WRC Finland, Moscow DTM, Argentina WTCC
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WRC - Finland: P-G Andersson still not happy with the handling of his private Fiesta. "The car is moving too much," he said, "but at the same time, there is more to come from the driver."
Andersson is 24s down on Latvala's Lankamaa benchmark.
Andersson is 24s down on Latvala's Lankamaa benchmark.
WRC - Finland: Odd problem for Nikara in the stage - the car's mobile telephone was lying on the floor at the finish.
"I was making a few calls in the stage!" joked the former Pirelli Star Driver. "I had no problems, there were some narrow places where I was a bit careful. There were a lot of rocks outside and I didn't want to risk anything. We can push harder tomorrow."
Nikara 13s down on Latvala, but 4s up on Sordo. The Spanish DS3 driver was happy at the end of the stage after what had been a very tough morning and early afternoon.
Sordo said: "The stage before this one was really nice, this one was more slippery with a lot of gravel, but it's OK."
"I was making a few calls in the stage!" joked the former Pirelli Star Driver. "I had no problems, there were some narrow places where I was a bit careful. There were a lot of rocks outside and I didn't want to risk anything. We can push harder tomorrow."
Nikara 13s down on Latvala, but 4s up on Sordo. The Spanish DS3 driver was happy at the end of the stage after what had been a very tough morning and early afternoon.
Sordo said: "The stage before this one was really nice, this one was more slippery with a lot of gravel, but it's OK."
WRC - Finland: Mikkelsen missing left-rear wheel. He's out for the day.
WRC - Finland: Sheared bolts look to be the reason for Mikkelsen's missing wheel.
"I hit nothing!" he said. "There was a big vibration and then the wheel just flew off."
With cars not allowed to travel on three wheels during the road sections - and nothing for the Norwegian to attach a spare wheel to - his rally ends after SS14.
"I hit nothing!" he said. "There was a big vibration and then the wheel just flew off."
With cars not allowed to travel on three wheels during the road sections - and nothing for the Norwegian to attach a spare wheel to - his rally ends after SS14.
WRC - Finland: Meeke escapes a big moment when a rock hits the bottom of the DS3 WRC.
"It threw the car into a big wheelie," he said. "I don't think people appreciate just how deep the ruts get on the second run through."
Meeke departs in a philosophical mood. "This is the best hard day I've ever had in the WRC. This car is beautiful."
"It threw the car into a big wheelie," he said. "I don't think people appreciate just how deep the ruts get on the second run through."
Meeke departs in a philosophical mood. "This is the best hard day I've ever had in the WRC. This car is beautiful."
WRC - Finland: Ogier fastest through so far and looking good to further his advantage at the front of the field.
"It's been a good day," said Ogier. "I had to be careful to avoid the puncture, but I am happy."
Broken front-left rim for Ostberg, drops 25.8s to Ogier.
"It's a lottery now," said the Qatar M-Sport driver.
"It's been a good day," said Ogier. "I had to be careful to avoid the puncture, but I am happy."
Broken front-left rim for Ostberg, drops 25.8s to Ogier.
"It's a lottery now," said the Qatar M-Sport driver.
WRC - Finland: Neuville second quickest to Ogier. The Belgian is up to second following team-mate Ostberg's problem, but Volkswagen's championship leader is now 36.3 seconds clear at the front of the field.
WRC - Finland: Meeke 33 seconds behind Citroen team-mate Hirvonen at the end of the forest stages today. Could be a fascinating fight if the stewards give him back the 30 seconds he lost following Novikov in Palsankyla...
Checkered flag
SS14 results: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +4.1s; 3 Latvala +4.7s; 4 Meeke +12.1s; 5 Hirvonen +16.8s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +36.3s; 3 Ostberg +38.2s; 4 Hirvonen +59.7s; 5 Meeke +1m32.7s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +36.3s; 3 Ostberg +38.2s; 4 Hirvonen +59.7s; 5 Meeke +1m32.7s.
WRC - Finland: Major post-stage tiredness kicking in at the AUTOSPORT desk. In previous years, the press office has been well served by a freezer regularly filled with Magnum ice-creams. Unfortunately not this time.
And, to make matters worse, we're fresh out of tea cakes. Get that Mr Tunnocks PR man? Fresh supplies needed, please...
And, to make matters worse, we're fresh out of tea cakes. Get that Mr Tunnocks PR man? Fresh supplies needed, please...
WTCC - Argentina: History is made in South America. The WTCC has officially christened the Termas de Rio Honda circuit.
Today's pre-weekend test is now seven minutes old, and it's Norbert Michelisz who leads the way with a 1m52.368s. Just the 13s clear of the field right now.
Today's pre-weekend test is now seven minutes old, and it's Norbert Michelisz who leads the way with a 1m52.368s. Just the 13s clear of the field right now.
Jose Maria Lopez
WTCC - Argentina: We're in unknown territory, but the timesheets take on a familar look as Yvan Muller hits the front.
