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Jamie Whincup
V8 Supercars - Queensland: There was a time not so long ago when it looked like someone other than Jamie Whincup might be winning this year's V8 title as the reigning champion languished in fifth in the points and did odd things like retiring from races and finishing off the podium.
But earlier today he took two more victories at Queensland Raceway and in the process cut Mark Winterbottom's championship lead from 96 to 48 points.
Those wins were Whincup's fifth and sixth in the last eight races. Ominous. Here are the full stories:
Race one: Whincup defeats Lowndes
Race two: Nissan/Volvo collision hands Whincup win
Championship standings after 24 of 37 rounds:
1 Mark Winterbottom 1736
2 Jamie Whincup 1688
3 Craig Lowndes 1490
4 Fabian Coulthard 1463
5 Shane van Gisbergen 1454
6 James Courtney 1448
(50 to 300 points per win depending on race length)
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: Our first F3 race of the weekend isn't far away in Austria, and it could be a cracker given how close yesterday's qualifying session was.
Here's MARCUS SIMMONS' full report of how Esteban Ocon beat Max Verstappen, Tom Blomqvist and Antonio Giovinazzi to pole:
Red Bull Ring European F3 qualifying one report
Lotus youngster Ocon could actually wrap up the championship this weekend. Here's how the points look:
Championship standings after 21 of 33 rounds:
1 Esteban Ocon 379
2 Max Verstappen 263
3 Lucas Auer 211
4 Tom Blomqvist 208
5 Antonio Fuoco 162
6 Jordan King 134
(25 points for a win)
Full 2014 European F3 data on FORIX
Here's MARCUS SIMMONS' full report of how Esteban Ocon beat Max Verstappen, Tom Blomqvist and Antonio Giovinazzi to pole:
Red Bull Ring European F3 qualifying one report
Lotus youngster Ocon could actually wrap up the championship this weekend. Here's how the points look:
Championship standings after 21 of 33 rounds:
1 Esteban Ocon 379
2 Max Verstappen 263
3 Lucas Auer 211
4 Tom Blomqvist 208
5 Antonio Fuoco 162
6 Jordan King 134
(25 points for a win)
Full 2014 European F3 data on FORIX
Breaking news
WRC - Finland - SS16 summary:
* Commanding stage win for Latvala brings his lead up to 29s
* Meeke still tagging on to Ogier for second
* Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Hirvonen spread out
* Ketomaa punctures and loses WRC2 lead to Kruuda
* Commanding stage win for Latvala brings his lead up to 29s
* Meeke still tagging on to Ogier for second
* Mikkelsen, Ostberg, Hirvonen spread out
* Ketomaa punctures and loses WRC2 lead to Kruuda
Checkered flag
WRC - Finland - SS16 results:
Stage times:
1 Latvala 7m58.9s
2 Ogier +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +4.5s
4 Meeke +5.5s
5 Ostberg +6.1s
6 Hirvonen +9.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +29.0s
3 Meeke +33.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m17.5s
5 Ostberg +1m24.2s
6 Hirvonen +1m33.1s
Stage times:
1 Latvala 7m58.9s
2 Ogier +4.1s
3 Mikkelsen +4.5s
4 Meeke +5.5s
5 Ostberg +6.1s
6 Hirvonen +9.6s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +29.0s
3 Meeke +33.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m17.5s
5 Ostberg +1m24.2s
6 Hirvonen +1m33.1s
Karl Kruuda
WRC - Finland: Ketomaa completes the stage having lost three and a half minutes and the WRC2 lead. He confirms he had a puncture, while Citroen says its protege Chardonnet has crashed out of third in class.
That means the WRC's most colourful car now leads WRC2. The order is Kruuda-Ketomaa-Tanak.
Tanak says he had to dodge quite a few spectators in the road who were trying to help get Chardonnet back on the road.
WRC - Finland: Kruuda reckons it looked like Ketomaa was changing a puncture when he passed the parked Ford.
WRC - Finland: The tracking system shows Ketomaa on the move again now. Thrid-placed WRC2 man Sebastien Chardonnet has also stopped.
This is good news for Ott Tanak, who was a distant fourth after punctures, glitches and incidents on Thursday and Friday.
