WRC Argentina
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WRC - Argentina: And it's still very broken:
"We just had to nurse the car through there. We had no engine mounts, the exhaust has fallen off, no oil in the engine. We just had to make it through without the car catching fire."
"We just had to nurse the car through there. We had no engine mounts, the exhaust has fallen off, no oil in the engine. We just had to make it through without the car catching fire."
Checkered flag
WRC - Argentina - SS3 results:
Stage times:
1 Latvala 10m10.0s
2 Ostberg +10.2s
3 Evans +11.8s
4 Neuville +15.6s
5 Meeke +18.6s
6 Tanak +20.2s
Lead order:
1 Meeke
2 Latvala +15.3s
3 Ostberg +36.2s
4 Tanak +1m00.5s
5 Evans +1m11.0s
6 Sordo +1m16.0s
Stage times:
1 Latvala 10m10.0s
2 Ostberg +10.2s
3 Evans +11.8s
4 Neuville +15.6s
5 Meeke +18.6s
6 Tanak +20.2s
Lead order:
1 Meeke
2 Latvala +15.3s
3 Ostberg +36.2s
4 Tanak +1m00.5s
5 Evans +1m11.0s
6 Sordo +1m16.0s
WRC - Argentina - SS3 summary:
Jari-Matti Latvala cuts Kris Meeke's lead by 18.6s as Meeke suffers a puncture.
Sordo continues to struggle with power steering issues
Haydon Paddon's car continues to fall apart, no oil in the engine and the exhaust fell off.
Elfyn Evans goes third fastest on the second stage of the morning, after losing time in the first behind Thierry Neuville and his dust creating exploits.
Jari-Matti Latvala cuts Kris Meeke's lead by 18.6s as Meeke suffers a puncture.
Sordo continues to struggle with power steering issues
Haydon Paddon's car continues to fall apart, no oil in the engine and the exhaust fell off.
Elfyn Evans goes third fastest on the second stage of the morning, after losing time in the first behind Thierry Neuville and his dust creating exploits.
WRC - Argentina: If this morning hasn't been crazy enough, Yuriy Protasov has just come across and set a rapid time in WRC2...
The crazy part being he has a wheel missing. Two corners before the end, he hit a rock and lost the wheel, he has set off to look for it!
The crazy part being he has a wheel missing. Two corners before the end, he hit a rock and lost the wheel, he has set off to look for it!
WRC - Argentina: So while the Ukranian goes on a wheel hunt, we're going to go on the hunt for a rest before the next stage begins.
AUTOSPORT Live will be back with you to continue coverage of this madness at 17:30pm GMT.
AUTOSPORT Live will be back with you to continue coverage of this madness at 17:30pm GMT.
WRC - Argentina: Hello and welcome back to Rally Argentina.
If you missed this morning's action (you really did miss out) you can catch up here.
If you missed this morning's action (you really did miss out) you can catch up here.
WRC - Argentina: Next up is a repeat of the Agua de Oro - Asochinga stage.
Here’s the order going in, with Kris Meeke in the lead:
1 Meeke
2 Latvala
3 Ostberg
4 Tanak
5 Evans
6 Sordo
7 Prokop
8 Paddon
9 Protasov
10 Al Qassimi
Here’s the order going in, with Kris Meeke in the lead:
1 Meeke
2 Latvala
3 Ostberg
4 Tanak
5 Evans
6 Sordo
7 Prokop
8 Paddon
9 Protasov
10 Al Qassimi
WRC - Argentina: The short break gave us a chance to catch-up with our man in Argentina, DAVID EVANS, who provides his unique take on events through the day. Not just rallying either.
“Argentina can be quite a random place – like this morning when a travelling knife salesman rocked up and tried to persuade me in the value of a six-inch blade.”
“Argentina can be quite a random place – like this morning when a travelling knife salesman rocked up and tried to persuade me in the value of a six-inch blade.”
Rally Argentina knives
WRC - Argentina: Knives aside, EVANS also found out more about Andreas Mikkelsen and Thierry Neuville’s troubles.
“The end of the first stage was the place to be this morning. Mikkelsen and Neuville fell victim to the shockingly rough road to Ascochinga.
“Their challenge for victory in Argentina ended in that stage, but the Belgian’s story was probably the more dramatic of the two.
“His left-rear tyre had delaminated, whipping off much of the bodywork and filling the car with dust. His mouth was full of mud as the mixture of sweat and dust worked their magic.”
You can see the extent of Neuville’s damage below.
“The end of the first stage was the place to be this morning. Mikkelsen and Neuville fell victim to the shockingly rough road to Ascochinga.
“Their challenge for victory in Argentina ended in that stage, but the Belgian’s story was probably the more dramatic of the two.
“His left-rear tyre had delaminated, whipping off much of the bodywork and filling the car with dust. His mouth was full of mud as the mixture of sweat and dust worked their magic.”
You can see the extent of Neuville’s damage below.
Rally Argentina Neuville
WRC - Argentina: Plus – here’s a shot of Mikkelsen’s post-puncture/suspension stricken Volkswagen.
Rally Argentina Mikkelsen
WRC - Argentina: For those wanting an update on Yuriy Protasov - and his search for a missing wheel - he found it!
The Ukrainian ran back into the final stage of the morning to collect a wheel he lost two corners from the end.
He'll pick up his WRC2 lead going into SS4.
The Ukrainian ran back into the final stage of the morning to collect a wheel he lost two corners from the end.
He'll pick up his WRC2 lead going into SS4.
WRC - Argentina: Thierry Neuville has arrived at SS4, he's the first car on the road in under a minutes time.
WRC - Argentina: The timing screens have been as troublesome/unreliable as some of the cars on this morning's stages, we're hoping they improve through the weekend.
Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen should both be on stage.
Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen should both be on stage.
WRC - Argentina: After some impressive deduction skills, it looks like the start of the stage was delayed slightly, but Neuville is now into SS4.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Andreas Mikkelsen retired on the road section before SS4, he'll return tomorrow.
Haydon Paddon is also out thanks to an exhaust manifold problem.
It wasn't the turbo pipe, engine mounts or any of the other list of problems with that Hyundai that finally saw him off, then.
Haydon Paddon is also out thanks to an exhaust manifold problem.
It wasn't the turbo pipe, engine mounts or any of the other list of problems with that Hyundai that finally saw him off, then.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Neuville goes through the first stint, with a 6m45.1s.
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg is the next man through in the Citroen, 0.3s down on Neuville's time.
WRC - Argentina: M-Sport's Elfyn Evans came through the first stint 3.4s down on Neuville's time.
The Belgian's time is looking increasingly impressive. We'll get a better idea when Latvala comes through next.
The Belgian's time is looking increasingly impressive. We'll get a better idea when Latvala comes through next.
WRC - Argentina: Latvala goes quickest! The Finn is through the first sector in 6m44.8s, 0.3s quicker than Neuville.
There's still 5 sectors to complete though...
There's still 5 sectors to complete though...
WRC - Argentina: Sordo - who struggled with power steering issues this morning - is through 1s down on Latvala.
It looks like Tanak has stopped on stage.
It looks like Tanak has stopped on stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: The second split comes at just over eight miles, Osterg was slightly quicker than Neuville, but only by a tenth.
WRC - Argentina: Rally leader Kris Meeke is now on stage, we'll be keeping a close eye on his times compared to Latvala.
The Brit's lead was 15.3s before SS4.
The Brit's lead was 15.3s before SS4.
WRC - Argentina: And talking of Latvala, he continues to be the quickest man on stage after eight miles.
2.7s quicker than Neuville, the Finn will be pleased so far.
2.7s quicker than Neuville, the Finn will be pleased so far.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: But just as we hint at any sort of Latvala-related happiness, Meeke goes 1s quicker than Latvala through the first stint...
WRC - Argentina: Further along the stage, Ostberg has gone 5.5s quicker than Neuville through the third sector.
The two are the only ones through that sector at the moment.
The two are the only ones through that sector at the moment.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Reports suggest that Tanak's crash was brought about by a rock in a watersplash.
It looks like the Estonian has lost a wheel.
It looks like the Estonian has lost a wheel.
WRC - Argentina: Thierry Neuville is through the fourth split, setting a 24m00.3s.
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg follows Neuville through, and the Norwegian is 7s up.
The Citroen driver started the stage third, even after an engine problem on SS2.
The Citroen driver started the stage third, even after an engine problem on SS2.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is really flying now, 4.4s up on Latvala after the second stint.
The Brit struggled with a puncture on the last stage, but is certainly pushing now.
The Brit struggled with a puncture on the last stage, but is certainly pushing now.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is through the fourth section of SS4, 13.1s quicker than Neuville.
That puts him a net 6s ahead of Ostberg in the running so far.
That puts him a net 6s ahead of Ostberg in the running so far.
WRC - Argentina: Sordo is through the first stint, he's 5s up on Neuville's benchmark.
Talking of Neuville, Ostberg has bettered his sector 5 time by 9.8s, both Citroens going well on this stage.
Talking of Neuville, Ostberg has bettered his sector 5 time by 9.8s, both Citroens going well on this stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through the third split, and again he's up on Latvala, by just over 5s this time.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: It's an intriguing battle between Latvala and Meeke, as Latvala is further up the stage.
He's just gone through the fifth split, 14s ahead of the fastest person through that point so far, Ostberg.
Meeke has ben quicker through the earlier splits, though.
He's just gone through the fifth split, 14s ahead of the fastest person through that point so far, Ostberg.
Meeke has ben quicker through the earlier splits, though.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville and Ostberg are through the final split, Ostberg 11.4s quicker at that point.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Meeke keeps up his brilliant pace, 6.8s quicker than Latvala through the fourth split.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville finishes the stage with a time of 38m52.3s.
"Incredible, the car was jumping around," said the Belgian.
"Incredible, the car was jumping around," said the Belgian.
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg is also through, 12.7s quicker than Neuville.
WRC - Argentina: "The car is working, said Ostberg at the end of the stage.
"I had a plan before the rally and I need to stick to it."
Latvala is 21s up on Ostberg through the final stint.
"I had a plan before the rally and I need to stick to it."
Latvala is 21s up on Ostberg through the final stint.
WRC - Argentina: Kris Meeke is through the fifth split, 9s up on Latvala's time. The Brit is on course to set the fastest time of the stage so far.
Another Brit, Elfyn Evans, is through, ahead of Neuville but behind Ostberg.
Another Brit, Elfyn Evans, is through, ahead of Neuville but behind Ostberg.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is in, 26.4s up on Neuville and 14s ahead of Ostberg.
"It was a big challenge. I'm really happy. The brakes were getting really bad toward the end."
"It was a big challenge. I'm really happy. The brakes were getting really bad toward the end."
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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