Fractions behind him though is newbie, and home favourite, Jose Maria Lopez. The 30-year-old, a three-time Super TC2000 champion, is competing for the Wiechers BMW squad this weekend.
While the WTCC is filling the gap between the penultimate WRC stage and the superspecial nicely, we do have a slight lull in activity.
But do stick with us, because not only do we have the conclusion to another entertaining day of Rally Finland, we also have scene-setting sessions from the States in the form of second IndyCar practice and NASCAR Pocono qualifying.
But do stick with us, because not only do we have the conclusion to another entertaining day of Rally Finland, we also have scene-setting sessions from the States in the form of second IndyCar practice and NASCAR Pocono qualifying.
WTCC - Argentina: Tom Chilton jumps into third, just ahead of Lada's James Thompson, while Rob Huff and Tiago Monteiro complete the sequence of having all five manufacturers represented within the top six at present.
Stopwatch
WTCC - Argentina: And just as we say that, Pepe Oriola crashes the party by going top with a 1m50.905s, nearly half a second clear of the field.
Twitter
WRC - Finland: Kris Meeke will be looking to cap off another fantastic day as he revels on his DS3 debut. He's earned no shortage of additional supporters this weekend.
He won over ex-F1 pedaller @KarunChandhok at the Goodwood Festival of Speed when the pair met in 2011. And the Indian driver's tweeted his support of the rally star for this weekend: "Great run by @krismeeke on his comeback to WRC in Finland ! Met him a couple years ago at @fosgoodwood - top bloke!!"
He won over ex-F1 pedaller @KarunChandhok at the Goodwood Festival of Speed when the pair met in 2011. And the Indian driver's tweeted his support of the rally star for this weekend: "Great run by @krismeeke on his comeback to WRC in Finland ! Met him a couple years ago at @fosgoodwood - top bloke!!"
Stopwatch
WTCC - Argentina: Into the final five minutes, and there's improvements across the field. Alex MacDowall, James Nash and Tom Chilton all record personal bests, before Tiago Monteiro trumps them all by going quickest with a 1m50.904s.
He and Oriola are still the only men under the 1m51s barrier.
He and Oriola are still the only men under the 1m51s barrier.
Checkered flag
WTCC - Argentina: The chequered flag falls to bring an end to a frantic final few minutes, and its Yvan Muller who has the honour of topping the WTCC's first track action in Argentina.
Yvan Muller WTCC
WTCC - Argentina - Friday test:
1 Muller; 2 Chilton; 3 Tarquini; 4 Huff; 5 Michelisz; 6 Monteiro; 7 Oriola; 8 Nykjaer; 9 Thompson; 10 Coronel (11 Lopez)
Muller, incidentally, ends the session as the only driver to get below the 1m50s.
WRC - Finland: Press office panic over... Snowballs have arrived. Sizeable shunt, however, after trying to do one of the coconut-covered marshmallows in one.
WRC - Finland: 10 minutes until the start of the superspecial stage. Ogier is well clear at the moment - can the chasing M-Sport Fords do anything about that?
As with yesterday, it's a 2.06km blast at Killeri.
As with yesterday, it's a 2.06km blast at Killeri.
Breaking news
WTCC - Termas: Here's the report from the test session. Yvan Muller set the pace as they took to the Termas de Rio Honda circuit for the first time.
Muller fastest in Friday testing
Muller fastest in Friday testing
WRC - Finland: Lukyanuk and Salo have started the SS15 running - the former 1.4s quicker on 1m26.5s.
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: US television is full of high-quality entertainment, and to that end, AUTOSPORT is pleased to have just been made aware of a reality show called 'Pregnant and Dating'.
The reason we tell you this is not because of it's undoubted cultural contibutions to western society, but because it transpires that the second episode featured Dale Coyne Racing rookie James Davison.
We've already done the hard work and found a link - James's segment starts at around 1m22. Watch it, but don't blame us if you lose a tiny bit of your soul.
The reason we tell you this is not because of it's undoubted cultural contibutions to western society, but because it transpires that the second episode featured Dale Coyne Racing rookie James Davison.
We've already done the hard work and found a link - James's segment starts at around 1m22. Watch it, but don't blame us if you lose a tiny bit of your soul.
WRC - Finland: Kruuda beats Paddon in their WRC2 fight on SS15, 1m27.3s for the former as the Australian comes through with a mechanical problem, 25s down.
WRC2 leader Ketomaa reaffirms his dominance by beating Robert Kubica on their run by 0.6s - the leader completed his run in 1m25.0s.
WRC2 leader Ketomaa reaffirms his dominance by beating Robert Kubica on their run by 0.6s - the leader completed his run in 1m25.0s.
WRC - Finland: A boost for P-G Andersson, who beats Nikara, with a 1m23.1s. But Meeke makes sure that's short-lived, beating his best friend Novikov on their run. 1m22.4s for the Northern Irishman.
WRC - Finland: If Kris Meeke is any more effusive in his praise about the Citroen DS3, you could be forgiven for thinking he was a dealer. A cracking couple of days for him - outside podium shout, should the stewards hand him back those 30s?
