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Hello and welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live as we kick off another packed weekend of global motorsport action - all of which you can keep abreast of as it happens right here.
The first full day of Rally Argentina commences shortly, and we'll also have updates from qualifying day of IndyCar's debut on the Indianapolis road course, GP2 and GP3 on the Spanish Grand Prix support bill, the latest World Touring Car Championship round in Slovakia, and European Formula 3's visit to the stunning Pau street circuit.
The first full day of Rally Argentina commences shortly, and we'll also have updates from qualifying day of IndyCar's debut on the Indianapolis road course, GP2 and GP3 on the Spanish Grand Prix support bill, the latest World Touring Car Championship round in Slovakia, and European Formula 3's visit to the stunning Pau street circuit.
WRC - Argentina: We're four rounds into the 2014 WRC season, and reigning champion Sebastien Ogier is starting to assert his authority, with Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala's crash last time out in Portugal a month ago having allowed the reigning champion to make a break in the points.
Championship standings after four of 13 rounds:
1 Sebastien Ogier 91
2 Jari-Matti Latvala 62
3 Mads Ostberg 48
4 Andreas Mikkelsen 36
5 Mikko Hirvonen 36
6 Thierry Neuville 21
(25 points for a win, plus bonuses)
Championship standings after four of 13 rounds:
1 Sebastien Ogier 91
2 Jari-Matti Latvala 62
3 Mads Ostberg 48
4 Andreas Mikkelsen 36
5 Mikko Hirvonen 36
6 Thierry Neuville 21
(25 points for a win, plus bonuses)
Carlos Sainz
WRC - Argentina: One thing is certain in Argentina this week: we will have a new winner. Unless Sebastien Loeb or Carlos Sainz have a made a very, very late entry. Now that would be fever.
Here's a shot of Sainz on the way to winning for Ford in 2002 to underline that.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: We had a quick superspecial yesterday afternoon to get things underway, and Sebastien Ogier was quickest.
Here's how the order currently looks:
Rally Argentina Thursday report
Here's how the order currently looks:
Rally Argentina Thursday report
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: Our first stage of the day is go, and it's the relatively civilised 27 kilometres of Santa Catalina first as a warm-up for the mighty 51km Ascochinga that follows.
WRC - Argentina: You've got two ways to follow Rally Argentina on AUTOSPORT this weekend: here on Race Centre Live for text commentary and updates from all around the motorsport world, too, and - for the first time - with radio commentary from the WRC Live team.
F1 - Spain: And as well as your Race Centre Live and WRC Live screens, we recommend a third AUTOSPORT tab for our F1 Live coverage, with practice two for the Spanish Grand Prix now on and rolling news updates from the paddock afterwards.
WRC - Argentina: The 17-mile Santa Catalina-La Pampa that opens proceedings today is the rally's most northerly stage.
Before arriving at the start earlier, the drivers will have 'enjoyed' a 60-mile road section starting at 0715.
Before arriving at the start earlier, the drivers will have 'enjoyed' a 60-mile road section starting at 0715.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Problems already with M-Sport saying that Mikko Hirvonen has gone off the road seven kilometres onto the stage!
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: And now news of drama for Citroen's Mads Ostberg too. He's stopped as well, though no indication yet if it's mechanical trouble or an accident.
WRC - Argentina: We expected today to be extremely difficult, here's what the drivers were saying last night about just how bad the Friday stage conditions were:
Drivers fear toughest Rally Argentina
Drivers fear toughest Rally Argentina
Crash
WRC - Argentina: M-Sport has confirmed that both Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen were unhurt in their crash. Word at the stage end is that it was a hefty impact.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Ogier completes the stage without problems, and sounding so very chilled you'd almost call it cocky...
"Lots of drama? I didn't see any... For me it was OK. We knew this stage would be a hard one, we saw it on the recce, but it was not as bad as we thought."
"Lots of drama? I didn't see any... For me it was OK. We knew this stage would be a hard one, we saw it on the recce, but it was not as bad as we thought."
