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That's about all from us this weekend here at AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live - hope you've enjoyed our Rally of France coverage.
We'll leave you with our full recap of what has been an eventful rally:
Latvala closes on Ogier with win
Be sure to join us again on Friday, where our live motorsport coverage will resume as practice for the Russian Grand Prix gets underway.
We'll leave you with our full recap of what has been an eventful rally:
Latvala closes on Ogier with win
Be sure to join us again on Friday, where our live motorsport coverage will resume as practice for the Russian Grand Prix gets underway.
WRC - France: And the manufacturers' standings now look as follows:
1) Volkswagen 373pts
2) Citroen 175pts
3) M-Sport Ford 164pts
4) Hyundai 157pts
1) Volkswagen 373pts
2) Citroen 175pts
3) M-Sport Ford 164pts
4) Hyundai 157pts
WRC - France: Let's take a glance at the WRC points standings with two rallies left to run:
1) Ogier 217pts
2) Latvala 190pts
3) Mikkelsen 143pts
4) Hirvonen 93pts
5) Neuville 83pts
6) Meeke 82pts
7) Ostberg 80pts
8) Evans 71pts
1) Ogier 217pts
2) Latvala 190pts
3) Mikkelsen 143pts
4) Hirvonen 93pts
5) Neuville 83pts
6) Meeke 82pts
7) Ostberg 80pts
8) Evans 71pts
WRC-3 - France: Stephane Lefebvre completes the rally to secure the title in the junior class with third place in the rally, as Alistair Fisher takes his first victory of the season.
WRC-2 - France: With the leading WRC-2 runners now through the powerstage, we can confirm that it's a win for Gilbert on home turf, with Sousa and Chardonnet completing the podium.
WRC - France: And the final rally standings, reflecting Kubica's late demise:
1) Latvala 2hr38m19.1s - 25pts
2) Mikkelsen +44.8s - 18pts
3) Meeke +1m05.3s - 15pts
4) Sordo +1m48.7s - 12pts
5) Hirvonen +2m00.7s - 10pts
6) Evans +3m00.8s - 8pts
7) Ostberg +3m02.5s - 6pts
8) Neuville +4m08.4s - 4pts
9) Bouffier +4m12.9s - 2pts
10) Prokop +6m07.5s - 1pt
1) Latvala 2hr38m19.1s - 25pts
2) Mikkelsen +44.8s - 18pts
3) Meeke +1m05.3s - 15pts
4) Sordo +1m48.7s - 12pts
5) Hirvonen +2m00.7s - 10pts
6) Evans +3m00.8s - 8pts
7) Ostberg +3m02.5s - 6pts
8) Neuville +4m08.4s - 4pts
9) Bouffier +4m12.9s - 2pts
10) Prokop +6m07.5s - 1pt
WRC - France: To confirm, here are the final powerstage standings:
1) Ogier 9m20.8s - 3pts
2) Evans +9.5s - 2pts
3) Latvala +12.9s - 1pts
4) Ostberg +13.0s
5) Sordo +15.0s
6) Hirvonen +15.7s
7) Neuville +17.8s
8) Bouffier +17.8s
1) Ogier 9m20.8s - 3pts
2) Evans +9.5s - 2pts
3) Latvala +12.9s - 1pts
4) Ostberg +13.0s
5) Sordo +15.0s
6) Hirvonen +15.7s
7) Neuville +17.8s
8) Bouffier +17.8s
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WRC - France: Not only does that re-ignite Latvala's title charge, it's his first win on asphalt, and the first win on the surface for a Finn since Tommi Makinen at the Sanremo in 1999.
"It feels really, really good," says the victor. "This morning I was pretty nervous. I had to take that lesson in Germany, without that I wouldn't have been so fast today."
"I've put in a lot of work to finally win on tarmac, and now it's finally come."
"It feels really, really good," says the victor. "This morning I was pretty nervous. I had to take that lesson in Germany, without that I wouldn't have been so fast today."
"I've put in a lot of work to finally win on tarmac, and now it's finally come."
WRC - France: Latvala takes one bonus point for setting the third best time on the powerstage behind Ogier and Evans, meaning that the gap between the two title protagonists heading to Spain will be 27 points.