WRC - Finland: Latvala and Sordo fall just short of Meeke's effort, falling in just behind him in that order.
WRC - Finland: Mikko Hirvonen beats Nevuille by 0.1s on SS15...and the Belgian has another puncture! Rear-left. "It was already punctured the stage before, and I had no other spare wheel," he reveals.
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Massively impressed by Luca Filippi. He has been in the series for about five minutes, and has already figured out the only two places in the paddock where you can get a decent espresso. Last year, it took AUTOSPORT until Milwaukee to get its coffee set-up dialed in.
Checkered flag
WRC - Finland: Ogier denies Meeke a win on the superspecial by half a second. Ostberg slots in behind Latvala in fourth, and closes to 0.9s behind his team-mate Neuville in the battle for second.
SS15 results: 1 Ogier; 2 Meeke +0.5s; 3 Latvala +0.7s; 4 Ostberg +0.8s; 5 Sordo +0.8s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +38.1s; 3 Ostberg +39.0s; 4 Hirvonen +1m01.4s; 5 Meeke +1m33.2s.
SS15 results: 1 Ogier; 2 Meeke +0.5s; 3 Latvala +0.7s; 4 Ostberg +0.8s; 5 Sordo +0.8s.
Overall: 1 Ogier; 2 Neuville +38.1s; 3 Ostberg +39.0s; 4 Hirvonen +1m01.4s; 5 Meeke +1m33.2s.
NASCAR - Pocono: Qualifying gets underway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono in less than an hour's time. Plenty opportunity then to take a look at how the points look - in particular, who's on the fringes of missing the Chase cut-off from 11th downwards.
Ryan Newman's just beyond this list in 16th - but gave himself an outside shot with victory at Indianapolis last weekend (pictured). Jimmie Johnson remains in command.
Championship standings after 20 of 36 rounds:
(Chase starts after round 26)
1 Jimmie Johnson 740
2 Clint Bowyer 665
3 Carl Edwards 655
4 Kevin Harvick 648
5 Dale Earnhardt Jr 616
6 Matt Kenseth 615
7 Kyle Busch 610
8 Greg Biffle 565
9 Kasey Kahne 564
10 Jeff Gordon 559
11 Tony Stewart 558
12 Martin Truex Jr 554
13 Brad Keselowski 553
14 Kurt Busch 546
15 Jamie McMurray 553
(43 points for a win)
Breaking news
WRC - Finland: Here's how Sebastien Ogier stormed into a commanding Rally Finland lead, aided by misfortune for the impressive M-Sport Fords.
Ogier pulls clear of rivals after day two
Ogier pulls clear of rivals after day two
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Second practice is not for almost another hour, so here's a look at how the race for the title is shaping up. Scott Dixon continued his epic Toronto form into the first practice session. Can he continue to close the gap on Helio Castroneves this weekend?
Championship standings after 13 of 19 rounds:
1 Helio Castroneves 425
2 Scott Dixon 396
3 Ryan Hunter-Reay 356
4 Marco Andretti 355
5 Simon Pagenaud 309
6 Tony Kanaan 307
(50 points for a win)
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Indy Lights are out on track at the moment, and shockingly, the field size is in double figures. We've got an 11-car grid this weekend, including the BHA entry. We like this one because a) it's another IndyCar team fielding a Lights car, which is a good sign, and b) the driver's name is Axcil Jeffries. The Zimbabwean is currently seventh-fastest, ahead of series regulars Gabby Chaves and Juan Pablo Garcia.
Looking ahead to tomorrow (all times BST) and Rally Finland kicks off the day's running early, with a 6:26 start for SS16. The rally will run through to late afternoon UK time - will anyone be able to topple Ogier by the end of the 23rd and final stage?
We'll then be bringing you updates from DTM practice in Moscow early in the morning (7:45) before qualifying gets underway at 13:40.
You'll get your domestic fix when we bring you the two BTCC practice sessions (9:25 and midday respectively) and qualifying for the opening race at 15:20, as Race Centre Live continues its exotic weekend by adding Thetford(ish) to Finland, Russia, Argentina and the United States.
Both Termas WTCC practice sessions take place after midday, the first at 12:30 and the second at 15:00.
RCL then goes Stateside, with IndyCar third practice at 15:30; Indy Lights qualifying at 18:00; and IndyCar qualifying at 19:00.
NASCAR - Pocono: First, though, we must concentrate on the now. Race Centre Live may be 12-and-a-half hours old today, but is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, we're literally just getting started. It's qualifying time at Pocono.
In fact, we're literally just getting started. It's qualifying time at Pocono.
NASCAR - Pocono: We've had the first five drivers set their qualifying laps. Juan Pablo Montoya's 178.056mph effort leads the way after the very early running.
Green flag
IndyCar - Mid-Ohio: Green flag for second practice.
By: Scott Mitchell, David Evans, Mark Glendenning, Sam Tremayne, Matt Beer, Jamie O'Leary, Kevin Turner
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