WRC Argentina
Live Text
Sort by
WRC - Argentina: Sordo goes fastest with a 5m1s dead, just a tenth quicker than Ostberg.
Next up, Meeke vs Latvala.
How much time will Latvala lose with his front diff isssue?
Meeke has two fresh tyres for this stage...
Next up, Meeke vs Latvala.
How much time will Latvala lose with his front diff isssue?
Meeke has two fresh tyres for this stage...
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is visibly struggling for traction on this stage and is if to rub it in, Meeke is flying!
WRC - Argentina: You can't help feeling like Meeke is finishing off Latvala's chances of rally victory here, physically and mentally.
WRC - Argentina: Watching Latvala, the Finn has little or no drive from the front wheels.
Heartbreaking stuff for the Finn.
Heartbreaking stuff for the Finn.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through, surprisingly 3.4s down on Sordo.
Latvala loses 33.8s and last on the stage overall.
Latvala loses 33.8s and last on the stage overall.
Checkered flag
WRC - Argentina - SS6 results:
1 Sordo 5m01.0s
2 Ostberg +0.1s
3 Neuville +1.9s
4 Meeke +3.4s
5 Evans +4.1s
6 Prokop +6.5s
Lead order:
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +1m08.4s
3 Latvala +1m23.5s
4 Sordo +1m54.2s
5 Evans +1m59.7s
6 Prokop +3m27.4s
1 Sordo 5m01.0s
2 Ostberg +0.1s
3 Neuville +1.9s
4 Meeke +3.4s
5 Evans +4.1s
6 Prokop +6.5s
Lead order:
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +1m08.4s
3 Latvala +1m23.5s
4 Sordo +1m54.2s
5 Evans +1m59.7s
6 Prokop +3m27.4s
WRC - Argentina: So that time loss didn't just drop Latvala further away from Meeke, it cost him second to Ostberg too - giving Citroen a one-two order (been a while since we could say that!) going into leg two.
But Latvala suggests he'd actually expected to lose a lot more than that. He'll start Saturday 1m23s off the lead.
But Latvala suggests he'd actually expected to lose a lot more than that. He'll start Saturday 1m23s off the lead.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Here's the full report from today's second loop:
Meeke takes large lead into Saturday
We'll be back from 1pm UK time on Saturday to see if Meeke can move himself closer to that elusive first WRC win.
Meeke takes large lead into Saturday
We'll be back from 1pm UK time on Saturday to see if Meeke can move himself closer to that elusive first WRC win.
Kris Meeke, Citroen, WRC Argentina 2015
WRC - Argentina: Good morning and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Live’s coverage of Rally Argentina.
If you missed yesterday’s action, you can catch up HERE.
If you missed yesterday’s action, you can catch up HERE.
Northern Ireland driver Kris Meeke leads the way, after a number of WRC cars fell off yesterday.
- Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier suffered from engine trouble
- Ogier’s team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen also retired
- Haydon Paddon had every issue ever encountered with an automobile in one stage (engine mounts, turbo pipes, falling off exhaust etc.)
- Ott Tanak sparred with water for the second rally in a row. He hit a rock in a watersplash, ruling him out.
- Neuville had a puncture and nerfed Mikkelsen’s slowing Volkswagen later in the day
All that leaves Meeke with a healthy 1m08.4s lead at the beginning of day two.
It wouldn’t be unfair though, to say Meeke has had difficulty in these situations before, but the Citroen driver is due a good result after a terrible start to 2015.
Meeke told AUTOSPORT’s DAVID EVANS: “I always said that I thought Saturday would be harder. It’s so narrow, so twisty and tight. It’s tough.”
On the subject of any possible changes to the DS 3 WRC, the leader added: “I don’t want to change a thing. The team builds a beautiful car.”
- Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier suffered from engine trouble
- Ogier’s team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen also retired
- Haydon Paddon had every issue ever encountered with an automobile in one stage (engine mounts, turbo pipes, falling off exhaust etc.)
- Ott Tanak sparred with water for the second rally in a row. He hit a rock in a watersplash, ruling him out.
- Neuville had a puncture and nerfed Mikkelsen’s slowing Volkswagen later in the day
All that leaves Meeke with a healthy 1m08.4s lead at the beginning of day two.
It wouldn’t be unfair though, to say Meeke has had difficulty in these situations before, but the Citroen driver is due a good result after a terrible start to 2015.
Meeke told AUTOSPORT’s DAVID EVANS: “I always said that I thought Saturday would be harder. It’s so narrow, so twisty and tight. It’s tough.”
On the subject of any possible changes to the DS 3 WRC, the leader added: “I don’t want to change a thing. The team builds a beautiful car.”
Meeke/Citroen/Rally Argentina
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Speaking of Citroen, there was a stage when a certain nine-time champion was in the team that it scored 1-2s for fun.
