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WRC - Italy: Mikko Hirvonen is a second slower than Ostberg. With Novikov upside down on SS2, this pair are battling for second now, with the Citroen 4s ahead.
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is fastest so far on SS3, 3s up on Dani Sordo.
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FR3.5 - Moscow: Pons Racing's Zoel Amberg was indeed the cause of the final red flag that curtailed the opening free practice session. However, the Swiss was cheered by sixth fastest time, after a tough start to the season in which he has failed to register a point.
"I was pushing and braked a bit too late," said Amberg. "I went into the gravel, but there was no major damage done. I think the team discorvered some set-up problems after the last race at Spa, so perhaps, finally, we can have a better weekend."
"I was pushing and braked a bit too late," said Amberg. "I went into the gravel, but there was no major damage done. I think the team discorvered some set-up problems after the last race at Spa, so perhaps, finally, we can have a better weekend."
Twitter
WRC - Italy: We've already had Mikko Hirvonen pleading for 'orange juice and a f*** load of coffee' and Mads Ostberg pleading for throat medication this morning.
Now it's lunch that's on the Norwegian's mind as he tweets this picture of Ford chef Mick's remote kitchen at service.
Now it's lunch that's on the Norwegian's mind as he tweets this picture of Ford chef Mick's remote kitchen at service.
PG Andersson
WRC - Italy: PG Andersson is back in World Rally Car action this week, and for another five rounds, in a Ford supplied by Ukraine's Alex Tamrazov, who Andersson has been driver coaching of late.
Andersson's return got off to a tough start though, as he got a puncture on SS1, leaving him without any spares and slightly spooked.
He was back in 14th after SS2, but is fastest of the early SS3 runners right now.
Don't underestimate Andersson when he's up to speed, though. He won the Junior WRC title twice in the 2000s and had some storming underdog drives with Suzuki's shortlived factory WRC programme.
WRC - Italy: AUTOSPORT was about to type out the points permutations of Kubica's WRC2 title chances... but that might be tempting fate after just two stages of a very tough rally, hadn't it?
Let's hold off on that till Sunday.
Let's hold off on that till Sunday.
WRC - Italy: Should also add that Kubica was eighth fastest overall on SS2 in his WRC2 spec car...
WRC - Italy: Robert Kubica is having an outstanding morning in WRC2.
On stage two he added another 23s to his lead over Sepp Wiegand and is now 55s ahead.
Now remember Kubica's Citroen is an RRC and Wiegand's Skoda is an S2000, so that's a slight technical advantage for the Pole.
Their levels of gravel rallying experience aren't too different as German Wiegand grew up as an asphalt ace.
But Wiegand has more overall rallying experience than Kubica and benefits from VW patronage.
On stage two he added another 23s to his lead over Sepp Wiegand and is now 55s ahead.
Now remember Kubica's Citroen is an RRC and Wiegand's Skoda is an S2000, so that's a slight technical advantage for the Pole.
Their levels of gravel rallying experience aren't too different as German Wiegand grew up as an asphalt ace.
But Wiegand has more overall rallying experience than Kubica and benefits from VW patronage.
WRC - Italy: M-Sport confirms that Novikov and co-driver Ilka Minor were unhurt in the crash, which happened just 200 metres into SS2.
WRC - Italy: Straight onto SS3, it commences in four minutes.
Checkered flag
Jari-Matti Latvala
WRC - Italy - SS2 results:
Stage: 1 Latvala; 2 Ogier + 2.2s; 3 Sordo + 8.4s; 4 Ostberg + 9.0s; 5 Neuville + 9.9s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Hirvonen + 14.3s; 3 Ostberg + 19.6s; 4 Sordo + 23.4s; 5 Neuville + 27.8s.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Latvala was quickest on the stage by 2s over VW team-mate Ogier. It won't help him much in the overall standings though after his SS1 puncture.
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WRC - Italy: Jari-Matti Latvala says he nearly hit Novikov's crashed Ford as there was no warning triangle on display.
"I was a bit scared when I saw it. It was a very close call but luckily it was OK."
"I was a bit scared when I saw it. It was a very close call but luckily it was OK."
Crash
WRC - Italy: Reports coming through that Evgeny Novikov might have rolled on SS2. He had been third overall.
Sebastien Ogier now fastest on the stage.
Sebastien Ogier now fastest on the stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Mads Ostberg is now fastest on the stage, 3s up on Sordo. Next through will be Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Ogier.
WRC - Italy: Into the big guns now, and Dani Sordo sets the fastest stage time so far ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen.
Sordo arrives with stage-end reporters laughing about the excursion he just had after the flying finish.
Sordo arrives with stage-end reporters laughing about the excursion he just had after the flying finish.
WRC - Italy: Speaking of Kosciuszko, he's another driver in a different car this weekend.
The Pole had planned a full year in Motorsport Italia's Mini, but after a troubled start to the season in which 10th in Monte Carlo was followed by 14th in Sweden then three straight retirements, his backers had a rethink.
