WRC Argentina
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WRC - Argentina: Bertelli also through the second split now, 9m32.4s.
No sign of a time for Ogier through the first split, we'll bring you that when we get it.
No sign of a time for Ogier through the first split, we'll bring you that when we get it.
FR3.5 - Aragon: Rowland headed Fortec team-mate Jazeman Jaafar by 2.117s.
DAMS racer Dean Stoneman demonstated strong pace from mid-race to complete the podium.
1 Rowland; 2 Jafaar; 3 Stoneman; 4 Vaxiviere; 5 Van Buuren; 6 Fantin.
DAMS racer Dean Stoneman demonstated strong pace from mid-race to complete the podium.
1 Rowland; 2 Jafaar; 3 Stoneman; 4 Vaxiviere; 5 Van Buuren; 6 Fantin.
WRC - Argentina: The first five cars to come through - including Ogier - are all running under Rally2 after issues yesterday.
Neuville is the first 'proper' runner in the order.
Neuville is the first 'proper' runner in the order.
Checkered flag
FR3.5 - Aragon: Oliver Rowland kicks off the FR3.5 season with a victory.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: We're still waiting for Bertelli to hit the first split at 5 miles.
Just as we type, he reaches it and gives us our first benchmark. 6m18.8s.
Just as we type, he reaches it and gives us our first benchmark. 6m18.8s.
WRC - Argentina: Our first stage winner from this morning - running under Rally2 - Sebastien Ogier, is into the stage.
WRC - Argentina: Not only will the long stage provide natural gaps between split times, the cars set off at three instead of two minute intervals for this stage.
This should help the drivers complaining with being caught up in dust this morning.
This should help the drivers complaining with being caught up in dust this morning.
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: San Marcos - Characato is go, with Lorenzo Bertelli first to get underway.
World RX - Montalegre: Wet and changeable conditions for open practice at Montalegre as the 2015 World Rallycross season gets going..
Reinging champ Petter Solberg initially set the fastest time, before being headed by Swede Timmy Hansen. The pair maintained their positions at the top of the order for most of the session, before Mattias Ekstrom took top spot in the closing minutes. Solberg dropped to sixth.
Times:
1. Mattias Ekstrom 41.102s
2. Timmy Hansen 41.513s
3. Johan Kristoffersson 41.525s
4. Reinis Nitiss 41.689s
5. PG Andersson 41.776s
6. Petter Solberg 41.858s
7. Timur Timerzyanov 42.059s
8. Toomas Heikkinen 42.154s
9. Anton Marklund 42.346s
10. Andreas Bakkerud 42.427s
Reinging champ Petter Solberg initially set the fastest time, before being headed by Swede Timmy Hansen. The pair maintained their positions at the top of the order for most of the session, before Mattias Ekstrom took top spot in the closing minutes. Solberg dropped to sixth.
Times:
1. Mattias Ekstrom 41.102s
2. Timmy Hansen 41.513s
3. Johan Kristoffersson 41.525s
4. Reinis Nitiss 41.689s
5. PG Andersson 41.776s
6. Petter Solberg 41.858s
7. Timur Timerzyanov 42.059s
8. Toomas Heikkinen 42.154s
9. Anton Marklund 42.346s
10. Andreas Bakkerud 42.427s
WRC - Argentina: Another thing to keep in mind for this stage is the lack of onboard splits.
Drivers have no idea were they are in terms of pace relative to other cars, so finding a key rhythm is key, but also extremely difficult.
All will be revealed in 15 minutes time.
Drivers have no idea were they are in terms of pace relative to other cars, so finding a key rhythm is key, but also extremely difficult.
All will be revealed in 15 minutes time.
FR3.5 - Aragon: Leader van Buuren is in effect P8, when his time penalty is applied.
FR3.5 - Aragon: Gustav Malja, the first Swede in FR3.5 for nine years, is making good progress from last on the grid and is challenging Roberto Merhi for 10th.
