WRC Argentina
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Welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for the Rally Argentina weekend.
Remember Ott Tanak plunging into a lake? Remember Sebastien 'there's absolutely no way in the universe I can win Rally Mexico from first on the road' Ogier winning Rally Mexico from first on the road?
Seems like a while ago, doesn't it?
That's because it was - we've had nearly a two-month break since the first half of the World Rally Championship's 2015 South American swing. And in that two months, a quarter of the 2015 Formula 1 season has happened, almost an entire general election campaign (for UK readers) has been run, and Marc Marquez stopped being quite so invincible.
But now the WRC is back, for a monster of a rally that begins (in earnest - we had a superspecial last night) in 10 minutes.
Remember Ott Tanak plunging into a lake? Remember Sebastien 'there's absolutely no way in the universe I can win Rally Mexico from first on the road' Ogier winning Rally Mexico from first on the road?
Seems like a while ago, doesn't it?
That's because it was - we've had nearly a two-month break since the first half of the World Rally Championship's 2015 South American swing. And in that two months, a quarter of the 2015 Formula 1 season has happened, almost an entire general election campaign (for UK readers) has been run, and Marc Marquez stopped being quite so invincible.
But now the WRC is back, for a monster of a rally that begins (in earnest - we had a superspecial last night) in 10 minutes.
Ott Tanak, M-Sport Ford, WRC Argentina 2015
After last night's super special - and much the same as Rally Mexico, Sebastien Ogier leads after edging Kris Meeke and Andreas Mikkelsen who set the same time
Here's the order going into today's opening stage:
1 Ogier
2 Meeke
2 Mikkelsen
4 Latvala
5 Sordo
6 Neuville
7 Bertelli
8 Ostberg
9 Paddon
10 Prokop
Here's the order going into today's opening stage:
1 Ogier
2 Meeke
2 Mikkelsen
4 Latvala
5 Sordo
6 Neuville
7 Bertelli
8 Ostberg
9 Paddon
10 Prokop
Ogier is also first on the road today but as we found out in Mexico, that's not an issue for the Frenchman.
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: Ogier begins Ascochinga - a 32-mile beast to kick off our event proper.
So heading into Rally Argentina, here are the points standings:
1 Ogier 81
2 Mikkelsen 47
3 Neuville 35
4 Ostberg 32
5 Evans 26
6 Latvala 19
7 Sordo 18
8 Prokop 14
9 Tanak 12
10 Paddon 10
1 Ogier 81
2 Mikkelsen 47
3 Neuville 35
4 Ostberg 32
5 Evans 26
6 Latvala 19
7 Sordo 18
8 Prokop 14
9 Tanak 12
10 Paddon 10
And today's order on the road, with Ogier already on the stage:
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen
3 Neuville
4 Ostberg
5 Evans
6 Latvala
7 Sordo
8 Prokop
9 Tanak
10 Meeke
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen
3 Neuville
4 Ostberg
5 Evans
6 Latvala
7 Sordo
8 Prokop
9 Tanak
10 Meeke
Quote
KRIS MEEKE has put together a stage guide for us this weekend. Here's his view on Ascochinga:
"The first one this morning – which is actually SS2 after last night's superspecial – was run last year, but we're doing it the other way around this time.
"I'm not sure the stage has ever run from Agua de Oro to Ascochinga, so it's a first for us all.
"Obviously, that means a new set of notes for what is, effectively, a new stage.
"The terrain, however, is familiar and that helps for the car set-up and tyre selection, that kind of thing.
"Last year it was 30 kilometres to a junction left and then it gets rough down the hill. This time around we have 20 kilometres rough coming up the hill to a junction right and then it's faster.
"The rough parts are really rough this year."
"The first one this morning – which is actually SS2 after last night's superspecial – was run last year, but we're doing it the other way around this time.
"I'm not sure the stage has ever run from Agua de Oro to Ascochinga, so it's a first for us all.
"Obviously, that means a new set of notes for what is, effectively, a new stage.
"The terrain, however, is familiar and that helps for the car set-up and tyre selection, that kind of thing.
"Last year it was 30 kilometres to a junction left and then it gets rough down the hill. This time around we have 20 kilometres rough coming up the hill to a junction right and then it's faster.
"The rough parts are really rough this year."
DAVID EVANS is out at the end of Ascochinga for us, ready to chip in if modern technology allows, or shout down a phone if not.
In the meantime, here are his thoughts on the start last night:
Sebastien Ogier leads the event after last night's superspecial in San Luis – we all know that. What we're more interested in is who won the drag race back to service.