Kosciuszko is now in a customer Ford for a limited programme over the remaining rounds.
And that may well mean the end of the Mini John Cooper Works WRC in the world championship with no sign of Prodrive's example reappearing. A sad end to a programme that showed so much promise early on.
The Pole had planned a full year in Motorsport Italia's Mini, but after a troubled start to the season in which 10th in Monte Carlo was followed by 14th in Sweden then three straight retirements, his backers had a rethink.
Kosciuszko is now in a customer Ford for a limited programme over the remaining rounds.
And that may well mean the end of the Mini John Cooper Works WRC in the world championship with no sign of Prodrive's example reappearing. A sad end to a programme that showed so much promise early on.
WRC - Italy: Minor impact for Elfyn Evans on SS2, bit of damage to a wheel but tyre stays intact. He is second fastest of the cars through so far, 14s behind Michal Kosciuszko.
Big news at Le Mans this morning is that Nissan has launched its 'Garage 56' entry for next year's 24 Hours.
The ZEOD RC, which has been designed by DeltaWing creator Ben Bowlby - Nissan's new head of motorsport innovation - will trial electric technologies with a view to creating an all-electric LMP1 in the future.
No surprise it looks like, erm, a DeltaWing.
WRC - Italy: SS2 is only minutes away in Sardinia.
Sebastien Ogier has taken an early lead ahead of Mikko Hirvonen and Evgeny Novikov, while Jari-Matti Latvala has already lost two minutes with a puncture.
Robert Kubica is blitzing the field in WRC2, already half a minute clear of his nearest rival, VW protege and former Intercontinental Rally Challenge frontrunner Sepp Wiegand.
Sebastien Ogier has taken an early lead ahead of Mikko Hirvonen and Evgeny Novikov, while Jari-Matti Latvala has already lost two minutes with a puncture.
Robert Kubica is blitzing the field in WRC2, already half a minute clear of his nearest rival, VW protege and former Intercontinental Rally Challenge frontrunner Sepp Wiegand.
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FR3.5 - Moscow: Formula 3 racer Will Buller could see the positives after finishing FP1 in 25th on his FR3.5 debut for Zeta Corse.
"I am definitely comfortable in the car, but it's my first race weekend and also my first time in Russia," said Buller, who replaces Carlos Sainz Jr at the Italian team.
"The track has a lot of corners so there's quite a bit to get used to, but I'm sure there's definitely much more [performance] to come."
"I am definitely comfortable in the car, but it's my first race weekend and also my first time in Russia," said Buller, who replaces Carlos Sainz Jr at the Italian team.
"The track has a lot of corners so there's quite a bit to get used to, but I'm sure there's definitely much more [performance] to come."
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FR3.5 - Moscow: Zeta Corse team boss Claudio Corradini told AUTOSPORT his latest signing Will Buller's new tyre run in FP1 was interrupted by the session's late red flag.
"We don't want to put any pressure on Will," said Corradini. "It's important he takes his time. Unfortunately, the red flag meant he wasn't able to get much of a feeling for new tyres. But you have to remember all of the other guys have done four rounds plus all the winter testing, so he did a good job."
"We don't want to put any pressure on Will," said Corradini. "It's important he takes his time. Unfortunately, the red flag meant he wasn't able to get much of a feeling for new tyres. But you have to remember all of the other guys have done four rounds plus all the winter testing, so he did a good job."
Checkered flag
Kevin Magnussen
FR3.5 - Moscow: A strong start for DAMS, as Magnussen and Nato take first and second in the opening FR3.5 practice session. Championship leader Magnussen's time of 1m21.314s was over half a second clear of Eurocup graudate Nato.
Red Bull Junior driver da Costa was third, just 0.007s behind the Frenchman. Championship challenger Stoffel Vandoorne was fourth, from Mikhail Aleshin and Zoel Amberg.
Pons Racing's Amberg was potentially involved in the red flag incident that cut the session short by three minutes.
FR3.5 - Moscow: Confirmation has come through from race control that the session will not be restarted.
Red flag
FR3.5 - Moscow: The session has been stopped. The clock continues to count down with less than three minutes remaining. Kevin Magnussen is fastest on 1m21.314s, ahead of DAMS team-mate Norman Nato and Da Costa.
WRC - Italy: Next stage starts at 10.46 local time, which is 9.46 in the UK and 8.46 GMT.
WRC - Italy: For those just joining us, Acropolis winner Jari-Matti Latvala is already in trouble having lost two minutes with a front puncture on SS1.
He pondered stopping to change it but decided to press on. In the end, the time loss was about the same anyway.
He pondered stopping to change it but decided to press on. In the end, the time loss was about the same anyway.
Bryan Bouffier
WRC - Italy: 2011 Monte Carlo Rally winner Bryan Bouffier stormed through with the fastest WRC3 time on SS1 by 33s, but then pulled up after the stage to attempt frantic repairs to a loose engine mount.