Trophy
WRC - France: Latvala takes the flying finish to win the Rally of France!
WRC - France: Meeke goes eighth fastest, taking it easy to secure the final podium spot, as Mikkelsen goes ninth fastest to seal the runner-up spot in the rally.
Now to wait for Latvala to cross the line and seal the deal on his chief rival's home turf.
Now to wait for Latvala to cross the line and seal the deal on his chief rival's home turf.
WRC - France: That incident means that Kubica, in 11 rallies this year, will have only scored points three times.
Sordo meanwhile arrives at the finish, setting the fifth quickest time for the stage and bagging 12 well-earned points for Hyundai. He'll no doubt he hoping for a return to the podium on home soil in Spain.
A good result to celebrate for co-driver Marc Marti in his 150th rally as a WRC co-driver.
Sordo meanwhile arrives at the finish, setting the fifth quickest time for the stage and bagging 12 well-earned points for Hyundai. He'll no doubt he hoping for a return to the podium on home soil in Spain.
A good result to celebrate for co-driver Marc Marti in his 150th rally as a WRC co-driver.
WRC - France: We're hearing that no effort is being made to get the stricken Ford back on the road, so it looks like a hard weekend's effort will have gone to waste for Kubica.
Hirvonen, who completes the stage fourth quickest, 15.7s down on Ogier, will move into fifth, as Sordo inherits fourth.
Hirvonen, who completes the stage fourth quickest, 15.7s down on Ogier, will move into fifth, as Sordo inherits fourth.
WRC - France: There's late drama for Robert Kubica, who has slid his Ford Fiesta RS WRC into a ditch within sight of his best ever finish.
It will come as a crushing disappointment to the M-Sport man if he loses fourth place to Sordo.
It will come as a crushing disappointment to the M-Sport man if he loses fourth place to Sordo.
WRC - France: Lo and behold - that spin has indeed cost the Citroen man seventh, as Evans goes 3.5s quicker than Ostberg, and 9.5s down on Ogier, to take the place.
WRC - France: Neuville matches Bouffier's time on the powerstage to seal ninth place overall in a testing rally for the Belgian.
Meanwhile, we're hearing that Ostberg might have spun on the stage, which could cost him seventh place.
Meanwhile, we're hearing that Ostberg might have spun on the stage, which could cost him seventh place.
WRC - France: Bouffier makes it to the end of his home event with a time 17.8s shy of compatriot Ogier.
Unless Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville hits trouble on the last stage, Bouffier is set to earn just the one point for his efforts.
Unless Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville hits trouble on the last stage, Bouffier is set to earn just the one point for his efforts.
WRC - France: Prokop completes his rally with a powerstage time over 30 seconds slower than Ogier.
It's been a tough rally for the Czech, who looks set to leave Alsace empty-handed.
It's been a tough rally for the Czech, who looks set to leave Alsace empty-handed.
WRC - France: Ogier goes 6.1s quicker than his morning run, establishing a lofty benchmark of 9m20.8s.
Latvala is unlikely to risk a near-certain victory in pursuit of that time, so Ogier could well be on for the three bonus points he so craves.
Latvala is unlikely to risk a near-certain victory in pursuit of that time, so Ogier could well be on for the three bonus points he so craves.
WRC - France: Worth noting, of course, that this is a re-run of the earlier 19.36km Foret de Saverne stage, which Ogier won this morning.
Second and third quickest were Evans and Kubica.
Second and third quickest were Evans and Kubica.
WRC - France: Ogier is on the stage - with nothing to lose, expect the home hero to be pulling out all the stops for his fourth stage win of the rally, and the three crucial bonus points to go with it.
WRC - France: Our 12 manufacturer runners will be first through the stage, with the privateers coming after, meaning the running order will be as follows:
Ogier, Prokop, Bouffier, Neuville, Evans, Ostberg, Hirvonen, Sordo, Kubica, Meeke, Mikkelsen, Latvala.
Ogier, Prokop, Bouffier, Neuville, Evans, Ostberg, Hirvonen, Sordo, Kubica, Meeke, Mikkelsen, Latvala.
WRC - France: Less than five minutes now until the powerstage commences.
Of the 10 powerstages we've had this year, five have been won by Ogier, two by Latvala, and one apiece by Mikkelsen, Ostberg and Evans.
