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WRC - Finland: Evans pips Kubica by 2s to become our Powerstage pacesetter for the time being.
Mikkelsen, incidentally, has been saving tyres massively this morning with a view to nailing it for the Powerstage bonus. Good chance of a VW one-two-three on this stage, we'd suggest.
Mikkelsen, incidentally, has been saving tyres massively this morning with a view to nailing it for the Powerstage bonus. Good chance of a VW one-two-three on this stage, we'd suggest.
WRC - Finland: Solberg comes through to clinch ninth after a rally full of punctures. He'll be off to Trois-Rivieres next week to resume his World Rallycross season alongside brother Petter at the championship's second most historically significant venue after Lydden.
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DTM - Red Bull Ring: With around an hour to go until today's DTM race, let's take a run through some of the reaction after qualifying yesterday.
First up, pole-sitter Robert Wickens, who seemed to be trying to break some sort of world record for most cliches used in one interview when asked about Mercedes' progress.
"In the end it's great to see Mercedes making steps forward, but we can't get ahead of ourselves, we have to take it race-by-race. As you saw in Moscow, that wasn't easy. For sure we have to take it one step at a time and try and move forward."
First up, pole-sitter Robert Wickens, who seemed to be trying to break some sort of world record for most cliches used in one interview when asked about Mercedes' progress.
"In the end it's great to see Mercedes making steps forward, but we can't get ahead of ourselves, we have to take it race-by-race. As you saw in Moscow, that wasn't easy. For sure we have to take it one step at a time and try and move forward."
WRC - Finland: Henning Solberg and Elfyn Evans are on the stage now, then it's going to be the Hyundais of Hanninen and Paddon, Hirvonen's Ford, Mikkelsen's VW and podium man Meeke's Citroen, followed by the battle we're all poised for: Ogier versus Latvala for the win, 3.7s apart on the timing screens.
WRC - Finland: Well we said 'trouble-free' for Kubica but he did nearly spin and get onto two wheels on that stage.
"All under control," he insists. "No big drama."
"All under control," he insists. "No big drama."
WRC - Finland: Last year's WRC2 champion is our first World Rally Car driver to the finish.
Kubica is going to be either 34th or 35th overall after his Friday crash, but the rest of the event has been totally trouble-free. Vital mileage on this ultra-tough rally.
Kubica is going to be either 34th or 35th overall after his Friday crash, but the rest of the event has been totally trouble-free. Vital mileage on this ultra-tough rally.
Trophy
WRC - Finland: Karl Kruuda clinches the WRC2 victory.
It wasn't a last-stage thriller like his dramatic Sweden triumph, this time he's been nursing a vast lead since problems for Ketomaa and Tanak, who claim second and third.
The result thrusts Kruuda and Ketomaa back into the title hunt.
The vagaries of the WRC2 entry and scoring system mean Lorenzo Bertelli and Yuriy Protasov were the main contenders coming here, but Bertelli retired and Protasov isn't counting this one for points.
It wasn't a last-stage thriller like his dramatic Sweden triumph, this time he's been nursing a vast lead since problems for Ketomaa and Tanak, who claim second and third.
The result thrusts Kruuda and Ketomaa back into the title hunt.
The vagaries of the WRC2 entry and scoring system mean Lorenzo Bertelli and Yuriy Protasov were the main contenders coming here, but Bertelli retired and Protasov isn't counting this one for points.
WRC - Finland: Seven-time Rally Finland winner Marcus Gronholm told AUTOSPORT earlier this week that he was worried his countrymen didn't have what it took to win this year, that it was going to be another Ogier win - and that crowds would begin to dwindle unless the Finnish drivers got it sorted.
After decades and decades of Finnish or at least Scandinavian 1000 Lakes success, four of the last six Rally Finlands have been won by Frenchmen called Sebastien - three for Loeb and then one for Ogier last year (when he led home a Belgian in Thierry Neuville).
Latvala knows he's carrying the hopes of the world's most rally-mad nation onto this four-mile stage.
After decades and decades of Finnish or at least Scandinavian 1000 Lakes success, four of the last six Rally Finlands have been won by Frenchmen called Sebastien - three for Loeb and then one for Ogier last year (when he led home a Belgian in Thierry Neuville).
