WRC Argentina
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WRC - Argentina: No surprises on the early splits, Ogier 12s clear of Bertelli over the first few miles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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: We'll be back with more WRC updates on SS9 - slated to start at 18:54 UK time.
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: 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
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: 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.
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: 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: Sordo is through 6.7s down on Mikkelsen's time. He doesn't take third overall from Latvala.
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: 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.
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 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...
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.
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: 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.
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: 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!
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: 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: 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: Ogier's overall time is a 27m30.1s.
"I expected quite a difficult stage. It's really demanding," he said.
"I expected quite a difficult stage. It's really demanding," he said.
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen is through the final split, 10s up on Ogier still.
Ostberg is around 2s down on Mikkelsen's pace so far. The under-the-weather Citroen driver will be pleased if he can keep up that pace.
Latvala has gone through the first split, around 8s down on Mikkelsen. He isn't really racing his team-mate, though.
Ostberg is around 2s down on Mikkelsen's pace so far. The under-the-weather Citroen driver will be pleased if he can keep up that pace.
Latvala has gone through the first split, around 8s down on Mikkelsen. He isn't really racing his team-mate, though.
WRC - Argentina: Evans is through the first split, 6m07s. That's around 10s off Mikkelsen.
Next through that split is Meeke, then Latvala.
Next through that split is Meeke, then Latvala.
WRC - Argentina: Through the final split, Ogier is 55.3s up on Bertelli.
It's Mikkelsen we are watching though, the Norwegian has been quickest through every split so far.
It's Mikkelsen we are watching though, the Norwegian has been quickest through every split so far.
WRC - Argentina: Second placed man Ostberg is through the first split, 1.6s down on Mikkelsen's benchmark.
Speaking of Mikkelsen, he's around 10s up on Ogier through the penultimate split.
Speaking of Mikkelsen, he's around 10s up on Ogier through the penultimate split.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Ogier's timing, or lack there of, seems to have been fixed.
At the fifth split, he's 47.7s up on Bertelli.
Ogier is down in 32nd at the moment though after his engine trouble yesterday.
At the fifth split, he's 47.7s up on Bertelli.
Ogier is down in 32nd at the moment though after his engine trouble yesterday.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is the first non-Rally2 car through the first split. He sets a 6m04.9, down on Mikkelsen's split.
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen comes through the third split, and he's up on Ogier.
The Norwegian is around 8s up on the Frenchman.
The Norwegian is around 8s up on the Frenchman.
WRC - Argentina: FINALLY a split time for Ogier!
Through the third split, he's 38.8s up on Bertelli.
Through the third split, he's 38.8s up on Bertelli.
WRC - Argentina: We have Mikkelsen's second split time, and it's a 9m01.6s, 30.8s up on Bertelli.
Still nothing on the timing screens for Ogier, but he is moving on the tracker.
The third Volkswagen, Jari-Matti Latvala is into the stage now.
Still nothing on the timing screens for Ogier, but he is moving on the tracker.
The third Volkswagen, Jari-Matti Latvala is into the stage now.
WRC - Argentina: The order on the stage is Bertelli, Ogier, Mikkelsen, so theoretically we should have had Ogier's split first.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Mikkelsen is through the first split, 19.6s up on Bertelli.
Ogier is moving on the tracker, so we're blaming timing screen issues for the absence of a time for the reigning champion.
Ogier is moving on the tracker, so we're blaming timing screen issues for the absence of a time for the reigning champion.
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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