WRC Argentina
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WRC - Argentina: Ogier's time was 1m08s quicker than Bertelli.
Next through is Mikkelsen, 27m17.4s, well up on Ogier.
Next through is Mikkelsen, 27m17.4s, well up on Ogier.
WRC - Argentina: Through the first split, Dani Sordo has matched Mikkelsen's benchmark time.
That's some going by the Spaniard.
That's some going by the Spaniard.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is through the second split, as is Sordo.
Sordo is 0.2s quicker than Mikkelsen through that split, fastest so far.
Latvala is 10s down on Sordo's time.
Sordo is 0.2s quicker than Mikkelsen through that split, fastest so far.
Latvala is 10s down on Sordo's time.
WRC - Argentina: Haydon Paddon sets a 27m38.3s.
The Hyundai driver is under Rally2 conditions, as more things went wrong with his i20 than didn't yesterday!
The Hyundai driver is under Rally2 conditions, as more things went wrong with his i20 than didn't yesterday!
WRC - Argentina: No timing for Meeke at the moment, much the same as the Ogier timing issue earlier. We'll bring you Meeke's times when we get to it.
It seems Latvala and Volkswagen's admission that they would be cautious today has come good.
In the battle for second, Latvala is 13.3s down on Ostberg.
It seems Latvala and Volkswagen's admission that they would be cautious today has come good.
In the battle for second, Latvala is 13.3s down on Ostberg.
WRC - Argentina: Tanak is through, 28m31.5s.
Sordo continues to light up the splits, this time fastest through the third.
Sordo continues to light up the splits, this time fastest through the third.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Meeke's first split is in, he's around 9s down on Ogier's time.
It's only the first split though, and the Brit is really racing second placed team-mate Ostberg. He's only around 7s slower than him.
It's only the first split though, and the Brit is really racing second placed team-mate Ostberg. He's only around 7s slower than him.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is through second fastest.
He sets a 27m24.8s, 7.4s off Mikkelsen.
He sets a 27m24.8s, 7.4s off Mikkelsen.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through the second split with a 9m13.7s, 13.3s slower than Sordo.
It's really opening up for Sordo in this stage, as Latvala's poor pace - and more importantly Sordo's lightning speed - is bringing fourth placed Sordo onto the back of the Finn.
The gap was just over 36s before the stage...
It's really opening up for Sordo in this stage, as Latvala's poor pace - and more importantly Sordo's lightning speed - is bringing fourth placed Sordo onto the back of the Finn.
The gap was just over 36s before the stage...
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg is through, only 7.1s down on Mikkelsen's time.
"I'm quite happy about that stage. I'm not feeling too well."
"I'm quite happy about that stage. I'm not feeling too well."
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through the third split, and is well down on Sordo's pace. It's almost 20s, the difference.
Elfyn Evans pops through the end of the stage, sixth overall.
With Latvala seemingly slowing on this stage, there may be an opportunity for fourth for Evans.
Elfyn Evans pops through the end of the stage, sixth overall.
With Latvala seemingly slowing on this stage, there may be an opportunity for fourth for Evans.
WRC - Argentina: Latvala has finished the stage, 27m46.8s is his time.
Sordo has lost time in the final stint, so probably won't steal third from the Finn.
Sordo has lost time in the final stint, so probably won't steal third from the Finn.
WRC - Argentina: Sordo is through 6.7s down on Mikkelsen's time. He doesn't take third overall from Latvala.
WRC - Argentina: Latvala had an off on the stage, which caused him to lose time - and all important rhythm.
"I went off. The car went onto the grass. I was very lucky not to hit a rock."
"I went off. The car went onto the grass. I was very lucky not to hit a rock."
WRC - Argentina: Latvala sounded really shaken at the end of the stage. Sordo can't have helped by basically eroding Latvala's hold on third to nothing.
Sordo is only 14.1s down now.
Sordo is only 14.1s down now.
WRC - Argentina: Sordo lost 10s towards the end of the stage, That would have left him 4s behind Latvala had he not lost that time. It was a braking mistake in a hairpin left that caused the delay.
There is a real chance of a podium for Sordo, here.
There is a real chance of a podium for Sordo, here.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through, eighth on the stage - but more importantly - 20s+ slower than Ostberg.
That erodes Meeke's lead to 32.6s, down from 53.5s.
"I just took it really cautiously," said Meeke
That erodes Meeke's lead to 32.6s, down from 53.5s.
"I just took it really cautiously," said Meeke
WRC - Argentina: So at the end of the stage:
1 Mikkelsen 27m17.4s
2 Sordo +6.7s
3 Ostberg
4 Neuville
5 Ogier
6 Paddon
7 Evans
8 Meeke
9 Latvala
10 Tanak
1 Mikkelsen 27m17.4s
2 Sordo +6.7s
3 Ostberg
4 Neuville
5 Ogier
6 Paddon
7 Evans
8 Meeke
9 Latvala
10 Tanak
WRC - Argentina: And the overall rally order after SS8:
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +32.6
3 Latvala
4 Sordo
5 Evans
6 Prokop
7 Neuville
8 Al Qassimi
9 Al-Kuwari
10 Dominguez
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +32.6
3 Latvala
4 Sordo
5 Evans
6 Prokop
7 Neuville
8 Al Qassimi
9 Al-Kuwari
10 Dominguez
WRC - Argentina: We'll be back with more WRC updates on SS9 - slated to start at 18:54 UK time.