WRC - Argentina: Despite the shortening of SS8, it's still comfortably the longest of the day.
Reports coming in from the stage say there is a mud bath around a mile or so into the stage. Should make things interesting.
Reports coming in from the stage say there is a mud bath around a mile or so into the stage. Should make things interesting.
FR3.5 - Aragon: Race officials have handed van Buuren a 20s penalty for jumping the start. The Dutchman is leading by 4.2s on the road.
The decision leaves a Fortec one-two at the front. Oliver Rowland has a 0.840s margin over Jazeman Jaafar.
Dean Stoneman is third, but under pressure from pole man Vaxiviere.
The decision leaves a Fortec one-two at the front. Oliver Rowland has a 0.840s margin over Jazeman Jaafar.
Dean Stoneman is third, but under pressure from pole man Vaxiviere.
FR3.5 - Aragon: Race leader van Buuren is under investigation for a jump start.
It's difficult to tell from the replay, but it was certainly an impressive getaway.
It's difficult to tell from the replay, but it was certainly an impressive getaway.
WRC - Argentina: Next up in around 30 minutes is San Marcos to Characato - SS8. it runs shortened today thanks to the Argentinian weather.
Those of you who have followed Live through the weekend will be well aware of the man bringing us previews on Rally Argentina's stages. He just so happens to be rally leader, Kris Meeke.
"For me this is the trickiest stage of the rally – even with the first 14 kilometres cut out of it. We never got to look at that part of the road, but from the pictures I’ve seen, you would have struggled to get a tractor through there.
"But the rest of it is definitely not easy. The corners are quite tight, there’s lots of tall grass either side and it’s so narrow in places. You’re coming into stuff at high speed and you’re immediately into a short corner with no margin at all.
"And, don’t forget, we have no split times this year, so you really have to be able to gauge your own rhythm to try and feel how close to the pace you are. When you’re in the car on these stages for 30 minutes or so, it’s not easy. On this rally, though, we’re looking for our own rhythm – we just have to drive our own event. I’m not chasing a win here.”
Those of you who have followed Live through the weekend will be well aware of the man bringing us previews on Rally Argentina's stages. He just so happens to be rally leader, Kris Meeke.
"For me this is the trickiest stage of the rally – even with the first 14 kilometres cut out of it. We never got to look at that part of the road, but from the pictures I’ve seen, you would have struggled to get a tractor through there.
"But the rest of it is definitely not easy. The corners are quite tight, there’s lots of tall grass either side and it’s so narrow in places. You’re coming into stuff at high speed and you’re immediately into a short corner with no margin at all.
"And, don’t forget, we have no split times this year, so you really have to be able to gauge your own rhythm to try and feel how close to the pace you are. When you’re in the car on these stages for 30 minutes or so, it’s not easy. On this rally, though, we’re looking for our own rhythm – we just have to drive our own event. I’m not chasing a win here.”
FR3.5 - Aragon: Vaxiviere lost ground running wide and is fifth on lap two. An incident at Turn 5 has resulted in both Tech 1 cars being delayed.
Aurelien Panis, son of Oliver, has pitted, along with Beitske Visser who stopped at the end of the formation lap. Egor Orudzhev has been wheeled into the Arden garage, while sixth starter Tom Dillmann is 16th.
Aurelien Panis, son of Oliver, has pitted, along with Beitske Visser who stopped at the end of the formation lap. Egor Orudzhev has been wheeled into the Arden garage, while sixth starter Tom Dillmann is 16th.
Green flag
FR3.5 - Aragon: Everything did not go "normally" for Vaxiviere. Team-mate van Buuren has squeezed ahead at Turn 1 to take the lead from third on the grid.
Quote
FR3.5 - Aragon: Polesitter Matthieu Vaviviere is confident over his race prospects:
"The wind in qualifying was different today. On my first lap I pushed, but only to about 95 per cent, as I knew I was not on the best set of tyres to do the pole position.
