Rally Sweden
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DAVID EVANS with info on the VW battle up front:
"Latvala admitted he had worked on the car after every one of this morning’s four stages in an effort to find more confidence in the twisty sections.
"Both he and VW team-mate Mikkelsen have struggled in anything but the super-quick stuff that replicated the test road the German team used ahead of the event."
"Latvala admitted he had worked on the car after every one of this morning’s four stages in an effort to find more confidence in the twisty sections.
"Both he and VW team-mate Mikkelsen have struggled in anything but the super-quick stuff that replicated the test road the German team used ahead of the event."
Stopwatch
Close at the opening splits - Latvala is two tenths faster than Ogier so far.
Rain
Suggestions from WRC Live's Colin Clark at the SS7 stage end that Ogier's windscreen wiper problem isn't fixed for this one. That a) could be costly and b) is likely to make him a bit tetchy.
Just two minutes until the next stage, the 12.9 miles of Finnskogen, and we're going to get a sense on these longer stages of exactly what's going on with the snow/ice/mud/ruts combination.
Here's what a fresh-back-from-regroup DAVID EVANS reckons:
"The broad thinking on this afternoon's repeated stages is that Ogier's advantage is likely to be lessened, especially on Rojden and Finnskogen, where the icy surface will be well and truly gone after the whole field has passed through."
Here's what a fresh-back-from-regroup DAVID EVANS reckons:
"The broad thinking on this afternoon's repeated stages is that Ogier's advantage is likely to be lessened, especially on Rojden and Finnskogen, where the icy surface will be well and truly gone after the whole field has passed through."
Breaking news
SS6 summary:
* Ogier has wiper trouble and can't see, allowing Latvala to hack his lead down to 3.3s
* WRC rookie Protasov takes shock stage win
* Kubica is third quickest and moves up to eighth, on the cusp of being top Ford
* Mikkelsen adds to his advantage over Ostberg in battle for third
* Ogier has wiper trouble and can't see, allowing Latvala to hack his lead down to 3.3s
* WRC rookie Protasov takes shock stage win
* Kubica is third quickest and moves up to eighth, on the cusp of being top Ford
* Mikkelsen adds to his advantage over Ostberg in battle for third
Checkered flag
SS6 results:
Stage times:
1 Protasov 5m34.4s
2 Latvala +2.2s
3 Kubica +3.1s
4 Neuville +3.3s
5 Mikkelsen +4.1s
6 Meeke +5.5s
7 Ostberg +6.3s
8 Ogier + 8.0s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +3.3s
3 Mikkelsen +15.7s
4 Ostberg +20.3s
5 Neuville +32.1s
6 Meeke +51.5s
7 Evans +1m03.1s
8 Kubica +1m04.8s
(13 Protasov +1m42.3s)
Stage times:
1 Protasov 5m34.4s
2 Latvala +2.2s
3 Kubica +3.1s
4 Neuville +3.3s
5 Mikkelsen +4.1s
6 Meeke +5.5s
7 Ostberg +6.3s
8 Ogier + 8.0s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +3.3s
3 Mikkelsen +15.7s
4 Ostberg +20.3s
5 Neuville +32.1s
6 Meeke +51.5s
7 Evans +1m03.1s
8 Kubica +1m04.8s
(13 Protasov +1m42.3s)
Stopwatch
All the World Rally Cars are through, some time has elapsed for corrections and Protasov remains quickest.
So congratulations to the man from Ukraine - he has a WRC stage win. Here's a big picture for a reward:
And with Kubica third, it's a one-three for Pirelli runners too.
Yesterday Latvala speculated that the Pirellis might be the thing to have in the slushy conditions that we've got right now:
"Basically," the Finn told AUTOSPORT, "the Pirelli stud is a little bit bigger than the one we have in the Michelin tyres. Our stud is spikier, but Pirelli's is bigger.
"So, when we have good ice, we are OK and we are getting really good grip. But in the slush, maybe it’s better to have more stud going in and maybe they can be better…”
So congratulations to the man from Ukraine - he has a WRC stage win. Here's a big picture for a reward:
Yuriy Protasov, WRC Sweden 2015
And with Kubica third, it's a one-three for Pirelli runners too.