This is good news for Ott Tanak, who was a distant fourth after punctures, glitches and incidents on Thursday and Friday.
Breaking news
WRC - Finland: Big news in WRC2 as dominant leader Jari Ketomaa stops on the stage. Karl Kruuda is set to inherit the lead.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Storming stuff from Latvala, who comes through nearly five seconds quicker than anyone else and brings his lead up to almost half a minute over Ogier.
"I like this stage, it's one of my favourites in this rally."
"I like this stage, it's one of my favourites in this rally."
Quote
WRC - Finland: Meeke has insisted all morning he's not looking at performance relative to Ogier, just at keeping his pace as quick as possible and seeing what happens.
"It was very, very slippery in here. The road is really narrow. You're sliding, but you've no room to slide. It's a different nature of stage.
"I was always very slow in here in the past. But to be a second away from the fastest time so far - though I think Jari-Matti's going to blitz everyone - makes me happy."
"It was very, very slippery in here. The road is really narrow. You're sliding, but you've no room to slide. It's a different nature of stage.
"I was always very slow in here in the past. But to be a second away from the fastest time so far - though I think Jari-Matti's going to blitz everyone - makes me happy."
WRC - Finland: Meeke comes through third fastest. He lost another second to Ogier but is still within 4.5s in the overall standings - and miles ahead of everyone else.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Ogier is fastest so far, but only by four tenths over Mikkelsen.
That prompts surprise from the stage-end TV crew, and some banter in response from Ogier:
"Thank you for the compliment... or do you think Andreas is a bad driver...? Maybe I'm getting old..."
That prompts surprise from the stage-end TV crew, and some banter in response from Ogier:
"Thank you for the compliment... or do you think Andreas is a bad driver...? Maybe I'm getting old..."
WRC - Finland: The splits suggest Ogier is pulling further away from Meeke, but still losing time to our leader Latvala.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Mikkelsen is 1.6s faster than Ostberg, making his fourth place look more comfortable still.
After that disappointingly muted start to the event - during which he was drifting away in seventh place - Mikkelsen is now into his stride. The podium is a long way away, though.
After that disappointingly muted start to the event - during which he was drifting away in seventh place - Mikkelsen is now into his stride. The podium is a long way away, though.
WRC - Finland: We will, incidentally, have more news on the man (or woman) dressed as an orange later this morning.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Ostberg pulls his gap over Hirvonen up to 8s, but Mikkelsen is looking faster still on the splits.
"Not a bad stage from us, but not so much more I can do," reckons Ostberg.
"Not a bad stage from us, but not so much more I can do," reckons Ostberg.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Mikko Hirvonen now pips Paddon for the current fastest time, but the M-Sport man is not happy. He's falling away from Friday's ultra-close battle with Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg for fourth, and can't seem to get up to speed properly this morning.
WRC - Finland: Quickest of the midfield batch through so far is Hayden Paddon, who is having his best rally yet since getting his top-class call-up from Hyundai.
He holds seventh overall right now, a comfortable distance ahead of Elfyn Evans and the second Hyundai of Juho Hanninen.
Hanninen has been making steady progress after his Friday roll (which happened when he was fighting for a podium) and is now within 2.3s of Evans's eighth place.
The Finn had a bit of a scare early this morning when he thought there was something burning in his i20. He later decided he was just being paranoid.
He holds seventh overall right now, a comfortable distance ahead of Elfyn Evans and the second Hyundai of Juho Hanninen.
Hanninen has been making steady progress after his Friday roll (which happened when he was fighting for a podium) and is now within 2.3s of Evans's eighth place.
The Finn had a bit of a scare early this morning when he thought there was something burning in his i20. He later decided he was just being paranoid.
WRC - Finland: First on the road today is Robert Kubica after his crash on yesterday's opening stage.
When all the Rally2 penalties from missing yesterday's stages were added up, Kubica found himself 59th overall, 46 minutes away from the lead. So points are unlikely and today is a case of building more experience.
He's been quicker than Craig Breen and Henning Solberg on every stage today so far, which is respectable given he has the worst of the loose gravel.
When all the Rally2 penalties from missing yesterday's stages were added up, Kubica found himself 59th overall, 46 minutes away from the lead. So points are unlikely and today is a case of building more experience.
