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WRC - Spain: Ogier is through in 10m35.9s. That looks to be a quick time. We should be looking at a clean sweep of tonight's stages by the world champion.
Remember he was 6.6s ahead of Sordo after SS2.
Remember he was 6.6s ahead of Sordo after SS2.
Green flag
WRC - Spain: SS3, the nearly unspellable Riudcecanyes, is underway. Ogier, Neuville and Sordo are all on the stage.
Checkered flag
NASCAR - Martinsville: The final run of the session is Kyle Busch, and he very nearly marks it with pole. The Joe Gibbs Toyota driver just falls short, though, and instead slots into third.
This is the top five: 1 Hamlin; 2 Johnson; 3 Kyle Busch; 4 Kenseth; 5 Bowyer.
This is the top five: 1 Hamlin; 2 Johnson; 3 Kyle Busch; 4 Kenseth; 5 Bowyer.
NASCAR - Martinsville: Clint Bowyer goes fourth but has a moment on his second lap, the rear breaking loose and scuppering his final attempt.
NASCAR - Martinsville: David Ragan hauls his Front Row Ford into sixth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr his Hendrick Chevrolet into 10th, but they are the sole changes to the top 10. Seven cars left to run.
WRC - Spain: Cars have actually been through Salou and the PortAventura service park on their way to SS3. But they only stopped for petrol - the WRC equivalent of a splash-and- dash.
The third stage is Riudecanyes, undoubtedly one of the most entertaining of the season. It's in this test that the drivers have to make one complete lap of a traffic roundabout - which usually involves excessive use of the happy stick, or as our colleague Henry Hope-Frost would have it... the lever of fever.
Where's KB43 when we need him?
The third stage is Riudecanyes, undoubtedly one of the most entertaining of the season. It's in this test that the drivers have to make one complete lap of a traffic roundabout - which usually involves excessive use of the happy stick, or as our colleague Henry Hope-Frost would have it... the lever of fever.
Where's KB43 when we need him?
NASCAR - Martinsville: 30 drivers have set a time, here is the top five: 1 Hamlin; 2 Johnson; 3 Kenseth; 4 Logano; 5 McMurray. Honourary mention for Kevin Harvick who jumped to eighth three cars ago.
NASCAR - Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson gives it his best shot, but still Hamlin is out of reach. For the record, Johnson goes second - 0.048s shy.
NASCAR - Martinsville: Joey Logano closes to within a tenth of Hamlin and is now second after improving on his second run to a 19.111s. Jeff Gordon goes fourth with a time of 19.168s. Can anyone dip below 19s?
Stopwatch
NASCAR - Martinsville: Denny Hamlin goes to the top of the pile with his run, which yields a 19.013s.
NASCAR - Martinsville: Martin Truex Jr came closest of the most recent batch of runners to deposing the top two, going third with a 19.214s. The top five at present is: 1 McMurray; 2 Keselowski +0.050s; 3 Truex Jr; 4 Ambrose; 5 Newman.
Stopwatch
NASCAR - Martinsville: Keselowski's provisional pole does not last long. Jamie McMurray, last week's winner at Talladega, jumps to top spot on a 19.126s.
Stopwatch
NASCAR - Martinsville: Brad Keselowski hits the top of the timesheets. He's the 10th driver to run thus far. Jeff Burton moved into third (now fourth) prior to the outgoing champ going quickest.
NASCAR - Martinsville: The first quintet of drivers has run, and it's Marcos Ambrose leading the way from Aric Almirola on a 19.214s. Paul Menard, David Gilliland and Elliott Sadler fall in behind.
Green flag
NASCAR - Martinsville: Qualifying is underway at Martinsville. Elliott Sadler will be the first driver to set a time. We'll update you after the first batch of runners.
NASCAR - Martinsville: Will any of the Chase frontrunners steal a march in qualifying for Sunday's race? With five left to run, it's more crucial than ever to get points on the board.
Here is the current points situation, and it's very close:
NASCAR Sprint Cup points after 32 of 36 rounds:
1 Jimmie Johnson 2254
2 Matt Kenseth 2250
3 Kyle Busch 2228
4 Kevin Harvick 2228
5 Jeff Gordon 2220
6 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2202
(46 points for a win)
Full season statistics available on FORIX
Here is the current points situation, and it's very close:
NASCAR Sprint Cup points after 32 of 36 rounds:
1 Jimmie Johnson 2254
2 Matt Kenseth 2250
3 Kyle Busch 2228
4 Kevin Harvick 2228
5 Jeff Gordon 2220
6 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2202
(46 points for a win)
Full season statistics available on FORIX
WRC - Spain: Overall positions after SS2: 1 Ogier, 24m04.0s; 2 Sordo, +6.6s; 3 Latvala, +8.7s; 4 Neuville, +15.0s; 5 Hirvonen, +22.6s; 6 Novikov, +24.6s; 7 Mikkelsen, +24.8s; 8 Paddon, +49.4s; 9 Ostberg, +54.1s; 10 Prokop, +56.6s.
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WRC - Spain Elfyn Evans gets to the end of the second stage 41 seconds behind WRC 2 leader Robert Kubica.