Yesterday Latvala speculated that the Pirellis might be the thing to have in the slushy conditions that we've got right now:
"Basically," the Finn told AUTOSPORT, "the Pirelli stud is a little bit bigger than the one we have in the Michelin tyres. Our stud is spikier, but Pirelli's is bigger.
"So, when we have good ice, we are OK and we are getting really good grip. But in the slush, maybe it’s better to have more stud going in and maybe they can be better…”
Hyundai's Kiwi Hayden Paddon hasn't got much experience of snow. Hyundai's newcomer Kevin Abbring hasn't got much experience of World Rally Cars (or snow).
They're both playing it safe and learning, and their Kirkenaer times keep them just outside the overall top 10.
They're both playing it safe and learning, and their Kirkenaer times keep them just outside the overall top 10.
Kubica comes through third fastest, or second if Protasov's pace isn't real, and that brings him past fellow Ford driver Tanak into eighth overall. Very promising stuff from Kubica.
In case you missed it earlier this week, the ex-Formula 1 driver wrote a column for us about why nothing will convince him that backing off and driving slowly is the right way to learn the WRC. Instead, he's going to "really stamp down on the learning curve":
Kubica column: Forcing the WRC learning process
In case you missed it earlier this week, the ex-Formula 1 driver wrote a column for us about why nothing will convince him that backing off and driving slowly is the right way to learn the WRC. Instead, he's going to "really stamp down on the learning curve":
Kubica column: Forcing the WRC learning process
Stopwatch
Protasov still fastest it seems... that's quite a turnaround considering the WRC2 graduate was 16s off the pace on the first run at that stage and is only 13th overall, two minutes off the pace.
But fair play to him if that really is his time - a short stage with changeable snow levels is the sort of situation where a random pacesetter is entirely possible.
But fair play to him if that really is his time - a short stage with changeable snow levels is the sort of situation where a random pacesetter is entirely possible.
Stopwatch
According to the timing system, top-class rookie Yuriy Protasov just set the fastest time so far by 2.2s over Latvala.
That's either brilliant, or a glitch.
That's either brilliant, or a glitch.
A decent fourth fastest from Meeke, who is back to learning mode this week with little snow experience under his belt.
His spin in the morning dropped him to sixth, not far ahead of Evans, Tanak and Kubica.
His spin in the morning dropped him to sixth, not far ahead of Evans, Tanak and Kubica.
Evans is slowest so far, but only 1.6s off Ogier and he expected that after sliding wide.
Neuville comes through second fastest so far, 1.1s off Latvala's pace.
The Hyundai went into the afternoon in a bit of no man's land in fifth place, but Neuville took 3s off Ostberg there to get that gap down to 11.8s.
The Hyundai went into the afternoon in a bit of no man's land in fifth place, but Neuville took 3s off Ostberg there to get that gap down to 11.8s.
Mads Ostberg
That's enough to edge Mikkelsen a little further clear of Ostberg, who is 2s slower on the stage.
This isn't quite what Ostberg had planned for today. He won last week's Rally Finnskog in Norway, which is a traditional WRC Sweden warm-up, and yesterday was in a bullish mood at the pre-event press conference:
"I feel good enough to do my absolute best and I believe my best is enough to win this rally," he declared.
Long way to go yet, but a podium looks like his best bet so far.
Mikkelsen will be next through in the third VW. He was 19s off Ogier at the end of the morning and only 2.4s ahead of Ostberg in their fight for third.
Mikkelsen is second quickest, 1.9s slower than Latvala, on this stage so far.
"I'm still fighting with the car and I did some small mistakes where I lost some speed, but I'm happy enough," he reports.
Mikkelsen is second quickest, 1.9s slower than Latvala, on this stage so far.
"I'm still fighting with the car and I did some small mistakes where I lost some speed, but I'm happy enough," he reports.
Stopwatch
Latvala is 5.8s quicker than Ogier, he slashes his team-mate's lead to just 3.3s. Right, we have a battle!