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live, where Rally Argentina is about to resume.
Two more stages today, two tomorrow - this is going to be tense.
Two more stages today, two tomorrow - this is going to be tense.
WRC - Argentina: Here's how the WRC field stands heading into Saturday's second loop:
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +32.6s
3 Latvala +1m07.7s
4 Sordo +1m21.8s
5 Evans +1m57.5s
6 Prokop +4m35.9s
7 Neuville +4m47.7s
8 Al Qassimi +8m10.3s
18 Paddon +22m22.7s
19 Tanak +23m00.5s
22 Mikkelsen +25m14.9s
26 Ogier +34m01.5s
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +32.6s
3 Latvala +1m07.7s
4 Sordo +1m21.8s
5 Evans +1m57.5s
6 Prokop +4m35.9s
7 Neuville +4m47.7s
8 Al Qassimi +8m10.3s
18 Paddon +22m22.7s
19 Tanak +23m00.5s
22 Mikkelsen +25m14.9s
26 Ogier +34m01.5s
WRC - Argentina: Kris Meeke started today 1m08s clear. Two stages (and one spin) later, that gap is down to 32.6s.
On paper, that doesn't look good. But it's his Citroen team-mate Mads Ostberg behind him rather than a marauding VW (the Polos are not doing a lot of marauding this weekend between technical problems and mistakes), and Citroen is not shy about slapping team orders into place to guarantee a good result.
However whether Ostberg (who is quite poorly) is trying to hunt Meeke down or not isn't really the point. Meeke has let one or two chances slip through his fingers over the years, and - pressure or no pressure - simply getting through these long, rough, muddy stages intact at a decent pace is not easy.
Two stages today, two stages tomorrow. A lot of tension ahead, and at the end of it (and we've been shying away from popping this stat in all weekend to avoid jinxing it but ultimately we can't help ourselves...) maybe a first British win in the WRC since Colin McRae's 2002 Safari triumph.
Over to you, Kris Meeke...
On paper, that doesn't look good. But it's his Citroen team-mate Mads Ostberg behind him rather than a marauding VW (the Polos are not doing a lot of marauding this weekend between technical problems and mistakes), and Citroen is not shy about slapping team orders into place to guarantee a good result.
However whether Ostberg (who is quite poorly) is trying to hunt Meeke down or not isn't really the point. Meeke has let one or two chances slip through his fingers over the years, and - pressure or no pressure - simply getting through these long, rough, muddy stages intact at a decent pace is not easy.
Two stages today, two stages tomorrow. A lot of tension ahead, and at the end of it (and we've been shying away from popping this stat in all weekend to avoid jinxing it but ultimately we can't help ourselves...) maybe a first British win in the WRC since Colin McRae's 2002 Safari triumph.
Over to you, Kris Meeke...
Kris Meeke
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Meeke was stopped for a while on the road section from service to this stage. No more information yet, he's on course for the start again now.
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: We kick off the afternoon with Capilla del Monte to San Marcos, which is 14.3 miles long.
Sweary-Twitter-handled Italian WRC2 graduate Lorenzo Bertelli is first on the road after shunting yesterday.
Sweary-Twitter-handled Italian WRC2 graduate Lorenzo Bertelli is first on the road after shunting yesterday.
WRC - Argentina: After that it's the rest of a pretty illustrious Rally2 pack: Ogier, Mikkelsen, Paddon and Tanak.
The first frontrunner is Neuville, who is currently chasing Prokop for sixth overall, a chase that doesn't look like it will take too long with just 12 more seconds to recoup.
Podium contenders Ostberg, Latvala, Sordo and Meeke follow, with Evans and Prokop mingled among them.
The first frontrunner is Neuville, who is currently chasing Prokop for sixth overall, a chase that doesn't look like it will take too long with just 12 more seconds to recoup.
Podium contenders Ostberg, Latvala, Sordo and Meeke follow, with Evans and Prokop mingled among them.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Citroen tells our WRC Live colleagues that Meeke's stop on the road section was to "double check a technical detail" but that everything is fine.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: No surprises on the early splits, Ogier 12s clear of Bertelli over the first few miles.
WRC - Argentina: This is how Meeke summed up this stage when he did our stage descriptions for us at the start of the week (and cheers for that, Kris).
"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."
"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."
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: Hayden Paddon has stopped on the stage. His poor Hyundai has not had a happy weekend and he was already way behind under Rally2.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen is six tenths faster than Ogier on the splits so far.