Latvala knows he's carrying the hopes of the world's most rally-mad nation onto this four-mile stage.
WRC - Finland: Latvala declared last night that he didn't care about the championship anymore, it was all about Rally Finland.
Well beating Ogier today would keep his title hopes just about alive, as his VW team-mate hasn't totally got this wrapped up yet.
Championship standings after seven of 13 rounds:
1 Ogier 166
2 Latvala 116
3 Mikkelsen 83
4 Ostberg 66
5 Hirvonen 52
6 Neuville 46
(25 points for a win + 3 points for Powerstage)
Well beating Ogier today would keep his title hopes just about alive, as his VW team-mate hasn't totally got this wrapped up yet.
Championship standings after seven of 13 rounds:
1 Ogier 166
2 Latvala 116
3 Mikkelsen 83
4 Ostberg 66
5 Hirvonen 52
6 Neuville 46
(25 points for a win + 3 points for Powerstage)
Fire engine
WRC - Finland: Incidentally, if you thought we might be over-hyping Luis Moya burning his toast this morning, here is proof that the fire brigade turned up to deal with it.
Lights out
WRC - Finland: The finale has begun.
A different running order for this last stage, though, as the WRC2 top three come through first.
So we'll have Tanak, Ketomaa then class winner Kruuda onto the stage initially, then the World Rally Car field in reverse order, beginning with Kubica and ending with Ogier and Latvala.
A different running order for this last stage, though, as the WRC2 top three come through first.
So we'll have Tanak, Ketomaa then class winner Kruuda onto the stage initially, then the World Rally Car field in reverse order, beginning with Kubica and ending with Ogier and Latvala.
Checkered flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: Would seem that Giovinazzi was too far behind the safety car on that last restart. Silly mistake, because he was more than quick enough to win the race.
Hang on, he's stayed out – and is celebrating as if he's won the race. Perhaps the team didn't tell him? He'll find out soon enough that Fuoco is the winner, from Blomqvist and Auer.
Hang on, he's stayed out – and is celebrating as if he's won the race. Perhaps the team didn't tell him? He'll find out soon enough that Fuoco is the winner, from Blomqvist and Auer.
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: The race is now a timed race, with two minutes to go. And we're going to see our first change of the lead when Giovinazzi takes his penalty.
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: I say flawless restarts, but apparently Giovinazzi is under investigation for something behind the safety car – and he's been given a drive-through! Infringement of safety car rules – although it's not 100 per cent clear what the infringement is.
Green flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: It's lap 18 of 24, and we're green once again. Giovinazzi makes his third flawless restart and continues to lead, with Fuoco second and Blomqvist third.
Jari-Matti Latvala
WRC - Finland: Half an hour until the final stage begins.
This was how Jari-Matti Latvala began his Sunday: being evacuated from a smoke-filled breakfast room after double WRC champion co-driver Luis Moya set all the hotel fire alarms off by dramatically burning some toast.
Will he end his Sunday with the first home victory on Rally Finland since his own last triumph here in 2010? Nearly time to find out...
Crash
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: Crash! Spike Goddard and Sandro Zeller have had a decent collision at Turn 2.
Looks as if Goddard tagged Roy Nissany in the braking zone, and then, already out of control, clattered into Zeller, who was minding his own business about to turn into the corner. The Aussie apologises to Zeller as they climb over the fence.
Safety car is out.
Looks as if Goddard tagged Roy Nissany in the braking zone, and then, already out of control, clattered into Zeller, who was minding his own business about to turn into the corner. The Aussie apologises to Zeller as they climb over the fence.
Safety car is out.
Green flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: That was quick. Lap 11 and we're green. Again, Giovinazzi is too strong at the restart.
And Ocon has spun! He and Rosenqvist were scrapping over fourth on the run to turn one, and there was contact! They were side-by-side on the approach to the turn, and Ocon, looking to get wider for the turn-in, gave Rosenqvist very little space.
It's the second time this weekend that the championship leader has found himself facing the wrong way at Turn 1. Ocon is in the pits, Rosenqvist is out.
And Ocon has spun! He and Rosenqvist were scrapping over fourth on the run to turn one, and there was contact! They were side-by-side on the approach to the turn, and Ocon, looking to get wider for the turn-in, gave Rosenqvist very little space.