The Qatar M-Sport Fiesta R5 driver said: "We had a difficult first stage, we lost a lot of time with a problem, but we seem to have cured it now, which is good news. I struggled for the rhythm at the start of the second one, I wasn't depending on the notes enough. But it's getting better."
Skoda driver Sepp Wiegand is third in WRC 2.
The Qatar M-Sport Fiesta R5 driver said: "We had a difficult first stage, we lost a lot of time with a problem, but we seem to have cured it now, which is good news. I struggled for the rhythm at the start of the second one, I wasn't depending on the notes enough. But it's getting better."
Skoda driver Sepp Wiegand is third in WRC 2.
Twitter
NASCAR - Martinsville: Qualifying is very nearly upon us. Remember the aforementioned Danica Patrick shunting? So did her boyfriend and fellow competitor Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
He's been a bit busy with the repairs to his Roush Fenway Ford, according to the official NASCAR Twitter feed, which just tweeted this picture.
To his credit, Stenhouse acknowledged the need to step in. “Whoops," he replied. "Made a mistake. Had to help."
WRC - Spain: SS2 times: 1 Ogier, 12m40.4s; 2 Sordo, +3.6s; 3 Latvala, +5.6s; 4 Neuville, +8.8s; 5 Novikov, +9.7s; 6 Mikkelsen, +12.0s; 7 Hirvonen, +16.2s; 8 Paddon, +27.8s; 9 Ostberg, +30.5s; 10 Prokop, 32.7s.
WRC - Spain: Paddon struggling with the balance of the Fiesta in SS2. The second stage has been fairly benign. Rally leader Sebastien Ogier admitted he was growing in confidence - which is a tad alarming for the rest of the field!
The flying Frenchman said: "The road looked a little bit damp in places, but the grip was actually OK."
Sordo thought he saw some oil in the stage, but it turned out to be a damp patch.
Al-Attiyah's misting up issue in SS1 was cured in the second test. It turned out to be the lid coming off a spare bottle of brake fluid...
The flying Frenchman said: "The road looked a little bit damp in places, but the grip was actually OK."
Sordo thought he saw some oil in the stage, but it turned out to be a damp patch.
Al-Attiyah's misting up issue in SS1 was cured in the second test. It turned out to be the lid coming off a spare bottle of brake fluid...
WRC - Spain: Kubica is again the fastest man in WRC2, 11th for the stage and 11th in the rally, an increased 11.9s behind Prokop.
WRC - Spain: Al-Attiyah and Al-Qassimi come through and are a minute and 1m15s slower than Ogier respectively. They lie 10th and 11th at the moment, but will almost certainly each lose a spot when Paddon reaches the end of the stage...
... Yep, just as expected. Paddon is eighth fastest, 11.6s off the pace. He's 49.s behind overall, but retains eighth spot on the leaderboard.
... Yep, just as expected. Paddon is eighth fastest, 11.6s off the pace. He's 49.s behind overall, but retains eighth spot on the leaderboard.
WRC - Spain: That time of Novikov's was very significant, as it's enabled him to move into sixth overall, at the expense of Mikkelsen.
The Norwegian was 2.3s slower than the Russian on that stage, and is now 0.2s overall, having fallen to seventh.
Also through is Martin Prokop, unsurprisingly slowest so far.
The Norwegian was 2.3s slower than the Russian on that stage, and is now 0.2s overall, having fallen to seventh.
Also through is Martin Prokop, unsurprisingly slowest so far.
WRC - Spain: Just like he was on SS1, Ostberg's time is less than impressive. He's 30.5s off Ogier in seventh. That puts him 54.1s off the lead overall.
A good time from Novikov as the Russian comes through next. He's fifth fastest, 9.7s off Ogier. He's taken six seconds out of Hirvonen on that stage and is now only 2.0s behind the Finn overall.
Novikov currently lies sixth.
WRC - Spain: Unfortunately for Latvala, Sordo's time is good, 3.6s slower than Ogier's, which keeps him second overall, but at an increased 6.6s off the lead.
Latvala and Neuville are now third and fourth.
Next up is Hirvonen, 16.2s slower than Ogier and slowest of the five cars through so far. He's now 22.6s off the lead and even 7.6s off Neuville.
Latvala and Neuville are now third and fourth.
Next up is Hirvonen, 16.2s slower than Ogier and slowest of the five cars through so far. He's now 22.6s off the lead and even 7.6s off Neuville.
WRC - Spain: Neuville is 8.8s slower than Ogier, which drops him to 15.0s behind in the overall order.
Latvala is 3.2s faster than Neuville and that moves him ahead of the Belgian in the rally order into what looks to be third, but could be second if Sordo's time is bad.
Latvala is 3.2s faster than Neuville and that moves him ahead of the Belgian in the rally order into what looks to be third, but could be second if Sordo's time is bad.
Stopwatch
WRC - Spain: Ogier's reached the end of SS2 and based on the split times, his 12m40.4 looks like it will be tough to beat.
WRC - Spain: Second place for Kubica in Spain will be good enough for the Pole to get himself invited to the FIA's end of season bash.
