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WRC - Spain: Sordo is 1.1s slower than Latvala and that ensures he will be second on the road for tomorrow's gravel stages.
The Spaniard insists that his tactical drive began on Friday night, his backing-off on SS3 enabling him to have an easier time of it today.
The official time gap is now 1.6s in Latvala's favour.
The Spaniard insists that his tactical drive began on Friday night, his backing-off on SS3 enabling him to have an easier time of it today.
The official time gap is now 1.6s in Latvala's favour.
WRC - Spain: Latvala is 0.4s slower than Ogier, so the Frenchman is now 45.8s off the lead.
The Finn is adamant Sordo won't beat his time, saying : "Sordo will not beat me here. He wants to be second on the road tomorrow. I just have to hope the weather will help me."
He's frustrated he's slower than Ogier. "I needed the PowerStage points for the championship."
The Finn is adamant Sordo won't beat his time, saying : "Sordo will not beat me here. He wants to be second on the road tomorrow. I just have to hope the weather will help me."
He's frustrated he's slower than Ogier. "I needed the PowerStage points for the championship."
Stopwatch
WRC - Spain: No sign of oddball tactics yet as Ogier comes through to the stage end in 15m39.6s.
"If anyone wants to play games at the front, they're stupid," says the Frenchman.
"If anyone wants to play games at the front, they're stupid," says the Frenchman.
Green flag
WRC - Spain: Stage 8, the PowerStage through Colldejou, is now underway. Sordo is currently the fastest man at the opening split with Ogier gaining fractionally on Latvala.
WRC - Spain: Just like the old days for Gwyndaf Evans with Howard Davies on his right.
And, if we were being terribly unkind, we'd say eating...
The Welsh pair, who made 19 WRC appearances together between 1987 and 2000, are in Spain supporting Evans' son Elfyn, currently second in WRC2 to Robert Kubica.
Quote
WRC - Spain: And Ogier's certainly not ruling himself out of the fight for the lead.
"The puncture doesn't change my tactic for this event," he said. "The tactic was always the same to come here and see what we could do. Now they have to play their tactic tonight and we can see what will happen tomorrow. But for sure, I don't give up on winning this race."
"The puncture doesn't change my tactic for this event," he said. "The tactic was always the same to come here and see what we could do. Now they have to play their tactic tonight and we can see what will happen tomorrow. But for sure, I don't give up on winning this race."
F3 Cup - Snetterton: There are three big names out in Norfolk, all on track in a bid to qualify for the Macau Grand Prix next month.
Carlos Sainz Jr and Antonio Felix da Costa, neither of whom have raced F3 cars since last year's Macau race, have qualified first and second, 0.010s apart.
Formula Renault graduate Esteban Ocon, who will drive for Prema Powerteam at Macau, will start the opening race from fourth spot in his Lanan Racing Dallara-Mercedes F305.
Carlos Sainz Jr and Antonio Felix da Costa, neither of whom have raced F3 cars since last year's Macau race, have qualified first and second, 0.010s apart.
Formula Renault graduate Esteban Ocon, who will drive for Prema Powerteam at Macau, will start the opening race from fourth spot in his Lanan Racing Dallara-Mercedes F305.
WRC - Spain: This is not looking too bad for Ogier. Remember, the running order for tomorrow's gravel stage is set by how they stand after the next stage, rather than after SS9.
If Ogier can get up to the tail of Neuville, around 33s off Latvala, by the end of SS8, which is also the PowerStage, he'll be fourth on the road tomorrow and could well be in the pound seat to close on the road-sweepers rapidly.
A fascinating evening awaits...
If Ogier can get up to the tail of Neuville, around 33s off Latvala, by the end of SS8, which is also the PowerStage, he'll be fourth on the road tomorrow and could well be in the pound seat to close on the road-sweepers rapidly.
A fascinating evening awaits...
