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Latvala is hitting his stride, and is now the fastest man through the superstage. He's just over a second ahead of Ogier's time and just 0.2s quicker than Paddon.
That ensures that the top three will remain as Latvala leading Paddon and Ogier.
That ensures that the top three will remain as Latvala leading Paddon and Ogier.
WRC
Ogier has spoken: "I had a great morning and I've done what I can. I didn't benefit much from the road cleaning. I'll do my own race and see where I end."
WRC
The observant of you will probably have noticed that there's no return for 2015 Rally Argentina winner Kris Meeke here. Meeke is conducting a part-time campaign as Citroen focus on 2017.
The new-for-2017 Citroen has been testing and has made a promising start:
The new-for-2017 Citroen has been testing and has made a promising start:
WRC
Autosport in the thick of the action, as you can see in the last tweet.
David Evans
With a gap in the running, now is a good time to check on David Evans. Our man is an ever-present in the WRC paddock, but one man who can't say that this week is Malcolm Wilson:
"The M-Sport World Rally Team’s missing something in Argentina… it’s team principal Malcolm Wilson. For the first time since 1997, the Cumbrian hasn’t made the trip to a round of the WRC with his squad.
"MW had an operation on his ankle just after Mexico and was advised that travelling 7,000 miles to South America wasn’t ideal recuperation.
"On the up side, M-Sport’s pre-event party was longer and louder than ever before under stand-in boss Rich Millener. Just kidding, Malcolm."
"The M-Sport World Rally Team’s missing something in Argentina… it’s team principal Malcolm Wilson. For the first time since 1997, the Cumbrian hasn’t made the trip to a round of the WRC with his squad.
"MW had an operation on his ankle just after Mexico and was advised that travelling 7,000 miles to South America wasn’t ideal recuperation.
"On the up side, M-Sport’s pre-event party was longer and louder than ever before under stand-in boss Rich Millener. Just kidding, Malcolm."
WRC
Sordo is 12.3s slower at the final split. With Latvala looking quick, Sordo could find himself falling further away and Mikkelsen will move ahead of him overall.
F3
Talking of Gunther, by a million to one chance there's a driver called Max Gunther from Germany competing in the Kia Cup support race. When Autosport told the F3 Maxi Gunther that he had a namesake driving around in a lurching, underpowered tin-top, he just looked like a very bemused, confused German.
WRC
That would suggest Ostberg is playing it safe and looking to score reasonable points.
Behind him, Mikkelsen is much closer to Ogier and finishes the stage 2.8s off. Will he edge closer to the lead battle at the end of this stage? He's currently fifth.
Behind him, Mikkelsen is much closer to Ogier and finishes the stage 2.8s off. Will he edge closer to the lead battle at the end of this stage? He's currently fifth.
F3
For those who like their motorsport with four sticking-out wheels and on a track, the F3 European Championship weekend at the Hungaroring has started. Sadly for George Russell, his pole position for race one has been taken away retrospectively because he was deemed NOT to be on the track, so he will start second behind Maximilan Gunther. Which puts Russell's post-qualifying quip into an unfortunate perspective, Remembering that his car had been chucked out of Q2 at Paul Ricard due to insufficient fuel for a sample, he jested: "Hopefully we'll get through scrutineering!"
WRC
Ostberg has finished the stage now, and he's 17.3s down on Ogier's time.
"It was okay, quite good, and I'm happy."
"It was okay, quite good, and I'm happy."
WRC
If the conditions are improving, it suggest Ogier bossed the stage. No-one is currently running quicker, other than Latvala. Mikkelsen is 2.2s slower at the third split, Sordo is 7.2 off at the second and Paddon in 1.2s off at the same point.
WRC
Ogier now through, with dry dust on the car. It suggests conditions are improving which will favour his rivals. His stage time is 14m07.0s.
"I did a very good stage, but it's much drier now. I'm happy with my pace. For the first time this morning I was able to drive at the limit and the car had good pace."
"I did a very good stage, but it's much drier now. I'm happy with my pace. For the first time this morning I was able to drive at the limit and the car had good pace."
WRC
A sigh of relief for Ogier didn't last long. The first split now has Latvala fly past with the fastest time. It was 0.2s quicker than Ogier. Latvala could soon be in a position to battle for the Argentina win.
WRC
Further back, Paddon passes the first split only 0.4s down. He'll need to pick up some time to take Ogier's rally lead at the end of SS4.
WRC
At the second split, Ostberg is 10.9s slower. Mikkelsen, though,h is just 3.3s off Ogier's second split lead time. The Frenchman has also passed the third split, his time is 11m20.8s.
WRC
Breathing space for Ogier's lead? Sordo is 3.6s down on Ogier's first split. He's also 0.6s slower than Mikkelsen too at the same point, so there's an interesting fight for positions across the overall top five.
WRC
In WRC2, Evans is heading back to service. They were unable to fix the electrical issue. Not a happy return to the world stage so far.
By: Matt Beer
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