With early check-in on offer, there was no need to hang around, despite a fairly strict talking to from the event organisers. In all honesty, the speed limit out in the countryside can be a bit of a grey area and the roadside fans were full of encouragement to see some pace…
While last night's San Luis crowd-pleaser pleased the crowds, it didn't please all of the drivers – some of whom were a bit miffed at the amount of waiting around they had to do after driving 145 miles from Villa Carlos Paz to San Luis to tackle a 1.66-mile stage (before starting the 145-mile return journey).
In all honesty, AUTOSPORT has little if any sympathy for them. Call that a wait… we did a six-hour layover in Buenos Aires after the last of three flights to round four was cancelled. Then delayed. Door-to-door my journey took 37 hours. I could have flown to Auckland via a coffee in Singapore and on to Los Angeles in that time.
Still, the upside was another fascinating cab ride through the middle of Buenos Aires. My cabbie's English was as good as my Spanish. Rubbish. Much of the conversation centred on Lionel Messi and the Pumas. Or at least I think it did.
We went past the River Plate stadium (twice), which was nice. Here's a picture.
If he's reading this, I apologise for the tip. I thought it equated to a couple of pounds. Turns out I'd got the decimal points confused. Fiscally speaking, what I gave him wasn't really worth the paper it was written on.
On the upside, I didn't mention Top Gear.
In the meantime, here are his thoughts on the start last night:
Sebastien Ogier leads the event after last night's superspecial in San Luis – we all know that. What we're more interested in is who won the drag race back to service.
With early check-in on offer, there was no need to hang around, despite a fairly strict talking to from the event organisers. In all honesty, the speed limit out in the countryside can be a bit of a grey area and the roadside fans were full of encouragement to see some pace…
While last night's San Luis crowd-pleaser pleased the crowds, it didn't please all of the drivers – some of whom were a bit miffed at the amount of waiting around they had to do after driving 145 miles from Villa Carlos Paz to San Luis to tackle a 1.66-mile stage (before starting the 145-mile return journey).
In all honesty, AUTOSPORT has little if any sympathy for them. Call that a wait… we did a six-hour layover in Buenos Aires after the last of three flights to round four was cancelled. Then delayed. Door-to-door my journey took 37 hours. I could have flown to Auckland via a coffee in Singapore and on to Los Angeles in that time.
Flights
Still, the upside was another fascinating cab ride through the middle of Buenos Aires. My cabbie's English was as good as my Spanish. Rubbish. Much of the conversation centred on Lionel Messi and the Pumas. Or at least I think it did.
We went past the River Plate stadium (twice), which was nice. Here's a picture.
Stadiu
If he's reading this, I apologise for the tip. I thought it equated to a couple of pounds. Turns out I'd got the decimal points confused. Fiscally speaking, what I gave him wasn't really worth the paper it was written on.
On the upside, I didn't mention Top Gear.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: No apparent problems for any of the frontrunners on the tracking system so far, but we're not getting many splits in - first one to register at split one is Mads Ostberg, third on the road.
WRC - Argentina: Ogier has now made it safely through split two, so he definitely is running fine and we should get better info from there on.
WRC - Argentina: Next bit of our sporadic split information is that Neuville is 2.5s down on Ogier at split two.
Mikkelsen has made it through there too, but we haven't got any times from him.
Mikkelsen has made it through there too, but we haven't got any times from him.
WRC - Argentina: You can also listen to radio commentary with WRC Live via AUTOSPORT.com - in which DAVID EVANS is currently playing a cameo role. Stage-end reporting superstar Colin Clark only gets offered coffee on stages when he has our man with man, apparently.
Ostberg is the latest split to come in, 11.2s up on Ogier's time.
Elfyn Evans also comes through, 0.9s down.
Elfyn Evans also comes through, 0.9s down.
Dani Sordo - who was the quickest Hyundai in yesterday's superspecial - comes through 6s up on Ogier.
Ostberg is still the fastest man through the second split.
Ostberg is still the fastest man through the second split.
WRC - Argentina: There are suggestions from camera crews on the stage that Ogier and the other leading cars have taken an incorrect (and longer) route around a junction, which is why the likes of Ostberg are faster.
WRC - Argentina: Ogier has now passed the halfway point in the stage. It would be pretty ace if the timing system would start registering all cars in this next section...
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg seems to have lost time, Elfyn Evans is now the fastest man on the stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Evans was 12s down on Ostberg - who we believe was our pacesetter - at split three, but the Welshman is 4s quicker by split four.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: We've finally got a split from Mikkelsen, and he's 20s quicker than Ogier according to the system.
WRC - Argentina: Evans has extended his margin over Ostberg to 7s.