WRC - Spain: Positions after SS7: 1 Latvala, 1h47m52.6s; 2 Sordo, +0.1s; 3 Neuville, +32.4s; 4 Ogier, +46.2s; 5 Hirvonen, +47.8s; 6 Novikov, +53.9s; 7 Ostberg, +2m16.6s; 8 Paddon, +2m38.9s; 9 Prokop, +2m45.7s; 10 Kubica, +3m29.9s.
WRC - Spain: SS7 times: 1 Ogier, 23m35.4s; 2 Latvala, +0.6s; 3 Sordo, +0.7s; 4 Neuville, +1.6s; 5 Hirvonen, +7.9s; 6 Novikov, +8.1s; 7 Ostberg, +18.0s; 8 Paddon, +26.4s; 9 Prokop, +33.4s; 10 Kubica, +35.1s.
WRC - Spain: Kubica remains the top WRC2 man in 10th, but the WRC machiners of Al-Attiyah and Al-Qassimi lost far less time on this stage than previously.
Al-Qassimi has actually grabbed 13th from Al-Kuwari on that stage.
Al-Qassimi has actually grabbed 13th from Al-Kuwari on that stage.
WRC - Spain: Ostberg and Paddon are now through the stage, but their battle for seventh does seem to be at an end.
Ostberg is 8.4s faster than Paddon, so there's now 22.3s between them.
Paddon has pulled back 7s on Prokop, however, and that means he's now back up to eighth. The Kiwi is far happier with his car, now minus the broken right-front wheel.
Ostberg is 8.4s faster than Paddon, so there's now 22.3s between them.
Paddon has pulled back 7s on Prokop, however, and that means he's now back up to eighth. The Kiwi is far happier with his car, now minus the broken right-front wheel.
WRC - Spain: Hirvonen comes through, 7.9s slower than Ogier and that means he's lost a spot to the Frenchman.
Novikov is next past the finish line. He's 0.2s slower than Hirvonen, which means Ogier has passed the Russian too.
Ogier is now fourth and 13.8s behind Neuville in the final podium spot.
Novikov is next past the finish line. He's 0.2s slower than Hirvonen, which means Ogier has passed the Russian too.
Ogier is now fourth and 13.8s behind Neuville in the final podium spot.
WRC - Spain: A much better time from Neuville, who is slowest, but only 1.6s off Ogier's marker.
He says wholesale setup changes have eradicated the understeer suffered so far.
He says wholesale setup changes have eradicated the understeer suffered so far.
WRC - Spain: Latvala is 0.6s slower than Ogier through the stage. The Frenchman has cut the gap to the former leader to 46.2s.
Sordo comes through 0.1s adrift of Latvala, and that means that the Finn has taken the outright lead of the event for the first time.
Sordo comes through 0.1s adrift of Latvala, and that means that the Finn has taken the outright lead of the event for the first time.
Stopwatch
WRC - Spain: 23m35.4s is the time for Ogier through the stage. That looks to be about 1.5s up on anybody else.
He reaches the end of the stage without any sense of emotion on his face.
He reaches the end of the stage without any sense of emotion on his face.
Green flag
WRC - Spain: The lunchbreak is over and the seventh stage of the Rally of Spain, the second run through El Priorat, is underway.
Ogier is first on the road, having spent service having his puncture changed and working out how hard he really wants to push this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's gravel stages.
WRC - Spain: You can read a full round-up of what went on during the Spanish morning here.
The cars are in service now, with the afternoon running set to resume at 1333 with a second run through El Priorat.
The cars are in service now, with the afternoon running set to resume at 1333 with a second run through El Priorat.
WRC - Spain: Positions after SS6: 1 Sordo, 1h24m16.6s; 2 Latvala, +0.0s; 3 Neuville, +31.4s; 4 Hirvonen, +40.5s; 5 Novikov, +46.4s; 6 Ogier, +46.8s; 7 Ostberg, +1m59.2s; 8 Prokop, +2m12.9s; 9 Paddon, +2m13.1s; 10 Kubica, +2m55.4s.