It hasn't had one since Spain 2012, when Sebastian Loeb led home Mikko Hirvonen.
Team principal Yves Matton confirmed to DAVID EVANS that Meeke’s DS3 would be setup a little more conservatively today.
“We’ll look at the tyre strategy, maybe raising the car a little bit, things like that. At the moment, Kris has to keep on doing what he’s doing. It’s not easy, he’s looking for the first [win] and maybe that makes this whole thing twice as difficult. But I told Kris: “Even if you lose 40 seconds [today] you can still afford to lose a second per kilometre and win on Sunday.
“Right now we have two cars at the front and we are happy. If we stay like that then something good can happen.”
Matton listened to AUTOSPORT’s concerns for Meeke and a potentially big result for Britain in the two days ahead, before saying with a smile: “Don’t worry. Leave him to us.”
So the conservative setup on the DS3 is sure to produce a very exciting day today indeed.
It hasn't had one since Spain 2012, when Sebastian Loeb led home Mikko Hirvonen.
Loeb/Hirvonen/ Rally Spain 2012
Team principal Yves Matton confirmed to DAVID EVANS that Meeke’s DS3 would be setup a little more conservatively today.
“We’ll look at the tyre strategy, maybe raising the car a little bit, things like that. At the moment, Kris has to keep on doing what he’s doing. It’s not easy, he’s looking for the first [win] and maybe that makes this whole thing twice as difficult. But I told Kris: “Even if you lose 40 seconds [today] you can still afford to lose a second per kilometre and win on Sunday.
“Right now we have two cars at the front and we are happy. If we stay like that then something good can happen.”
Matton listened to AUTOSPORT’s concerns for Meeke and a potentially big result for Britain in the two days ahead, before saying with a smile: “Don’t worry. Leave him to us.”
So the conservative setup on the DS3 is sure to produce a very exciting day today indeed.
WRC - Argentina: Jari-Matti Latvala struggled with a front diff problem yesterday, and dropped spadeloads of time to Meeke.
Luckily for him though, the Polo has received a new diff overnight, and it will be interesting to see if Latvala attacks Meeke all-out, or remains conservative for some much needed points in second.
Latvala won't try to catch Meeke
The Finn only has 19 points after three rounds, while team-mate Sebastien Ogier already has 81…
Luckily for him though, the Polo has received a new diff overnight, and it will be interesting to see if Latvala attacks Meeke all-out, or remains conservative for some much needed points in second.
Latvala won't try to catch Meeke
The Finn only has 19 points after three rounds, while team-mate Sebastien Ogier already has 81…
Latvala/Volkswagen/Rally Argentina
WRC - Argentina: The other Citroen holds second overall. Mads Ostberg had a relatively straightforward day yesterday, aside from a small engine issue on SS2.
The Norwegian was feeling quite ill yesterday evening though, he told DAVID EVANS in the service park last night: "I’ve felt a bit like this for a few days," he said, "I just feel a bit ill.
"And I’ve lost my voice a little bit, so talking to you at the moment’s not the best idea…"
The Norwegian was feeling quite ill yesterday evening though, he told DAVID EVANS in the service park last night: "I’ve felt a bit like this for a few days," he said, "I just feel a bit ill.
"And I’ve lost my voice a little bit, so talking to you at the moment’s not the best idea…"
WRC - Argentina: The first test of the morning – SS7 – is a 15 mile stage from Capilla del Monte to San Marcos, and to give you a better idea of what to expect, here is our stage-guide man for the weekend (who just so happens to be rally leader) Kris Meeke.
"The surface in here is quite stony, this stage is actually quite loose. It's really nice at the start, but then it comes to a place where you have the wall on the outside and the mountain on the inside.
"It's a nice stage, but, like all of them, a tricky one."
Sounds like the Brit is nervous already!
"The surface in here is quite stony, this stage is actually quite loose. It's really nice at the start, but then it comes to a place where you have the wall on the outside and the mountain on the inside.
"It's a nice stage, but, like all of them, a tricky one."
Sounds like the Brit is nervous already!
WRC - Argentina: First up on the road is Lorenzo Bertelli, who hasn't had the best rally Argentina.
Here's what happened yesterday:
Here's what happened yesterday:
bertelli
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: So SS7 is live, Bertelli and Ogier are into the stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Bertelli is through the first split, 4m32.8s is his time.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: The world champion is also through the first split, and he's 7.7s up on Bertelli.
No disrespect to the Italian, but you would expect Ogier to be quicker over the course of the stage.
No disrespect to the Italian, but you would expect Ogier to be quicker over the course of the stage.
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen is the next driver through the first split, 0.6s down on Ogier.
WRC - Argentina: Paddon is also through the first split, but he is some way off Ogier's time.
The Kiwi managed 4m29.7s.
The Kiwi managed 4m29.7s.