It's the second time this weekend that the championship leader has found himself facing the wrong way at Turn 1. Ocon is in the pits, Rosenqvist is out.
Yellow flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: Safety car is back on lap 10. Dennis van de Laar spun at Turn 1 while trying to pass Sean Gelael, and wound up stranded.
Green flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: It's lap six, and we're racing again. Giovinazzi has made a solid restart and will easily hold his lead.
Yellow flag
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: The safety car is out on lap three, thanks to Jordan King suffering right-front suspension damage after wacking the kerb at Turn 2. His day is done.
The Antonios Giovinazzi and Fuoco continue to lead, from Blomqvist and Ocon. Felix Rosenqvist and Lucas Auer, the only of the frontrunners to start with four brand new tyres for this race, are fifth and sixth.
The Antonios Giovinazzi and Fuoco continue to lead, from Blomqvist and Ocon. Felix Rosenqvist and Lucas Auer, the only of the frontrunners to start with four brand new tyres for this race, are fifth and sixth.
Lights out
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: It's a tale of two Antonios as the race gets under way. Giovinazzi has made a mega start to lead, while Fuoco charged into second place.
WRC - Finland: Plenty of you just joining us in recent minutes as the European Sunday morning begins in earnest, so if you missed this morning's first two Rally Finland stages here's what happened:
Latvala edged his lead up to 5.0s on the opener but then it dropped to 3.7s on the next stage, where an intercom problem left him struggling to hear his pace notes.
The rally-deciding Powerstage is 4.2 miles long, begins at 11.08am UK time and is going to be an absolute flat-out blast between Latvala and Ogier.
Meeke is still heading for third, while further back Paddon fell from sixth to eighth with power steering failure and Breen retired from ninth when he jarred his back over a big jump.
Consider yourselves brought up to speed.
Latvala edged his lead up to 5.0s on the opener but then it dropped to 3.7s on the next stage, where an intercom problem left him struggling to hear his pace notes.
The rally-deciding Powerstage is 4.2 miles long, begins at 11.08am UK time and is going to be an absolute flat-out blast between Latvala and Ogier.
Meeke is still heading for third, while further back Paddon fell from sixth to eighth with power steering failure and Breen retired from ninth when he jarred his back over a big jump.
Consider yourselves brought up to speed.
Neste car
WRC - Finland: There's been plenty of talk about the 2017 technical regulations and what the next generation of World Rally Car will look like following AUTOSPORT's story last week.
Well, we think we might have the first image to show you... or maybe this is just a car made out of old bottles of Neste Oil. Which is just as fever!
(One hour till the final stage, by the way)
We also stoked some 2017 fever on Wednesday when we revealed the existence of a secret Toyota Japan-backed GT86 project being constructed by Tommi Makinen - a car that then made a surprise demo appearance on the stages on Friday.
There's also a non-WRC GT86 around and a WRC Yaris... Don't be too confused, though, just take this proliferation of Toyota rally cars as a sign that the Japanese marque will surely be back.
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: It's tough to pick how the weather is going to pan out in Spielberg today. From one window of the media centre, it looks as if it could rain any moment. From the other, clear blue skies. No rain about yet, so we'll definitely be starting in the dry.
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: There will be a 15-minute delay for the start of the race.
The trackside crew seem to trying to fix one of the barriers, which was damaged during this morning's Carrera Cup race (a race won in fine ANZAC spirit by New Zealander Earl Bamber).
The trackside crew seem to trying to fix one of the barriers, which was damaged during this morning's Carrera Cup race (a race won in fine ANZAC spirit by New Zealander Earl Bamber).
Breaking news
BTCC - Snetterton: SCOTT MITCHELL has been speaking to Andrew Jordan about his crash yesterday, failing the pre-qualifying medical checks, and being cleared to race today:
Jordan cleared to race at Snetterton
Jordan cleared to race at Snetterton
European F3 - Red Bull Ring: Good morning from Austria! We're just a few minutes away from the first F3 race of the day, with Antonio Giovinazzi and Tom Blomqvist sharing the front row.