WRC - Spain: SS6 times: 1 Latvala, 15m35.0s; 2 Sordo, +0.5s; 3 Neuville, +3.2s; 4 Novikov, +5.6s; 5 Hirvonen, +8.7s; 6 Ostberg, +12.4s; 7 Prokop, +21.3s; 8 Paddon, +24.7s; 9 Kubica, +32.0s; 10 Al-Attiyah, +39.1s.
WRC - Spain: Kubica's time is yet again quicker than the WRC cars of Al-Attiyah, Al-Qassimi and Al-Kuwari.
Elfyn Evans is second quickest among the WRC2 men, but is now 90s behind Kubica and a similar margin ahead of third-placed Sepp Wiegand.
Elfyn Evans is second quickest among the WRC2 men, but is now 90s behind Kubica and a similar margin ahead of third-placed Sepp Wiegand.
WRC - Spain: Kubica comes through with the ninth-best time and that will keep him in the top 10 overall.
V8SC - Surfers Paradise: In the opening V8 Supercar race at Surfers Paradise, Craig Lowndes moved into the championship lead with victory, while Triple Eight team-mate and erstwhile points leader Jamie Whincup's partner crashed early on.
Lowndes takes championship lead with win
WRC - Spain: Prokop is through and has gone ahead of Paddon for eighth. Just 13.7s separate Ostberg in seventh and Paddon in ninth.
Crash
WRC - Spain: Paddon is through and has major wheel and suspension damage to the right-front of his car.
He says he hit a rock face. He's 12.9s slower than Ostberg, with whom he'd been battling for seventh, and is now 14s behind the Norwegian.
He should be OK to get back to service.
He says he hit a rock face. He's 12.9s slower than Ostberg, with whom he'd been battling for seventh, and is now 14s behind the Norwegian.
He should be OK to get back to service.
WRC - Spain: A good time from Novikov, just 5.6s off Latvala's pace-setting mark.
He also climbs above the stricken Ogier, relegating the world champion's VW to sixth, 0.4s behind.
Ostberg is next through and drops 12.4s to the leader. That's Ostberg's most competitive stage of the rally so far. He keeps seventh, meaning Ogier heads into the afternoon running inside the top six.
He also climbs above the stricken Ogier, relegating the world champion's VW to sixth, 0.4s behind.
Ostberg is next through and drops 12.4s to the leader. That's Ostberg's most competitive stage of the rally so far. He keeps seventh, meaning Ogier heads into the afternoon running inside the top six.
WRC - Spain: Neuville is 3.2s down on Latvala's time and that will put him up to third place overall.
Hirvonen is next through in his Citroen, who drops 5.5s to Neuville and is now 9s behind him in the battle the podium places.
Hirvonen is next through in his Citroen, who drops 5.5s to Neuville and is now 9s behind him in the battle the podium places.
Breaking news
MotoGP - Motegi: Some unfortunate news has emerged while the Japanese weekend gets going, though.
Pramac Ducati rider Ben Spies has retired from racing. The ex-factory Yamaha race winner has endured a long-running battle with injury, and has made the decision to stop after fears over his long-term physical ability to ride.
He last raced at Indianapolis, where he crashed after returning from a several month lay-off.
Ben Spies announces retirement from racing
Pramac Ducati rider Ben Spies has retired from racing. The ex-factory Yamaha race winner has endured a long-running battle with injury, and has made the decision to stop after fears over his long-term physical ability to ride.
He last raced at Indianapolis, where he crashed after returning from a several month lay-off.
Ben Spies announces retirement from racing
WRC - Spain: Sordo comes through half a second slower and that means he and Latvala share the lead heading to service!
Faaaan-tastic!
Faaaan-tastic!
MotoGP - Motegi: If you wondered whether the Japanese Grand Prix had sparked into life - it has, finally. Qualifying was altered to being a 75-minute free-for-all to make up for the total lack of running thus far, and Jorge Lorenzo picked up where he left off in Australia.