The WRC3 field is again entirely composed of entrants in the Citroen Top Driver one-make series.
Moscow - FR3.5: At the session's half-way stage, Marco Sorensen was fastest on 1m22.316s, just 0.012s ahead of Felix da Costa. Championship leader Magnussen was third ahead of Monaco winner Nico Muller. Eurocup champion Stoffel Vandoorne held fifth from Will Stevens.
Debutant Will Buller was a repectable 19th for Zeta Corse. The FIA European Formula 3 racer was 1.5s off Sorensen's pace.
Debutant Will Buller was a repectable 19th for Zeta Corse. The FIA European Formula 3 racer was 1.5s off Sorensen's pace.
WRC - Italy: Massive traffic congestion in host town Olbia after a huge road accident. With the crews out for six stages and only stopping for remote service rather than returning to base, it shouldn't affect the event.
Moscow - FR3.5: Russian TV's Formula 1 commentator Alexey Popov reported some amusing banter with Fortec’s Oliver Webb in the build up to the race.
After Webb light-heartedly made a reference to some safety concerns in Moscow, Popov said he felt the same whenever he arrived at Heathrow. Popov said Webb subsequently deleted his comment from Twitter, and in a recent tweet on @oliverjameswebb made reference to the "beautiful views" from his Moscow hotel...
After Webb light-heartedly made a reference to some safety concerns in Moscow, Popov said he felt the same whenever he arrived at Heathrow. Popov said Webb subsequently deleted his comment from Twitter, and in a recent tweet on @oliverjameswebb made reference to the "beautiful views" from his Moscow hotel...
Moscow - FR3.5: Sirotkin is the highest placed of the Russians in the standings, and made his FR3.5 debut here last year among his Auto GP and Italian F3 commitments for Euronova Racing.
"In 2012, I didn’t have time to prepare," said Sirotkin, "and when you’re in a rush, it’s very difficult to get good results. So I watched and learned.
"This year, we’ve done things properly. It doesn’t matter where you get your victories… I really hope to get some good results in Moscow more than anywhere else."
The 17-year-old scored his maiden podium for 2013 at Motorland.
"In 2012, I didn’t have time to prepare," said Sirotkin, "and when you’re in a rush, it’s very difficult to get good results. So I watched and learned.
"This year, we’ve done things properly. It doesn’t matter where you get your victories… I really hope to get some good results in Moscow more than anywhere else."
The 17-year-old scored his maiden podium for 2013 at Motorland.
Arthur Pic
Moscow - FR3.5: Arthur Pic is the lap record holder in FR3.5 at Moscow Raceway, and was the race winner here last year. The regular frontrunners will face a determined Russian contingent of former champ Mikhail Aleshin, Nikolay Martsenko, veteran Daniil Move and impressive rookie Sergey Sirotkin.
Green flag
Moscow - FR3.5: The session has restarted with 45 minutes remaining. Da Costa is fastest on 1m22.963s, 0.316s ahead of Magnussen on 1m23.279s. Dutch racer Nigel Melker is third for Tech 1, ahead of 2013 Moscow victor Arthur Pic, Mikhail Aleshin and Marco Sorenson.
WRC - Italy: Robert Kubica makes a superb start to his latest WRC2 event. After SS1 he's 31s clear of nearest rival Sepp Wiegand.
Red flag
Moscow - FR3.5. A red flag has interrupted the session after 10 minutes. AV Formula's Yann Cunha is the likely culprit as the remaining competitors have returned to the pits.
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Antonio Felix da Costa
FR3.5 - Moscow: "We obviously had a difficult time in some of the opening rounds, but the last event in Spa was very important in terms of improved pace and consistency," said da Costa. "Also [in terms of] not making mistakes, we did better and had another podium.
"I think Moscow will be important as far as turning our championship around and confirming ourselves as title contenders."
WRC - Italy: Volkswagen Motorsport technical boss Francois-Xavier Demaison is doubling up as Latvala's rally engineer in Italy. Latvala's usual rally engineer Fabrice van Ertvelde is at home waiting to become a father - good luck with that!
FR3.5 - Moscow: Pre-season favourite Antonio Felix da Costa is racing on a circuit he knows, having joined the series one round before the Moscow meeting last year.
The Portuguese is third in the standings on 71 points, and is attempting to bridge a 15-point deficit to Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion Stoffel Vandoorne. DAMS racer Kevin Magnussen leads the championship on 115 points.
The Portuguese is third in the standings on 71 points, and is attempting to bridge a 15-point deficit to Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion Stoffel Vandoorne. DAMS racer Kevin Magnussen leads the championship on 115 points.
Twitter
Mads Ostberg
WRC - Italy: Mads Ostberg is not in good shape...
"Starting the event with an inflammation of the throat. Not feeling well, and have a fever as well. Hopefully medication ready at remote."
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Peter Mills, Jamie O'Leary, Glenn Freeman, Andrew van Leeuwen, Kevin Turner, Mark Glendenning
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