Of the 10 powerstages we've had this year, five have been won by Ogier, two by Latvala, and one apiece by Mikkelsen, Ostberg and Evans.
WRC-3 - France: Meanwhile, in the junior class, it looks like we're on the cusp of crowning a new champion in Stephane Lefebvre.
Assuming the Frenchman finishes in the top four in class, as he is firmly on course to with only a stage to go, then he will hold an insuperable points lead with only one event remaining.
Alistair Fisher, who currently leads the class by 42 seconds from Eric Cavalli, will move ahead of Martin Koci, Quentin Giordano and the absent Christian Riedemann into the runner-up spot in the standings.
Assuming the Frenchman finishes in the top four in class, as he is firmly on course to with only a stage to go, then he will hold an insuperable points lead with only one event remaining.
Alistair Fisher, who currently leads the class by 42 seconds from Eric Cavalli, will move ahead of Martin Koci, Quentin Giordano and the absent Christian Riedemann into the runner-up spot in the standings.
WRC-2 - France: To update you on the state of play in the intermediate class, Quentin Gilbert continues to lead over Bernardo Sousa, who has now fallen 12.6s adrift in the battle for class honours.
Neither driver is particularly prominent in the drivers' standings for the class, which are currently headed by the absent Lorenzo Bertelli.
In fact, the highest-placed driver competing in this round is Pontus Tidemand, who lies a distant fourth in class after rolling his Ford Fiesta on Friday.
Neither driver is particularly prominent in the drivers' standings for the class, which are currently headed by the absent Lorenzo Bertelli.
In fact, the highest-placed driver competing in this round is Pontus Tidemand, who lies a distant fourth in class after rolling his Ford Fiesta on Friday.
WRC - France: Second place overall for Mikkelsen will further consolidate his third place in the championship.
Even if he fails to take any bonus points this morning, the third VW driver would be a minimum of 49 points clear of fourth-place man Hirvonen,
Further down the order, Meeke stands to move up from seventh to fifth in the points as things stand, leapfrogging Neuville and Ostberg, while Sordo would break into the top 10 at the expense of Henning Solberg.
Even if he fails to take any bonus points this morning, the third VW driver would be a minimum of 49 points clear of fourth-place man Hirvonen,
Further down the order, Meeke stands to move up from seventh to fifth in the points as things stand, leapfrogging Neuville and Ostberg, while Sordo would break into the top 10 at the expense of Henning Solberg.
WRC - France: With there being a break before the powerstage starts at 11.05am UK time, let's have a look at what this weekend's events are likely to do to the title battle.
Realistically, the best case scenario for Ogier is that he takes the maximum three bonus points, taking his total to 217, while Latvala just takes the 25 points for the win.
In that case, the VW drivers would be separated by 28 points with 56 still up for grabs in the final two rallies, Catalunya and GB.
Alternatively, if Latvala were to win the powerstage and Ogier scored nothing, the gap would be down to just 22 points.
Realistically, the best case scenario for Ogier is that he takes the maximum three bonus points, taking his total to 217, while Latvala just takes the 25 points for the win.
In that case, the VW drivers would be separated by 28 points with 56 still up for grabs in the final two rallies, Catalunya and GB.
Alternatively, if Latvala were to win the powerstage and Ogier scored nothing, the gap would be down to just 22 points.
WRC - France: And the overall standings heading into the all-important powerstage:
1) Latvala 2hr28m45.4s
2) Mikkelsen +36.5s
3) Meeke +58.8s
4) Kubica +1m35.6s
5) Sordo +1m46.6s
6) Hirvonen +1m57.9s
7) Ostberg +3m02.4s
8) Evans +3m04.2s
1) Latvala 2hr28m45.4s
2) Mikkelsen +36.5s
3) Meeke +58.8s
4) Kubica +1m35.6s
5) Sordo +1m46.6s
6) Hirvonen +1m57.9s
7) Ostberg +3m02.4s
8) Evans +3m04.2s
WRC - France: And so, here are the leading times for that penultimate stage of the rally:
1) Ostberg 6m07.2s
2) Neuville +1.6s
3) Evans +1.6s
4) Latvala +2.2s
5) Kubica +3.7s
6) Hirvonen +4.5s
7) Ogier +4.9s
8) Meeke +6.0s
1) Ostberg 6m07.2s
2) Neuville +1.6s
3) Evans +1.6s
4) Latvala +2.2s
5) Kubica +3.7s
6) Hirvonen +4.5s
7) Ogier +4.9s
8) Meeke +6.0s
WRC - France: Latvala takes the flying finish with a time 2.2s down on Ostberg, who takes his first stage win of the rally as a result.
Latvala meanwhile extends his lead over Mikkelsen to a virtually unimpeachable 36.5s - only a catastrophe will rob the Finn of a first WRC win on asphalt now.
Latvala meanwhile extends his lead over Mikkelsen to a virtually unimpeachable 36.5s - only a catastrophe will rob the Finn of a first WRC win on asphalt now.
WRC - France: Andreas Mikkelsen has given up any hope of catching Latvala at the head of the field, as he sets only the ninth quickest time for the stage, 9.5s down on countryman Ostberg.
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WRC - France: Here's Kris Meeke, who sits a comfortable third and completes the stage six seconds slower than pace-setting team-mate Ostberg:
"A tricky stage, but quite nice for drive. Just trying to keep everything on the straight and narrow."
"A tricky stage, but quite nice for drive. Just trying to keep everything on the straight and narrow."
WRC - France: Sordo has conceded yet more ground to Kubica on that stage in the battle for fourth, dropping 2.6s to the Pole.
Both were some way off Ostberg's time though, the Citroen man remaining the fastest through the stage from Neuville and Evans.
Both were some way off Ostberg's time though, the Citroen man remaining the fastest through the stage from Neuville and Evans.
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WRC - France: Hirvonen comes home 4.5s slower than Ostberg - not a great stage for the M-Sport Ford man.
"If nothing happens to Robert or Dani, there's nothing more we can do," says Hirvonen. "We're focused on trying to score on the final stage."
"If nothing happens to Robert or Dani, there's nothing more we can do," says Hirvonen. "We're focused on trying to score on the final stage."
WRC - France: Ostberg goes 1.6s quicker than Evans to set a new fastest stage time so far, growing the gap to the Welshman to 1.8s with one stage left to run - still all to play for, though.
WRC - France: Neuville bests Ogier's time by 3.3s, enough to overhaul Bouffier for ninth place as the Frenchman drops nine seconds to his team-mate.
Evans meanwhile matches Neuville's time, with Ostberg the next man through.
Evans meanwhile matches Neuville's time, with Ostberg the next man through.
WRC - France: Glancing further up the leaderboard, two battles to look out for during the last two stages are for seventh and ninth places.
Mads Ostberg and Elfyn Evans, both of whom have been hobbled by penalties, sit just two tenths apart in the fight for seventh, while 4.5s separate Hyundai team-mates Bryan Bouffier and Thierry Neuville as things stand.
Mads Ostberg and Elfyn Evans, both of whom have been hobbled by penalties, sit just two tenths apart in the fight for seventh, while 4.5s separate Hyundai team-mates Bryan Bouffier and Thierry Neuville as things stand.
WRC - France: Ogier has managed to climb his way back up to 14th overall in the rally, which means he's not the last World Rally Car in the standings - a dubious honour that currently belongs to Yuri Protasov.
That said, Ogier was almost two minutes down on 13th place man Dennis Kuipers after the previous stage, so don't expect the championship leader to make any more progress.
That said, Ogier was almost two minutes down on 13th place man Dennis Kuipers after the previous stage, so don't expect the championship leader to make any more progress.
WRC - France: Ogier is through the penultimate stage in a time of 6m12.1s. The Frenchman has said since Friday that his focus is purely on securing points in the powerstage and thus limit the damage to his points lead set to be inflicted by Latvala.
WRC - France: The penultimate test of the rally, a second run through the Foret de la Petite Pierre test, is now underway. Ogier will be the first man through.
Setting the pace on this morning's run was Robert Kubica, who moved ahead of Dani Sordo for fourth overall as a result.
Setting the pace on this morning's run was Robert Kubica, who moved ahead of Dani Sordo for fourth overall as a result.
By: Jamie Klein, David Evans
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