Lorenzo storms to wet pole
In Moto2, there was good news for Scott Redding. While he only managed 15th in qualifying, with points leader Pol Espargaro seventh, he suffered no problems with his wrist and will be OK to race tomorrow.
Stopwatch
WRC - Spain: Latvala comes through with the fastest time, 53.8s up on Ogier.
The Finn now leads the rally.
Ogier is now 46.8s off the lead overall and may find himself back in around fifth place once this stage is completed.
The Finn now leads the rally.
Ogier is now 46.8s off the lead overall and may find himself back in around fifth place once this stage is completed.
WRC - Spain: It is indeed a puncture for Ogier. There's a huge chunk of rubber missing from his front-left tyre.
Ogier's time is 16m28.8s. Luckily for him, he doesn't have to do another stage before service.
Jokingly, Ogier claims his time loss is simply down to team strategy!
Ogier's time is 16m28.8s. Luckily for him, he doesn't have to do another stage before service.
Jokingly, Ogier claims his time loss is simply down to team strategy!
WRC - Spain: Information from the stage suggests that Ogier may have suffered a puncture, which would have caused that kind of time loss.
Breaking news
WRC - Spain: A very interesting development mid-stage. Having been level-pegging for most of the stage, Latvala has suddenly found 6s on Ogier at split four...
It's getting even more dramatic. Latvala comes through the fifth split 18.4s up on Ogier's time.
Is this team tactics, or has Ogier had a problem?
It's getting even more dramatic. Latvala comes through the fifth split 18.4s up on Ogier's time.
Is this team tactics, or has Ogier had a problem?
Green flag
WRC - Spain: Stage 6, Colledjou, is getting underway with the top three separated by just seven seconds and Robert Kubica on course for the WRC2 crown.
WRC - Spain: Positions after SS5: 1 Ogier, 1h08m34.6s; 2 Sordo, +6.5s; 3 Latvala, +7.0s; 4 Neuville, +35.2s; 5 Hirvonen, +38.8s; 6 Novikov, +47.8s; 7 Ostberg, +1m53.8s; 8 Paddon, +1m55.4s; 9 Prokop, +1m58.6s; 10 Kubica, +2m30.4s.
WRC - Spain: SS5 times: 1 Sordo, 23m22.4s; 2 Ogier, +2.9s; 3 Latvala, +4.3s; 4 Hirvonen, +12.5s; 5 Neuville, +13.5s; 6 Novikov, +18.4s; 7 Ostberg, +35.9s; 8 Paddon, +36.8s; 9 Prokop, +36.8s; 10 Kubica, +51.3s.
WRC - Spain: Kubica, as expected, heads the WRC2 times through the stage.
He's 10th fastest overall and now 10th in the rally as well.
Impressively, Evans joins Kubica as going faster than the WRC cars of Al-Attiyah, Al-Kuwari and Al-Qassimi, and is now only 12.7s behind the Qatari driver overall!
He's 10th fastest overall and now 10th in the rally as well.
Impressively, Evans joins Kubica as going faster than the WRC cars of Al-Attiyah, Al-Kuwari and Al-Qassimi, and is now only 12.7s behind the Qatari driver overall!
Breaking news
WRC - Spain: News from rally officials. Mikkelsen has officially overrun the time limit to make it to the start of the stage.
He is able to restart tomorrow morning (provided his suspension is fixed by then), but must do so under Rally2 conditions.
He is able to restart tomorrow morning (provided his suspension is fixed by then), but must do so under Rally2 conditions.
WRC - Spain: Prokop, Al-Attiyah and Al-Kuwari all end the stage and all make up a place at Mikkelsen's expense.
Prokop lies ninth now with Al-Attiyah 10th for the moment, but likely to lose the spot once Kubica comes through.
Prokop lies ninth now with Al-Attiyah 10th for the moment, but likely to lose the spot once Kubica comes through.
By: Jamie O'Leary, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Matt Beer
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