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Confirmation that it's a crash for Ostberg as well. He's lost a wheel from his Citroen.
WRC - Argentina: Jari-Matti Latvala completes the stage 2.8s slower than rally-leading VW team-mate Ogier.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: More detail on the Ostberg incident - he hit a rock after 16kms, taking a wheel off the DS3.
WRC - Argentina: Andreas Mikkelsen is third fastest, 4s down on Ogier in what is a VW one-two-three for now...
...and is probably going to be for quite a while unless Kris Meeke or the Hyundai boys can do something special.
...and is probably going to be for quite a while unless Kris Meeke or the Hyundai boys can do something special.
WRC - Argentina: One Hyundai through safely as Thierry Neuville completes the stage fourth fastest, 8s down on Ogier.
WRC - Argentina: Possibility of trouble for the other Hyundai, though, with reports that Dani Sordo is slow on the stage.
WRC - Argentina: Very careful pace from Elfyn Evans, who is 47s slower than Ogier's time.
The Welshman did promise pre-rally that he was going to be taking it very easy this weekend.
The Welshman did promise pre-rally that he was going to be taking it very easy this weekend.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke slots the Citroen into fourth place, between Mikkelsen and Neuville.
WRC - Argentina: We're only five minutes away from the next stage starting, and it's the big one.
The Ascochinga-Agua de Oro is the longest stage of the rally – but not the longest of the season so far. At 32.23 miles, it is still 1.13 miles shorter than the Otates monster in Mexico.
Ogier was quickest through that stage at 36m40.1s – how close to the half-hour mark can the stage winner get through this one?
The Ascochinga-Agua de Oro is the longest stage of the rally – but not the longest of the season so far. At 32.23 miles, it is still 1.13 miles shorter than the Otates monster in Mexico.
Ogier was quickest through that stage at 36m40.1s – how close to the half-hour mark can the stage winner get through this one?
WRC - Argentina: Ascochinga is the stage that Kris Meeke has some experience of from his time competing on this event as a round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
"I did about 10 or 12 miles of Ascochinga in the Peugeot [207 S2000] and it was a great stage, one I really enjoyed," he said.
Despite his limited experience of the stage, Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle made a fresh set of pace notes for this and every Argentina test.
"I did about 10 or 12 miles of Ascochinga in the Peugeot [207 S2000] and it was a great stage, one I really enjoyed," he said.
Despite his limited experience of the stage, Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle made a fresh set of pace notes for this and every Argentina test.
WRC - Argentina: Robert Kubica won't be too far behind Sordo's limping Hyundai on the road at the end of this stage.
WRC - Argentina: Kubica is the slowest of the healthy cars on that stage, a minute off Ogier's time.
After crashing... a lot... throughout the season so far, Kubica is changing his approach this weekend and just focusing on getting to the finish. So don't expect anything spectacular from the popular Pole for now.
After crashing... a lot... throughout the season so far, Kubica is changing his approach this weekend and just focusing on getting to the finish. So don't expect anything spectacular from the popular Pole for now.
WRC - Argentina: Sordo lost three minutes due to whatever is wrong with his Hyundai. He didn't stop to speak to reporters at the end of the stage so we're not yet sure of the nature of his drama.
Lights out
WRC - Argentina: Ascochinga is go, Ogier begins the 51kms.
Checkered flag
WRC - Argentina - SS2 results:
Stage:
1 Ogier 18m25.8s
2 Latvala +2.8s
3 Mikkelsen +4.4s
4 Meeke +6.7s
5 Neuville +8.9s
6 Ketomaa +47.4s
Overall:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +7.0s
3 Mikkelsen +7.9s
4 Neuville +14.3s
5 Meeke +16.0s
6 Ketomaa +56.9s
Stage:
1 Ogier 18m25.8s
2 Latvala +2.8s
3 Mikkelsen +4.4s
4 Meeke +6.7s
5 Neuville +8.9s
6 Ketomaa +47.4s
Overall:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala +7.0s
3 Mikkelsen +7.9s
4 Neuville +14.3s
5 Meeke +16.0s
6 Ketomaa +56.9s
WRC - Argentina: Yes, that is WRC2 man Jari Ketomaa in sixth overall - thanks to outpacing Evans, Kubica and Prokop's World Rally Cars, and getting through unscathed.
