators in Sweden are a hardy bunch. Essentially, this fella's just lying in a field. Maybe he was, er, tired…"
Wake him up in time for SS15. See you then.
Breaking news
If you want a more detailed recap of everything that's happened this morning, here's what you're looking for:
Rally Sweden Saturday morning report
Rally Sweden Saturday morning report
Breaking news
SS14 summary:
* Mikkelsen spins! And his lead over Ogier comes down from 20.8s to 1.7s.
* Neuville also closes to within 12.4s of lead
* Meeke goes third quickest and passes Protasov for ninth
* Latvala spins into a ditch again but loses under a minute
* Mikkelsen spins! And his lead over Ogier comes down from 20.8s to 1.7s.
* Neuville also closes to within 12.4s of lead
* Meeke goes third quickest and passes Protasov for ninth
* Latvala spins into a ditch again but loses under a minute
Checkered flag
SS14 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 13m34.1s
2 Neuville +0.3s
3 Meeke +3.3s
4 Ostberg +6.3s
5 Tanak +17.1s
6 Mikkelsen +19.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Ogier +1.7s
3 Neuville +12.4s
4 Ostberg +51.2s
5 Tanak +1m27.0s
6 Paddon +2m23.4s
Stage times:
1 Ogier 13m34.1s
2 Neuville +0.3s
3 Meeke +3.3s
4 Ostberg +6.3s
5 Tanak +17.1s
6 Mikkelsen +19.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Ogier +1.7s
3 Neuville +12.4s
4 Ostberg +51.2s
5 Tanak +1m27.0s
6 Paddon +2m23.4s
Quote
Only ninth-quickest for Kubica on this one, not his best of the morning.
He's 18th overall at present, and was coming under a bit of pressure from Latvala earlier so the Finn's spin is handy for him.
"It was OK, nothing spectacular for us," says Kubica. "It's really my first time through this stage because last year it was very bad and very slow.
"Many corners could be flat, but when you are approaching them for the first time, you need experience to know that. This is what we are here for - to learn as much as we can."
He's 18th overall at present, and was coming under a bit of pressure from Latvala earlier so the Finn's spin is handy for him.
"It was OK, nothing spectacular for us," says Kubica. "It's really my first time through this stage because last year it was very bad and very slow.
"Many corners could be flat, but when you are approaching them for the first time, you need experience to know that. This is what we are here for - to learn as much as we can."
Tanak is fifth quickest, 17s off Ogier's pace. He's having a respectable morning - though keeping up with Ostberg in fourth isn't proving doable, he's nearly a minute clear of the pack behind and looking good for a top five result. That's the sort of thing that pleases M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson.
Latest cars in have been Prokop (all smooth for him), Solberg (grappling with gearshift problems) and Protasov (still kicking himself a bit for that spin on the short stage).
Next through will be Tanak and Kubica.
Next through will be Tanak and Kubica.
Meeke comes in third fastest behind Ogier and Neuville, 3s off the pace. The Citroen man has a good shot at getting ahead of Protasov for ninth on this one, and closing in on Evans's eighth too.
Neuville is now just 12.4s behind leader Mikkelsen too, as well as being 38.8s clear of Ostberg.
Evans is safely through the stage, slowest so far. No dramas, he's just not hugely happy with his driving this morning. It'll keep him eighth overall.
Evans is safely through the stage, slowest so far. No dramas, he's just not hugely happy with his driving this morning. It'll keep him eighth overall.
Quote
That time changes Neuville's mood from 'really frustrated' to 'thoughtfully neutral':
"Yeah, this one was quite good. I tried to look for traction off the line, in some places braking was tough on the line, so I could push hard."
"Yeah, this one was quite good. I tried to look for traction off the line, in some places braking was tough on the line, so I could push hard."
Neuville is in, he's only 0.3s slower than Ogier and that means he adds 6s to his cushion over Ostberg - bringing the third-to-fourth gap up to nearly 40s again.
Stopwatch
Next split time from Neuville is in, and he's only nine tenths off Ogier's flying pace - and 2.4s better than Ostberg had managed up to that point.
Good news for Neuville's bid to retain third, and Mikkelsen's mistake is going to bring him a fair chunk closer to first overall too.
Good news for Neuville's bid to retain third, and Mikkelsen's mistake is going to bring him a fair chunk closer to first overall too.
Ostberg completes the stage second fastest, 6s down on Ogier.
But on the splits, Neuville (who was mega over Colin's Crest - mega in terms of looking brilliantly spectacular) was actually a touch faster than the chasing Citroen.
But on the splits, Neuville (who was mega over Colin's Crest - mega in terms of looking brilliantly spectacular) was actually a touch faster than the chasing Citroen.
Quote
"I had a spin and it was so narrow I had to turn around," Mikkelsen explains.
"I was a bit unlucky, I just touched the bank a little bit and it spun me.
"It's going to be tough this afternoon but we will give it everything. I tried to go really fast on this stage, and I made a mistake. OK, we're definitely not giving up."
"I was a bit unlucky, I just touched the bank a little bit and it spun me.
"It's going to be tough this afternoon but we will give it everything. I tried to go really fast on this stage, and I made a mistake. OK, we're definitely not giving up."
Mikkelsen finishes the stage and his lead is down to just 1.8s!
Mikkelsen is 19.6s down on Ogier at the final split and his lead was 20.8s...
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Here's Latvala's description of his incident:
"We spun and got a little bit stuck on a snow bank."
Not quite up to Latvala's usual standards of detailed recounting!
"We spun and got a little bit stuck on a snow bank."
Not quite up to Latvala's usual standards of detailed recounting!
Stopwatch
Ostberg is right on Ogier's pace at the first split as he tries to chase down Neuville for third.
Latvala finishes the stage, and his time loss to Ogier is 48s.
Plenty of snow packed into the front of Latvala's VW from his latest excursion.
Latvala finishes the stage, and his time loss to Ogier is 48s.
Plenty of snow packed into the front of Latvala's VW from his latest excursion.
By: Jamie Klein, AUTOSPORT staff
Published:
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