WRC Finland, Red Bull Ring DTM and F3
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WRC - Finland: As usual, we had one short stage last night, a mile-and-a-halt around the streets and parks of Harju. It had very little in common with the rest of the event, but for the record this is how the WRC field stands going into the proper start of the rally this morning:
1 Ogier
2 Meeke +0.6s
3 Mikkelsen +0.8s
4 Kubica +1.1s
5 Latvala +1.6s
6 Ostberg +1.7s
7 Prokop +1.9s
8 Neuville +2.6s
9 Sordo +3.0s
10 Tanak +3.9s
11 Paddon +4.0s
12 Lefebvre +4.8s (WRC2)
13 Brynildsen +4.8s (WRC2)
14 Evans +4.9s
15 Hanninen +5.0s
1 Ogier
2 Meeke +0.6s
3 Mikkelsen +0.8s
4 Kubica +1.1s
5 Latvala +1.6s
6 Ostberg +1.7s
7 Prokop +1.9s
8 Neuville +2.6s
9 Sordo +3.0s
10 Tanak +3.9s
11 Paddon +4.0s
12 Lefebvre +4.8s (WRC2)
13 Brynildsen +4.8s (WRC2)
14 Evans +4.9s
15 Hanninen +5.0s
WRC - Finland: Kris Meeke's co-driver Paul Nagle is doing our stage guides for us this weekend (though David Evans is chipping in a bit too, for reasons that will become clear).
It's Nagle on duty for SS2, though:
SS2 Pihlajakoski (9.01 miles)
This one was used last year. And it's fast, not that that would differentiate it from any of the other stages around here – they're all either fast or very, very fast!
But this one is a bit different in that it doesn't have so many jumps in. There are a few crests, but nothing like the number of jumps that we have later in the morning.
The road's quite wide for the most part, but narrows a little bit towards the end – and there are some corners which really tighten up on you here – before it's back onto a wide road to the finish.
It's Nagle on duty for SS2, though:
SS2 Pihlajakoski (9.01 miles)
This one was used last year. And it's fast, not that that would differentiate it from any of the other stages around here – they're all either fast or very, very fast!
But this one is a bit different in that it doesn't have so many jumps in. There are a few crests, but nothing like the number of jumps that we have later in the morning.
The road's quite wide for the most part, but narrows a little bit towards the end – and there are some corners which really tighten up on you here – before it's back onto a wide road to the finish.
Rain
WRC - Finland: It's not just the ludicrously high speeds and the incessant high-flying jumps that will be challenging drivers this morning. There's also the weather, as DAVID EVANS explains:
Jyvaskyla has woken to very miserable grey skies this morning. After two days of getting its jacket strategy spectacularly wrong, AUTOSPORT sought the advice of M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson.
Wilson said: "It's going to be a bit of a lottery with the weather, there's rain coming, but it kind of comes in heavy showers, then dries a bit. If you do get a heavy shower sitting on the start line it could cost a lot of time. There's definitely rain coming today, it's just a question of when."
For the record, the strategy for us is gilet – which is a middle of the road choice offering some protection from the elements without the risk of overheating.
Jyvaskyla has woken to very miserable grey skies this morning. After two days of getting its jacket strategy spectacularly wrong, AUTOSPORT sought the advice of M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson.
Wilson said: "It's going to be a bit of a lottery with the weather, there's rain coming, but it kind of comes in heavy showers, then dries a bit. If you do get a heavy shower sitting on the start line it could cost a lot of time. There's definitely rain coming today, it's just a question of when."
For the record, the strategy for us is gilet – which is a middle of the road choice offering some protection from the elements without the risk of overheating.
Good morning and welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live as we prepare for one of the absolute highlights of the World Rally Championship season - it's time for the 1000 Lakes, sorry, Rally Finland.
Ott Tanak, M-Sport Ford, WRC Finland 2015
By: AUTOSPORT staff, Mitchell Adam, Mark Glendenning, Jack Benyon
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