WRC - Argentina: Frantic work going on in the refuelling area before SS3 as Sordo tries to fix his Hyundai i20. Doesn't look like it was damage to suspension, judging by where Sordo and co-driver Marc Marti are delving under the bonnet.
Dog
WRC - Argentina: These are hard times at M-Sport already, with its lead runner Hirvonen out of action after that shunt into a wall, and Evans and Kubica both in play-safe tip-toe mode.
But at least team members can cheer themselves up by chatting to a dog this weekend.
This is M-Sport's Rally Argentina dog, hard to say if it's the same one as last year, but they always seem to adopt a stray for the week. The dog was pretty relaxed about Robert Kubica's choice of soft tyres for the rally's opening loop.
WRC - Argentina: Not for the first time in recent WRC history, we're not getting any split times to allow us to keep you updated on drivers' progress on this monster stage.
Neither are we hearing of any dramas, though, with team radios quiet and the tracking system looking smooth.
Back at the stage start, Sordo is continuing to work on his Hyundai, looks like the turbocharger is the issue.
Neither are we hearing of any dramas, though, with team radios quiet and the tracking system looking smooth.
Back at the stage start, Sordo is continuing to work on his Hyundai, looks like the turbocharger is the issue.
WRC - Argentina: Looks like Sordo and Marti have decided the problem can't be fixed before service. They're putting the i20 back together again and seem resigned to limping through this next stage too.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Ott Tanak, who is in WRC2 this weekend, has crashed out on the first stage of the day. Waiting for more details.
European F3 - Pau: Pau is one of the most sensational places to watch the planet's young guns in action. The tortuous, narrow twists are a fantastic barometer of who's quick - it's the one place where you don't need live timing to find that out.
AUTOSPORT went to the last chicane leading onto the flat-out swerves to the start-finish line for the first free practice session, and to the fast Parc Beaumont right-hander for the second.
Pau European F3 practice report
AUTOSPORT went to the last chicane leading onto the flat-out swerves to the start-finish line for the first free practice session, and to the fast Parc Beaumont right-hander for the second.
Pau European F3 practice report
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Reports coming in that Tanak and co-driver Raigo Mulder were unhurt in what is said to have been a pretty monster crash on SS2.
They went off at the same spot where Ostberg had shunted his Citroen.
They went off at the same spot where Ostberg had shunted his Citroen.
Breaking news
WRC - Argentina: If you're just joining us, cars aren't far from the end of the mega 51km Ascochinga stage, and here are the Friday morning headlines so far...
* Hirvonen and Ostberg both crash out on the opening stage
* Sordo limping through off the pace with suspected turbo problems
* Ogier leads an early VW 1-2-3 with Meeke and Neuville chasing
* Hirvonen and Ostberg both crash out on the opening stage
* Sordo limping through off the pace with suspected turbo problems
* Ogier leads an early VW 1-2-3 with Meeke and Neuville chasing
WRC - Argentina: Ogier completes the stage without issues. He does think running first on the road cost him in places though.
"Good drive, good stage. Some sections were OK, still a little bit damp and I didn't lose too much, but some were dry and for sure I'm going to lose time there. But I'm happy with my driving."
"Good drive, good stage. Some sections were OK, still a little bit damp and I didn't lose too much, but some were dry and for sure I'm going to lose time there. But I'm happy with my driving."
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Ogier was right to be sceptical, Latvala is 10s faster and takes over the rally lead!
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Latvala says conditions were pretty decent.
"For me it was surprisingly good grip, maybe it was worse for [Ogier] being first on the road."
"For me it was surprisingly good grip, maybe it was worse for [Ogier] being first on the road."
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Mark Glendenning, Dan Cross, Marcus Simmons, Peter Mills, Scott Mitchell
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