He's been quicker than Craig Breen and Henning Solberg on every stage today so far, which is respectable given he has the worst of the loose gravel.
WRC - Finland: We had the first two Saturday stages in Finland early this morning, and both were won by Jari-Matti Latvala as he extended his lead at home.
But Sebastien Ogier's charge has begun, and he moved ahead of Kris Meeke for second place on Jukojarvi.
The Surkee stage is under way now. Here is how the leaders stand going onto it:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +24.9s
3 Meeke +28.0s
4 Mikkelsen +1m13.0s
5 Ostberg +1m18.1s
6 Hirvonen +1m23.5s
7 Paddon +2m43.6s
8 Evans +3m10.5s
9 Hanninen +3m15.5s
10 Breen +6m29.7s
But Sebastien Ogier's charge has begun, and he moved ahead of Kris Meeke for second place on Jukojarvi.
The Surkee stage is under way now. Here is how the leaders stand going onto it:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +24.9s
3 Meeke +28.0s
4 Mikkelsen +1m13.0s
5 Ostberg +1m18.1s
6 Hirvonen +1m23.5s
7 Paddon +2m43.6s
8 Evans +3m10.5s
9 Hanninen +3m15.5s
10 Breen +6m29.7s
Good morning and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live as we begin a packed Saturday bringing you all the action from Finland, Mid-Ohio, Austria, Argentina and Norfolk.
And that brings Friday's AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live to a close.
MARK GLENDENNING's IndyCar practice report will be on AUTOSPORT later this evening, along with our NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying report from Pocono.
We will be back tomorrow morning from 08.45am UK time ready for more from Rally Finland, along with commentary on the following scheduled:
09.25: Snetterton BTCC practice one
10.10: Red Bull Ring Euro F3 race one
11.00: Red Bull Ring DTM practice one
12.00: Snetterton BTCC practice two
12.45: Rio Hondo WTCC practice one
13.10: Red Bull Ring DTM practice two
14.00: Mid-Ohio Indy Lights qualifying
15.00: Rio Hondo WTCC practice two
15.00: Mid-Ohio IndyCar practice three
15.20: Snetterton BTCC qualifying
16.25: Red Bull Ring Euro F3 qualifying two
17.10: Red Bull Ring DTM qualifying
19.00: Rio Hondo WTCC qualifying
19.00: Mid-Ohio IndyCar qualifying
See you then.
MARK GLENDENNING's IndyCar practice report will be on AUTOSPORT later this evening, along with our NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying report from Pocono.
We will be back tomorrow morning from 08.45am UK time ready for more from Rally Finland, along with commentary on the following scheduled:
09.25: Snetterton BTCC practice one
10.10: Red Bull Ring Euro F3 race one
11.00: Red Bull Ring DTM practice one
12.00: Snetterton BTCC practice two
12.45: Rio Hondo WTCC practice one
13.10: Red Bull Ring DTM practice two
14.00: Mid-Ohio Indy Lights qualifying
15.00: Rio Hondo WTCC practice two
15.00: Mid-Ohio IndyCar practice three
15.20: Snetterton BTCC qualifying
16.25: Red Bull Ring Euro F3 qualifying two
17.10: Red Bull Ring DTM qualifying
19.00: Rio Hondo WTCC qualifying
19.00: Mid-Ohio IndyCar qualifying
See you then.
Checkered flag
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Carlos Huertas spins at the entry to the final sequence of corners, and with only a minute or so left on the clock, the session is ended. Bourdais finishes the day on top.
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Ryan Briscoe moves to P1. The Australian also led the session a little earlier, but was bumped back by Wilson before we had the chance to tell you about it.
And in fact, he's just been bumped back now - both Bourdais and Carlos Munoz have gone faster. Bourdais' time was 1m06.8271s.
And in fact, he's just been bumped back now - both Bourdais and Carlos Munoz have gone faster. Bourdais' time was 1m06.8271s.
Green flag
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: The stricken Schmidt car has been rescued from the gravel and is able to drive back to the pits without any apparent damage. A clutch of cars respond immediately to the green flag.