We'll need to see how those two compare to Mikkelsen at split five, as that's the first point where the VW has registered a time.
We'll need to see how those two compare to Mikkelsen at split five, as that's the first point where the VW has registered a time.
WRC - Argentina: Rumours flying at the stage end today: latest reports from camera crews suggest Ogier might be misfiring.
These will be some intriguing interviews when the cars get in.
These will be some intriguing interviews when the cars get in.
WRC - Argentina: The stage-end Chinese whispers upgrade Ogier's car health from 'misfire' to 'terrible'.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: And now Neuville appears to have stopped on the tracking system.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Suggestions at the stage end that Neuville might have some damage at the front of the Hyundai. He's definitely not moving.
And now reports from camera crews of Mikkelsen running with a puncture to his VW's front right.
And now reports from camera crews of Mikkelsen running with a puncture to his VW's front right.
WRC - Argentina: At split five, Mikkelsen was the fastest car. Two more splits to go on this epic stage.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Ogier has now stopped on the tracking system!
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Ogier has come to a halt 28 miles into the 32-mile stage, amid reports of a very sick-sounding engine on the VW.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville has now got the car running again after a loss of several minutes.
Mikkelsen will be the first man to reach the stage end.
Mikkelsen will be the first man to reach the stage end.
WRC - Argentina: Does seem that the reported puncture on Mikkelsen's car has taken its toll - he's now 40s behind Ostberg at the final split on the stage.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen explains that he both had a spin in a fast corner, and then misheard a pace note and had a big hit on the rear, causing his puncture.
His time is 40m20s.
His time is 40m20s.
WRC - Argentina: And interestingly Ogier's parked far enough off the road that Mikkelsen didn't even see his stranded team-mate.
We don't think he parked in a lake.
We don't think he parked in a lake.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg comes through 1m11s faster than the battered Mikkelsen and becomes our rally leader given Ogier's problems.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: But Ostberg's gloomy, he had to slow with a temporary engine problem:
"I will try to be calm and answer sensibly, but the car had an engine problem and stopped on the stage. All the alarms came on."
"I will try to be calm and answer sensibly, but the car had an engine problem and stopped on the stage. All the alarms came on."
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is in, and he's over three and a half minutes off Ostberg's pace after that problem.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville explains his drama:
"There was a big stone that I hit slightly with the rear and we had a puncture. We tried to continue but when the tyre was completely gone we had to stop.
"We were not able to change the tyre quickly and we lost a lot of time."
Evans came in not far behind Neuville and his co-driver Daniel Barritt is unhappy. He heads over to the Hyundai for a word...
"There was a big stone that I hit slightly with the rear and we had a puncture. We tried to continue but when the tyre was completely gone we had to stop.
"We were not able to change the tyre quickly and we lost a lot of time."
Evans came in not far behind Neuville and his co-driver Daniel Barritt is unhappy. He heads over to the Hyundai for a word...
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Evans is half a minute off Ostberg's pace despite the Citroen's problem - and he clearly blames that on Neuville's dust in his face.
"We could see his car in the distance halfway through the stage and we radioed them to pull over... A difficult stage for us. Frustrating.
"It wasn't a great stage for us, we didn't have a great rhythm. But it's knackered now."
"We could see his car in the distance halfway through the stage and we radioed them to pull over... A difficult stage for us. Frustrating.
"It wasn't a great stage for us, we didn't have a great rhythm. But it's knackered now."
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: So with Ogier stopped, Neuville punctured, Ostberg stuttering, Mikkelsen spinning and punctured, and Evans driving blind...
...here's our new rally leader: Jari-Matti Latvala.
A man pretty familiar with drama, he had none on the stage while it went crazy for everyone else.
...here's our new rally leader: Jari-Matti Latvala.
A man pretty familiar with drama, he had none on the stage while it went crazy for everyone else.
WRC - Argentina: But now Dani Sordo leads!
He's 2s quicker than Latvala, and that's enough to overturn the deficit from the superspecial.
Yet Sordo's deeply unhappy, jumping out of the Hyundai to look at wrecked tyres, and also reporting power steering problems.
"Really, really hard and impossible to drive," says our furious rally leader.
He's 2s quicker than Latvala, and that's enough to overturn the deficit from the superspecial.
Yet Sordo's deeply unhappy, jumping out of the Hyundai to look at wrecked tyres, and also reporting power steering problems.
"Really, really hard and impossible to drive," says our furious rally leader.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Sordo's time in front will be brief, Meeke is flying...
WRC - Argentina: Tanak completes the stage fourth fastest behind Sordo, Latvala and Ostberg, and without having spent any time underwater as far as we know.
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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