"It was slippery but completely different than the first time - a lot more difficult to drive," says Latvala.
"There's been soft snow and it was like snowplaning a little bit, the snow is lifting the tyres from the ice and some of the braking feels very difficult."
"It was slippery but completely different than the first time - a lot more difficult to drive," says Latvala.
"There's been soft snow and it was like snowplaning a little bit, the snow is lifting the tyres from the ice and some of the braking feels very difficult."
Quote
Ogier's in with a time of 5m42.4s - that's 16s slower than on the first run at the stage and it seems he was driving blind:
"The wipers were blocked in the middle - I couldn't see anything and I had to slow down."
Bit of a chance for Latvala here?
"The wipers were blocked in the middle - I couldn't see anything and I had to slow down."
Bit of a chance for Latvala here?
Lights out
Ogier heads onto SS6 and gets the second loop under way. Let's see if Latvala can settle things down and attack his team-mate properly this afternoon.
This morning the stages on the WRC's snow rally were running annoyingly short of snow. There's been a national rally field on those roads while the world championship crews were at regroup, so road conditions might not be much fun this afternoon.
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for the Friday afternoon leg of Rally Sweden.
The crews have had a quick regroup (no service today) and are about to crack into another run at this morning's stages - but in an endearing quirk for Rally Sweden, they do them in the reverse of the earlier order rather than an identical repeat.
So it's the 4.8 miles of Kirkenaer in 10 minutes, then Finnskogen, Rojden and Torsby, as we work our way back through Norway to Sweden ready for tonight's Karlstad superspecial.
The crews have had a quick regroup (no service today) and are about to crack into another run at this morning's stages - but in an endearing quirk for Rally Sweden, they do them in the reverse of the earlier order rather than an identical repeat.
So it's the 4.8 miles of Kirkenaer in 10 minutes, then Finnskogen, Rojden and Torsby, as we work our way back through Norway to Sweden ready for tonight's Karlstad superspecial.
Ogier
That concludes this morning's Rally Sweden coverage - our comprehensive report of the opening loop is ready for your viewing pleasure:
Ogier holds early edge over Latvala
Our coverage resumes at around 12.15 UK time, so join us then to see whether Latvala can halt the Ogier steamroller.
In fact, the crews won't be arriving back at service until the conclusion of the day's running, after a second crack at the Karlstad superspecial.
With the World Rally car contingent free of Swedes this year, the locals will certainly be hoping that Tidemand can repeat his heroics of last night.
With the World Rally car contingent free of Swedes this year, the locals will certainly be hoping that Tidemand can repeat his heroics of last night.
The drivers will now regroup, although unable to service their cars, before tackling this afternoon's loop of stages.
The first of those, a second run through the short and fast Kirkenaer test, kicks off in about an hour's time.
The first of those, a second run through the short and fast Kirkenaer test, kicks off in about an hour's time.
The WRC-2 runners have made their way through SS5 now, and once again it's Ketomaa setting the pace.
The Finn took class honours by 1.3s from Gorban, extending his advantage overall over Tidemand to 15.6s.
Brynildsen remains third overall, 11.7s behind Tidemand, with Ahlin hanging on to fourth place from Gorban.
The Finn took class honours by 1.3s from Gorban, extending his advantage overall over Tidemand to 15.6s.
Brynildsen remains third overall, 11.7s behind Tidemand, with Ahlin hanging on to fourth place from Gorban.
As promised, here's a quick WRC-2 update:
Ketomaa was quickest again on SS4, extending his class lead over Tidemand to 13.5s. Brynildsen is a further 5.7s back in third, with Fredrik Ahlin and Valeriy Gorban rounding off the top five after Grondal's shunt on SS3.
Ketomaa was quickest again on SS4, extending his class lead over Tidemand to 13.5s. Brynildsen is a further 5.7s back in third, with Fredrik Ahlin and Valeriy Gorban rounding off the top five after Grondal's shunt on SS3.