"The second run I pushed like I know how ,but it was really tight. I am happy to be on pole, now we need to win.
"I am really confident for the starts, I have done a lot of practice. If everything goes normally we can win the race."
"The wind in qualifying was different today. On my first lap I pushed, but only to about 95 per cent, as I knew I was not on the best set of tyres to do the pole position.
"The second run I pushed like I know how ,but it was really tight. I am happy to be on pole, now we need to win.
"I am really confident for the starts, I have done a lot of practice. If everything goes normally we can win the race."
Matthieu Vaxiviere, Lotus, Aragon FR3.5 2015
NASCAR - Richmond: Joey Logano continued his brilliant form with another pole position for this weekend's Richmond race.
Former team-mate Denny Hamlin wasn't far behind, and he bounced back to winning ways in the Xfinity series last night - after missing the last Sprint Cup race with a neck injury.
Former team-mate Denny Hamlin wasn't far behind, and he bounced back to winning ways in the Xfinity series last night - after missing the last Sprint Cup race with a neck injury.
Breaking news
FR3.5 - Aragon: While we await SS8 in Argentina, it's time to catch up with the other goings on from around the racing world.
Matthieu Vaxiviere reinforced his pre-season form with pole-position at Aragon in FR3.5.
Matthieu Vaxiviere reinforced his pre-season form with pole-position at Aragon in FR3.5.
WRC - Argentina: Just over an hour until SS8, there will be three minute gaps between cars, allowing for better visibility with dust causing problems this morning.
WRC - Argentina: The WRC2 runners are coming through now.
Protasov is through and comforatbly faster than overall leader Al-Kuwari.
The problem for the Ukranian is the 15+ minutes of penalties he incurred yesterday for driving on the road section without a wheel, and with his co-driver sat on the bonnet for counterweight.
That penalty is another thing that's made Malcolm Wilson pretty cross.
Protasov is through and comforatbly faster than overall leader Al-Kuwari.
The problem for the Ukranian is the 15+ minutes of penalties he incurred yesterday for driving on the road section without a wheel, and with his co-driver sat on the bonnet for counterweight.
That penalty is another thing that's made Malcolm Wilson pretty cross.
WRC - Argentina: And overall:
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +53.5s
3 Latvala +1m06.3s
4 Sordo
5 Evans
1 Meeke
2 Ostberg +53.5s
3 Latvala +1m06.3s
4 Sordo
5 Evans
WRC - Argentina: The stage result:
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen
3 Latvala
4 Ostberg
5 Paddon
6 Sordo
7 Evans
8 Meeke
9 Neuville
10 Bertelli
1 Ogier
2 Mikkelsen
3 Latvala
4 Ostberg
5 Paddon
6 Sordo
7 Evans
8 Meeke
9 Neuville
10 Bertelli
WRC - Argentina: Al Qassimi is the last WRC runner through with a 18m34.6s. He had a nice uneventful day yesterday.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is next up, and he's 21s down on Ogier, 17m52.1s overall.
"It's very dusty and I just got mixed up with my braking," Meeke explains about his spin.
"We had to stop and reverse."
He's only lost 15s or so to second placed man Ostberg.
"It's very dusty and I just got mixed up with my braking," Meeke explains about his spin.
"We had to stop and reverse."
He's only lost 15s or so to second placed man Ostberg.
WRC - Argentina: Prokop is the slowest car through so far, with an 18m12.7s.
He had anti-roll bar issues yesterday.
"Its a very rough stage," Prokop repeats the sentiments of most of the drivers through so far. Rough is the word of the day.
He had anti-roll bar issues yesterday.
"Its a very rough stage," Prokop repeats the sentiments of most of the drivers through so far. Rough is the word of the day.
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.
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: 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.
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: 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."
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.
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: 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.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke comes through the first split SLOWEST of anybody so far, 5.3s down on Bertelli.
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."
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
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.
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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