It was the Carlin pair that was first and second in yesterday's first race, with Blomqvist taking victory. Will they have it their own way again today? Or will Esteban Ocon (P6) and Max Verstappen (P7) be able to weigh into the fight? Stay tuned to find out.
It was the Carlin pair that was first and second in yesterday's first race, with Blomqvist taking victory. Will they have it their own way again today? Or will Esteban Ocon (P6) and Max Verstappen (P7) be able to weigh into the fight? Stay tuned to find out.
Breaking news
BTCC - Snetterton: Big news from Norfolk this morning as BTCC champion Andrew Jordan gets medical clearance to race following his practice crash yesterday. He'll start race one from the back.
Full story in our news section soon.
Full story in our news section soon.
Twitter
WRC - Finland: Thumbs up for Latvala from his mental coach Christoph Treier, the man credited with helping the WRC's fastest Finn calm things down and finally unleash more of that enormous potential this year:
"So important to keep calm for @JariMattiWRC.He's managing that in a fantastic way.He sounds relaxed. #RallyFinland #WRC #motorsport #mental"
"So important to keep calm for @JariMattiWRC.He's managing that in a fantastic way.He sounds relaxed. #RallyFinland #WRC #motorsport #mental"
WRC - Finland: We have a pause of just over an hour and a half now before the deciding stage, during which we'll bring you plenty of build-up, any more news, and further reaction to Luis Moya's toast inferno.
Green orange
WRC - Finland: And just when we thought Rally Finland couldn't take another twist or another turn… the orange has gone green.
WRC - Finland - SS25 summary:
* Ogier is 1.3s faster than Latvala to get the lead down to 3.7s
* Intercom problems leave Latvala struggling to hear pace notes
* Paddon falls from sixth to eighth behind Hanninen and Evans due to broken power steering
* Ogier is 1.3s faster than Latvala to get the lead down to 3.7s
* Intercom problems leave Latvala struggling to hear pace notes
* Paddon falls from sixth to eighth behind Hanninen and Evans due to broken power steering
Checkered flag
WRC - Finland - SS25 results:
Stage times:
1 Ogier 10m15.5s
2 Latvala +1.3s
3 Meeke +13.0s
4 Hanninen +15.5s
5 Hirvonen +24.2s
6 Mikkelsen +25.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +3.7s
3 Meeke +48.6s
4 Mikkelsen +1m50.2s
5 Hirvonen +2m46.0s
6 Hanninen +4m24.4s
Stage times:
1 Ogier 10m15.5s
2 Latvala +1.3s
3 Meeke +13.0s
4 Hanninen +15.5s
5 Hirvonen +24.2s
6 Mikkelsen +25.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Ogier +3.7s
3 Meeke +48.6s
4 Mikkelsen +1m50.2s
5 Hirvonen +2m46.0s
6 Hanninen +4m24.4s
WRC - Finland: There are just 4.219 miles of this epic rally to go, and the leaders are 3.7s apart.
That should be enough for Latvala to hang on, but it's going to be very, very nerve-wracking.
That should be enough for Latvala to hang on, but it's going to be very, very nerve-wracking.
WRC - Finland: Latvala reveals that the intercom system in his car is wilting and he couldn't hear his pace notes as well as he wanted.
"I'm happy with that, my helmet is not right - I'm only hearing one side. It's not very relaxing to drive and you have to focus with that."
"I'm happy with that, my helmet is not right - I'm only hearing one side. It's not very relaxing to drive and you have to focus with that."
WRC - Finland: Latvala is 1.3s slower than Ogier at the finish! His lead is back down to 3.7s with one stage to go.
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WRC - Finland: Ogier says he gave it everything in there but doubts it was enough.
"If we don't do it on this one we'll never make a difference with Jari-Matti. I couldn't do it but I really enjoyed it."
"If we don't do it on this one we'll never make a difference with Jari-Matti. I couldn't do it but I really enjoyed it."
WRC - Finland: Latvala through the next split two tenths slower than Ogier.
Stopwatch
WRC - Finland: Ogier finishes the stage, 13s faster than previous benchmark Meeke.
By: Matt Beer, David Evans, Marcus Simmons, Mark Glendenning, Dan Cross, Andrew van Leeuwen, Kevin Turner, Peter Mills
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