Breaking news
WRC - Finland: Here's our comprehensive report from the second loop of Friday's stages in Finland:
Latvala builds lead, Meeke grabs second from Ogier
Red flag
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Simon Pagenaud has spun and beached himself in the gravel trap at Turn 4. The Frenchman is currently sixth-fastest. We hope this doesn't put him in a bad mood; we're meant to be joining him for an SPM team BBQ later.
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Takuma Sato moves to the top of the screens with a 1m07.3215s lap. Honda occupies eight of the top 10 places at the moment.
Orange
WRC - Finland: ...We're less certain that we'll be able to reveal why this orange is wandering around the service park.
He (or she) did try and come into the media centre but discovered she (or he) was too wide.
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Justin Wilson takes his place at the top of the screens ahead of Ryan Briscoe.
WRC - Finland: This is a long way from being over yet. Tomorrow the crews face 10 more stages spread across 12 hours. And running order shouldn't be an issue with the WRC field reversed.
So will Ogier come back at Latvala? Can Meeke hang on? Who will win this super-close three-way fight for fourth? Will Hanninen regain more ground?
We'll be revealing all over the next two days...
So will Ogier come back at Latvala? Can Meeke hang on? Who will win this super-close three-way fight for fourth? Will Hanninen regain more ground?
We'll be revealing all over the next two days...
Checkered flag
WRC - Finland - SS13 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 1m46.3s
2 Latvala +0.3s
3 Mikkelsen +0.5s
4 Meeke +0.6s
5 Ostberg +1.3s
6 Hirvonen +2.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +19.7s
3 Ogier +21.3s
4 Mikkelsen +1m04.2s
5 Ostberg +1m05.4s
6 Hirvonen +1m07.3s
Jari Ketomaa and Martin Koci are going to finish the day with comfortable leads in WRC2 and Junior WRC respectively.
Stage times:
1 Ogier 1m46.3s
2 Latvala +0.3s
3 Mikkelsen +0.5s
4 Meeke +0.6s
5 Ostberg +1.3s
6 Hirvonen +2.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +19.7s
3 Ogier +21.3s
4 Mikkelsen +1m04.2s
5 Ostberg +1m05.4s
6 Hirvonen +1m07.3s
Jari Ketomaa and Martin Koci are going to finish the day with comfortable leads in WRC2 and Junior WRC respectively.
WRC - Finland: The final few WRC runners are coming through now, with no dramas for the likes of Solberg, Hanninen and Paddon.
Green flag
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: The second practice session is under way, and the track is already a lot busier than it was this morning. The early pacesetter is Jack Hawksworth.
WRC - Finland: In the fourth place fight, Mikkelsen is now 1.2s ahead of Ostberg and 3.1s clear of Hirvonen. Still pretty close.
Quote
WRC - Finland: Meeke seems slightly in awe of what he's done today.
"It's been fascinating, to start the day 7-8s behind the world champion, and last year's rally winner, and end the day in front... Jari's had another level, but our times have been good."
"It's been fascinating, to start the day 7-8s behind the world champion, and last year's rally winner, and end the day in front... Jari's had another level, but our times have been good."
WRC - Finland: Meeke has some damage to the front of his Citroen, but he's only lost six tenths to Ogier in their fight for second. That makes his advantage 1.6s.
WRC - Finland: In fact these times are spreading the fourth place battle right out - Hirvonen finishes now and he's lost a couple of seconds.
He's pretty calm about it.
"There are still one and a half days to go so we can have a good fight."
He's pretty calm about it.
"There are still one and a half days to go so we can have a good fight."
Quote
WRC - Finland: Not great for Ostberg, a 1m47.6s increases the gap to Mikkelsen and leaves him vulnerable to Hirvonen.
He's happy overall, though, have gained pace throughout Friday.
"For sure it's getting better and better. There's been good development through the day. We're getting in a good way with the car and with the driving now. We need to continue with that.
"Even with the start we had and all these difficulties, we're still with them."
He's happy overall, though, have gained pace throughout Friday.
"For sure it's getting better and better. There's been good development through the day. We're getting in a good way with the car and with the driving now. We need to continue with that.
"Even with the start we had and all these difficulties, we're still with them."
WRC - Finland: Mikkelsen pops in 1m46.8s, third fastest so far and half a second off Ogier.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Marcus Simmons, Mark Glendenning, Dan Cross, Andrew van Leeuwen, Kevin Turner, Peter Mills
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