Ruthlessly honest as ever, Kubica admits the WRC 2 title would/will be nice, but it's not exactly what he set his heart on when he started out in his career.
Welshman Elfyn Evans is determined not to let him have it all his own way in the class this weekend.
Ruthlessly honest as ever, Kubica admits the WRC 2 title would/will be nice, but it's not exactly what he set his heart on when he started out in his career.
Welshman Elfyn Evans is determined not to let him have it all his own way in the class this weekend.
Lights out
WRC - Spain: Ogier is already three quarters of the way through SS2 with Neuville and Latvala on the stages as well.
WRC - Spain: SS1 leaderboard: 1 Ogier, 11m23.6s; 2 Sordo, +3.0s; 3 Sordo; 4 Latvala; 5 Hirvonen; 6 Mikkelsen; 7 Novikov; 8 Paddon; 9 Ostberg; 10 Prokop.
WRC - Spain: Second Rally of Spain stage is ready to go. Like the first stage, Montmell hasn't been used since 2009 and has never been driven in the dark.
The bright lights of Barcelona are well and truly left behind now, with SS2 starting just west of the town of Valls, close to rally HQ in Salou.
Montmell is twisty to start with then generally quicker along a wider, double width road through the final third of the stage.
The bright lights of Barcelona are well and truly left behind now, with SS2 starting just west of the town of Valls, close to rally HQ in Salou.
Montmell is twisty to start with then generally quicker along a wider, double width road through the final third of the stage.
WRC - Spain: A flying start (what else would you expect on asphalt) from Robert Kubica, who is fastest of the three WRC2 title contenders so far.
He's 11th overall, 30.1s off Ogier, but 26.5s quicker than Sepp Wiegand.
He's 11th overall, 30.1s off Ogier, but 26.5s quicker than Sepp Wiegand.
WRC - Spain Paddon becomes the first Kiwi to complete a WRC stage in a World Rally Car since 'Possum' Bourne retired a Subaru Impreza WRC from the 2001 Rally Australia.
If Paddon wants to score New Zealand's best ever WRC finish, he's going to have to take the runners-up spot – Bourne was third on the 1987 Rally NZ in a Subaru RX.
If Paddon wants to score New Zealand's best ever WRC finish, he's going to have to take the runners-up spot – Bourne was third on the 1987 Rally NZ in a Subaru RX.
WRC - Spain: Khalid Al-Qassimi is the slowest of the 11 drivers through so far, the Citroen man just short of a minute off Ogier's time.
Next through, and much faster, is Hayden Paddon, the former PWRC champion. He's eighth in his Ford, 21.6s off the lead.
Next through, and much faster, is Hayden Paddon, the former PWRC champion. He's eighth in his Ford, 21.6s off the lead.
WRC - Spain: The next two through are Andreas Mikkelsen and Nasser Al-Attiyah.
VW man Mikkelsen is sixth quickest, 13s off the pace while Al-Attiyah's Ford is the slowest car so far, 35s behind Ogier.
The Qatari is complaining of visibility problems, his windscreen misted up badly. He drives away from the checkpoint with some kind of fluid dropping from the back of the Fiesta WRC.
VW man Mikkelsen is sixth quickest, 13s off the pace while Al-Attiyah's Ford is the slowest car so far, 35s behind Ogier.
The Qatari is complaining of visibility problems, his windscreen misted up badly. He drives away from the checkpoint with some kind of fluid dropping from the back of the Fiesta WRC.
WRC - Spain: Evgeniy Novikov knocks Ostberg down a spot, the Russian's Ford sixth and 14.9s off the pace.
Next comes Martin Prokop in another Fiesta - this one sponsored by the Jipocar rental company. He's slowest so far, 23.9s off Ogier's pace.
Next comes Martin Prokop in another Fiesta - this one sponsored by the Jipocar rental company. He's slowest so far, 23.9s off Ogier's pace.
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WRC - Spain: Latvala was understandably upset about the stone, saying: "I don't like these kind of things. They need to remember that there are people in the car when they are throwing these things."
Not that we are here to cast aspersions, but talking to a couple of the gravel note crews who have now returned to Salou after their run through the stage – there are masses of fans out there with more than a few having enjoyed the odd cerveza.
WRC - Spain: Latvala says stones were thrown at him during the stage. Let's hope it wasn't deliberate. The windscreen is intact.
WRC - Spain: Mikko Hirvonen is the slowest man through the stage so far in his second of the factory Citroens. That puts him fifth, still just 6.4s off the lead.
He's followed through by Mads Ostberg's Ford, which is miles off the pace to the tune of 23.6s. His third and fourth splits both featured losses to Ogier of more than 6s a time.
Ostberg is no asphalt expert, but even so, that's disappointing.
He's followed through by Mads Ostberg's Ford, which is miles off the pace to the tune of 23.6s. His third and fourth splits both featured losses to Ogier of more than 6s a time.
Ostberg is no asphalt expert, but even so, that's disappointing.
By: Jamie O'Leary, David Evans, Scott Mitchell, Matt Beer
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