Here are the leading results from SS5, as Ogier restores his advantage up front:
1) Ogier 5m26.7s
2) Latvala +2.9s
3) Ostberg +4.9s
4) Mikkelsen +6.2s
5) Neuville +9.2s
6) Meeke/Kubica +11.8s
8) Evans +11.9s
And here's how the overall leaderboard shapes up, with no movers in the top eight this time:
1) Ogier 36m40.6s
2) Latvala +9.1s
3) Mikkelsen +19.6s
4) Ostberg +22.0s
5) Neuville +36.8s
6) Meeke +54.0s
7) Evans +1m01.5s
8) Tanak +1m09.7s
1) Ogier 5m26.7s
2) Latvala +2.9s
3) Ostberg +4.9s
4) Mikkelsen +6.2s
5) Neuville +9.2s
6) Meeke/Kubica +11.8s
8) Evans +11.9s
And here's how the overall leaderboard shapes up, with no movers in the top eight this time:
1) Ogier 36m40.6s
2) Latvala +9.1s
3) Mikkelsen +19.6s
4) Ostberg +22.0s
5) Neuville +36.8s
6) Meeke +54.0s
7) Evans +1m01.5s
8) Tanak +1m09.7s
Quote
Paddon completes the stage a whole 20.3s off the pace, and the New Zealander is clearly not happy with his morning.
"Really struggling with the car, I've got no feeling with it. It's oversteering a lot on the exits," confesses Paddon.
Abbring meanwhile has slightly more to cheer about, slotting into 10th place with a time 5.1s quicker than Paddon, and 15.2s down on Ogier.
"Really struggling with the car, I've got no feeling with it. It's oversteering a lot on the exits," confesses Paddon.
Abbring meanwhile has slightly more to cheer about, slotting into 10th place with a time 5.1s quicker than Paddon, and 15.2s down on Ogier.
Kubica goes equal sixth quickest along with Meeke, 11.8s off the pace. Just the Hyundais of Paddon and Abbring to come among the factory boys.
Tanak makes it through the stage, 12.9s off the pace and exactly a second slower than Evans.
Protasov sits ninth, dropping 16.7s, while Solberg loses a shade under 20 seconds as the slowest car through so far.
Protasov sits ninth, dropping 16.7s, while Solberg loses a shade under 20 seconds as the slowest car through so far.
Meeke is convinced the earlier runners have a big advantage on this stage. The Citroen driver is sixth quickest so far, 11.8s off the pace.
Prokop, meanwhile, loses another 17.5s and is the slowest car through so far.
Prokop, meanwhile, loses another 17.5s and is the slowest car through so far.
Quote
Evans gives away a further 11.9s to Ogier, still building experience on a very unfamiliar surface.
"We haven't found that sweet spot yet. The car feels pretty good, it's all my driving," says the candid Welshman.
"We haven't found that sweet spot yet. The car feels pretty good, it's all my driving," says the candid Welshman.
A slightly frustrated Neuville, now comfortable in fifth overall after Meeke's error on the last stage, drops 9.2s to rally leader Ogier.
Here comes Ostberg, who gains 1.3s on Mikkelsen in the battle for the final podium spot. The pair are now split by just 2.4s.
That means Ogier will take a lead of 9.1s over Latvala into the afternoon stages. Meanwhile, Mikkelsen arrives at the flying finish, a whole 6.2s slower than Ogier.
Quote
Latvala's undone all that hard work from SS4 - he's lost 2.9s to Ogier on that stage.
"The stage before this one was good, but I've been too careful," rues the Finn.
"The stage before this one was good, but I've been too careful," rues the Finn.
Ogier completes the stage, admitting he had trouble getting his Polo R WRC into gear at the start. His time is a 5m26.7s.
Twitter
An explanation from Paddon as to his time loss on the previous stage: "Some small damage from snow bank. Spin in last stage and lacking confidence in car."
All three factory Volkswagen drivers are in the stage, with Ogier just about to reach the flying finish.
SS5 is the shortest of the loop, at just 7.1km, and is already underway. We'll bring you an update on WRC-2 proceedings when the dust (or snow) has settled on the morning's running for the World Rally cars.
By: Jamie Klein, AUTOSPORT staff
Published:
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