Today there's just honour to fight for between the delayed VW pair. They're both over 10 minutes away from the points due to their penalties from retiring on Friday, but they took a stage win each in the morning and that'll keep them amused.
The focus for both Ogier and Mikkelsen is tomorrow's El Condor powerstage and trying to salvage the three bonus points available there.
And here's a shot of Ogier's VW in strife yesterday, to prove it really happened in case anyone's still thinking it was a dream.
Today there's just honour to fight for between the delayed VW pair. They're both over 10 minutes away from the points due to their penalties from retiring on Friday, but they took a stage win each in the morning and that'll keep them amused.
The focus for both Ogier and Mikkelsen is tomorrow's El Condor powerstage and trying to salvage the three bonus points available there.
And here's a shot of Ogier's VW in strife yesterday, to prove it really happened in case anyone's still thinking it was a dream.
Sebastien Ogier, VW, stopped, WRC Argentina 2015
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Past the third split and the advantage is Ogier's by a couple of seconds.
This would be quite a decent lead battle between the Polo pair if they weren't massively delayed.
But with no offence whatsoever to VW, it is a nice change to see a couple of DS 3s up front - in contrast to the vibe a few years ago when it was incessant Citroen dominance that grated for some.
On that topic, our Secret Mechanic's latest Formula 1 column on Monday is all about how it feels inside a team as you go from underdog to boring dominator and back again.
This would be quite a decent lead battle between the Polo pair if they weren't massively delayed.
But with no offence whatsoever to VW, it is a nice change to see a couple of DS 3s up front - in contrast to the vibe a few years ago when it was incessant Citroen dominance that grated for some.
On that topic, our Secret Mechanic's latest Formula 1 column on Monday is all about how it feels inside a team as you go from underdog to boring dominator and back again.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: More trouble for Bertelli, who comes through with a puncture. He's struggled to the finish on it and done a fair bit of damage.
We should clarify 'puncture' - in rallying that normally means 'driver smacked tyre against something and broke it' rather than 'tyre spontaneously burst'. Pirelli's Paul Hembery was always very keen to point that one out back when his firm supplied the whole WRC field.
We should clarify 'puncture' - in rallying that normally means 'driver smacked tyre against something and broke it' rather than 'tyre spontaneously burst'. Pirelli's Paul Hembery was always very keen to point that one out back when his firm supplied the whole WRC field.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Ogier sets the benchmark time of 17m19.2s and then reveals he has no power steering.
He says if it doesn't come back for the next stage, he won't bother.
He says if it doesn't come back for the next stage, he won't bother.
WRC - Argentina: Either Ogier was being superheroic, or his problem came on late, or Mikkelsen has a problem too... whatever, Ogier was 5s faster than Mikkelsen at the final split.
Red flag
WRC - Argentina: The stage has been stopped after Tanak. This could be to retrieve Paddon's car. We've heard that the Hyundai crew are OK though, but their i20 might be in a difficult place.
WRC - Argentina: Tanak is coming through at a much reduced pace.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen finishes the stage 5.7s faster than Ogier.
"I took it carefully, it's a tyre-killer that one," he says.
"I took it carefully, it's a tyre-killer that one," he says.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Hyundai confirms that it was a crash that ended Paddon's day, and that he and team-mate Jonathan Kennard are both unhurt.
Waiting for more information about why the stage has been stopped but it's a reasonable guess that the Hyundai needs to be recovered.
Waiting for more information about why the stage has been stopped but it's a reasonable guess that the Hyundai needs to be recovered.
WRC - Argentina: DAVID EVANS fresh from the service park on the mood at Citroen as it runs one-two:
Citroen team principal Yves Matton finds himself in a difficult – but delightful – position of having to decide what, if anything, he says to Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg regarding their pace this afternoon.
Matton declined the opportunity to share his thoughts with AUTOSPORT's readers, but a leading driver from a rival team admitted Matton's position was tough, saying: "What he wants is to keep the drivers first and second in the rally – that's the dream. He has to make sure they don't push and go off the road, but these guys are both chasing their first real win.
"And, there's the added element that Mads is reckoned to be bringing budget to the team – so can he, effectively, ask a customer to slow down?"
Neither Meeke or Ostberg had much to say on the subject of any lunchtime discussion.
Citroen team principal Yves Matton finds himself in a difficult – but delightful – position of having to decide what, if anything, he says to Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg regarding their pace this afternoon.
Matton declined the opportunity to share his thoughts with AUTOSPORT's readers, but a leading driver from a rival team admitted Matton's position was tough, saying: "What he wants is to keep the drivers first and second in the rally – that's the dream. He has to make sure they don't push and go off the road, but these guys are both chasing their first real win.
"And, there's the added element that Mads is reckoned to be bringing budget to the team – so can he, effectively, ask a customer to slow down?"
Neither Meeke or Ostberg had much to say on the subject of any lunchtime discussion.
Kris Meeke, Citroen, WRC Argentina 2015
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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