Twitter
WRC - Argentina: Latvala may have declared last night that he's going to be playing it cool and going for his first finish since Monte Carlo, but according to his mental coach Christoph Treier a charge might be in prospect:
"@JariMattiWRC is in a very good mood and will go for the victory. It needs a lot of patience and cleverness. Go for it! Never give up!"
"@JariMattiWRC is in a very good mood and will go for the victory. It needs a lot of patience and cleverness. Go for it! Never give up!"
WRC - Argentina: While we wait for Tanak, our man in Argentina DAVID EVANS has a nice weather update for us.
"It's blue skies and sunshine here, with temperatures expected to rise to around 25 degrees again."
"It's blue skies and sunshine here, with temperatures expected to rise to around 25 degrees again."
WRC - Argentina: Tanak is some way down in the first split.
All the drivers through that first split so far, Bertelli, Ogier, Mikkelsen, Paddon and Tanak are all running under Rally2, and are out of contention for any sort of top three finish.
Neuville, who finished yesterday seventh, is also now through the first split, 5.7s down on Ogier.
All the drivers through that first split so far, Bertelli, Ogier, Mikkelsen, Paddon and Tanak are all running under Rally2, and are out of contention for any sort of top three finish.
Neuville, who finished yesterday seventh, is also now through the first split, 5.7s down on Ogier.
WRC - Argentina: Ogier is through the second and third splits, he's quickest through both overall.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Bertelli finishes the stage in 18m07.6s. Remember the Italian is running under Rally2.
WRC - Argentina: Ogier is also finished, 17m31.1s. That's 36.5s quicker than Bertelli.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Ogier seems happy enough, although the pre-stage worry of dust seems real.
"OK, but there's a lot of dust."
"OK, but there's a lot of dust."
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen finishes the stage with a 17m34.7s, 3.6s slower than Ogier's benchmark.
Latvala has just gone quickest through the first stint...
Latvala has just gone quickest through the first stint...
WRC - Argentina: Haydon Paddon is the latest to finish the stage, he slots in third ahead of Bertelli.
Only Tanak left of the Rally2 runners, before Neuville comes through.
Only Tanak left of the Rally2 runners, before Neuville comes through.
Breaking news
FR3.5 - Aragon: We'll have coverage of the Formula Renault 3.5 opener from Aragon in Race Centre Live shortly, and there's going to be a different-to-expected grid line-up.
PETER MILLS brings news of an exclusion for a front-row-starting rookie:
Malja stripped of Aragon front row spot
PETER MILLS brings news of an exclusion for a front-row-starting rookie:
Malja stripped of Aragon front row spot
Gustav Malja, Strakka, Aragon FR3.5 2015
Quote
WRC - Argentina: It's all about useful running for Paddon now, for the rest of the rally.
"It's all about the miles for us now."
"It's all about the miles for us now."
WRC - Argentina: Meeke comes through the first split SLOWEST of anybody so far, 5.3s down on Bertelli.
WRC - Argentina: Crucially, Meeke has lost 11s to second placed man Ostberg. The lead was over a minute before the start of this stage.
Reports suggest he may have had a spin.
Reports suggest he may have had a spin.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is through, 17m54.2s, 23.1s behind Ogier.
"Its very rough, towards the end I had to save the tyres. We had to be careful with the tyres. Its very abrasive and very hard for the car.
"A very tricky stage."
"Its very rough, towards the end I had to save the tyres. We had to be careful with the tyres. Its very abrasive and very hard for the car.
"A very tricky stage."
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg is in now, and he sets a 17m37.2s, third overall.
Latvala is the pacesetter on stage so far, he'll be in shortly, with Elfyn Evans up next. 17m50.3s is Evans' time.
Latvala is the pacesetter on stage so far, he'll be in shortly, with Elfyn Evans up next. 17m50.3s is Evans' time.
WRC - Argentina: Evans worried he went a little cautious there, as Sordo is currently quicker than him on this stage and ahead in the rally.
"Quite a lot of big stones. The start was OK but maybe I went a little too careful."
"Quite a lot of big stones. The start was OK but maybe I went a little too careful."
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Speaking of Evans, his M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson has been expressing fury over some of the organisers' decisions this weekend:
M-Sport chief 'disillusioned' over officials' calls
M-Sport chief 'disillusioned' over officials' calls
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is through, 17m34.9s and third overall.
"Yeah it was good, a good start to the day," says the Finn.
"Yeah it was good, a good start to the day," says the Finn.
WRC - Argentina: Sordo is the next man through, crucially quicker than Evans in his battle to hold on to fourth.
The Spaniard's time: 17m41s, sixth quickest so far.
The Spaniard's time: 17m41s, sixth quickest so far.
WRC - Argentina: Prokop is the next man through - but we have no split times for him.
Shortly after will be Meeke, who had a spin at the start of the stage.
Shortly after will be Meeke, who had a spin at the start of the stage.
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
Published:
Page:
