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WRC - France: Mikkelsen matches Latvala's time through the first split, while at the second, Latvala has taken 5.6s out of Ogier.
WRC - France: At the first split, Latvala is quicker than Ogier by 0.3s.
WRC - France: SS5 is go, with Ogier and Latvala already under way.
This was the stage where Ogier suffered his problems this morning, so he'll be hoping for a smoother run this time, while Latvala will be hoping not to lose out to Mikkelsen again as he did earlier.
This was the stage where Ogier suffered his problems this morning, so he'll be hoping for a smoother run this time, while Latvala will be hoping not to lose out to Mikkelsen again as he did earlier.
WRC-2 - France: With the start of SS5, a second run through the monster Vosges - Pays D'Ormont test, a few minutes away yet, now seems as good a time as any to glance at the state of affairs in WRC-2.
Sousa was quickest through that stage, 1.3s faster than Chardonnet, but it's still Gilbert who leads the class by 1.6s over the Portuguese driver. Tidemand is a further 4.1s back in third.
Sousa was quickest through that stage, 1.3s faster than Chardonnet, but it's still Gilbert who leads the class by 1.6s over the Portuguese driver. Tidemand is a further 4.1s back in third.
Dumas Porsche France 2014
WRC - France: The R-GT race has really fired the imagination in France, and it’s Romain Dumas who has taken first blood with his four-litre car.
The factory Porsche driver leads Francois Delecour by 16.2 seconds after SS3 – but Delecour suffered an intercom problem in SS2.
He and co-driver Dominique Savignoni swapped helmets and promptly took five seconds out of Dumas in their Tuthill 911 through SS3.
WRC - France: And the overall positions after SS4, as Mikkelsen eats into Latvala's already slender lead:
1) Latvala 34m42.6s
2) Mikkelsen +0.2s
3) Meeke +8.0s
4) Sordo +25.5s
5) Ostberg +26.7s
6) Kubica +31.2s
7) Hirvonen +38.5s
8) Bouffier +56.0s
1) Latvala 34m42.6s
2) Mikkelsen +0.2s
3) Meeke +8.0s
4) Sordo +25.5s
5) Ostberg +26.7s
6) Kubica +31.2s
7) Hirvonen +38.5s
8) Bouffier +56.0s
WRC - France: With that, here are the leading results for that stage:
1) Mikkelsen 5m35.3s
2) Ogier +0.1s
3) Latvala +0.5s
4) Meeke +1.3s
5) Evans +4.3s
6) Hirvonen +4.4s
7) Kubica +5.6s
8) Sordo/Neuville +5.7s
1) Mikkelsen 5m35.3s
2) Ogier +0.1s
3) Latvala +0.5s
4) Meeke +1.3s
5) Evans +4.3s
6) Hirvonen +4.4s
7) Kubica +5.6s
8) Sordo/Neuville +5.7s
WRC - France: Evans completes the stage, setting the fifth best time, a tenth up on team-mate Hirvonen.
An indication of what could have been for the unfortunate Brit...
An indication of what could have been for the unfortunate Brit...
WRC - France: Kubica goes sixth fastest on a 5m41.0s, 5.6s down on pacesetter Mikkelsen, and a tenth quicker than Sordo.
WRC - France: Evans has been shuffled back through the running order as a result of his travails, behind his team-mate Kubica and the Hyundais of Bouffier and Sordo.
Evans France Ford 2014
WRC - France: Next up would have been Evans, but as DAVID EVANS can report, things have gone awry for the Welshman.
M Sport has changed pretty much every electrical charging component in an effort to rid Evans’ Ford Fiesta RS WRC of the gremlins which ruled him out contention for Rallye de France victory this morning.
The Welshman was just 15 seconds off the lead after SS3, but was then but was then hit with a 1m40s penalty for arriving 10 minutes late in service after the car died within sight of service.
Evans and co-driver Dan Barritt pushed the Fiesta uphill to get it to service.
“It was pretty hard work,” said Evans. “Certainly, a lot harder when you have to push it up that hill rather than driving it!
"The good thing is that we’re here and we can go out and have another go this afternoon.”
WRC - France: Ostberg is through, six seconds down on Mikkelsen, and he's closely followed by our third-placed man Meeke - who is 1.3s off the pace, and fourth for the stage.
WRC - France: Hirvonen is through, 4.3s down on Mikkelsen, with Neuville a further 0.4s back.
It seems the Belgian's lack of power this morning was caused by a turbo failure on his Hyundai i20 WRC.
It seems the Belgian's lack of power this morning was caused by a turbo failure on his Hyundai i20 WRC.
WRC - France: Latvala finishes the stage four tenths down on Ogier, but Mikkelsen goes quicker than both on a 5m35.3s.
Both Latvala and Mikkelsen have got a great chance to be the first non-Frenchman to win this event since 2004, when Estonia's Markko Martin took honours.
Both Latvala and Mikkelsen have got a great chance to be the first non-Frenchman to win this event since 2004, when Estonia's Markko Martin took honours.
WRC - France: Latvala is 1.9s down on Ogier at the halfway split.
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WRC - France: Ogier is through the stage already, establishing a benchmark of 5m35.4s - marginally slower than he was through this morning's run.
"Everything is working well, but it's a little too late," says Ogier.
"Everything is working well, but it's a little too late," says Ogier.
Breaking news
WRC - France: Our man on the ground DAVID EVANS caught up with Ogier earlier, and can reveal the full explanation behind the Frenchman's mechanical woes this morning:
Ogier hit by gear-shift sensor problem
Ogier hit by gear-shift sensor problem
WRC - France: Ogier is now on the stage, and we can confirm that the Frenchman was awarded a four-minute time penalty for turning up to the start of SS3 four minutes early.
That means he goes into this one down in 64th overall, 8m26.1s down on Latvala.
That means he goes into this one down in 64th overall, 8m26.1s down on Latvala.
WRC - France: The running order will be the same as this morning, meaning that Ogier - who suffered a nightmare opening morning of his home rally - will be on the road first, followed by VW team-mates Latvala and Mikkelsen.
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live, where we're about to resume coverage of the Rally of France.
The afternoon loop will be kicking off shortly, repeating the trio of stages tackled by the drivers this morning - starting off with the 11.11km Col de la Charbonniere.
The afternoon loop will be kicking off shortly, repeating the trio of stages tackled by the drivers this morning - starting off with the 11.11km Col de la Charbonniere.
That's all from us for now, but make sure you rejoin us on Race Centre Live at around 1pm UK time, when the afternoon loop of stages will commence.
WRC - France: Here's a recap of this morning's drama, as Latvala holds a slender advantage over Mikkelsen while Ogier languishes down the order with a possible penalty hanging over his head:
Latvala leads as Ogier hits trouble
Latvala leads as Ogier hits trouble
WRC-2 - France: To bring you up to date with the support classes, the lead WRC-2 runner after SS3 is Gilbert, who holds a 3.4s advantage over Sousa. Tidemand is a further 1.4s back in third.
Local man Frederic Hauswald meanwhile has taken control of WRC-3, leading Fisher by 14s and Giordano by 17.8s.
Local man Frederic Hauswald meanwhile has taken control of WRC-3, leading Fisher by 14s and Giordano by 17.8s.
WRC timing screen
WRC - France: DAVID EVANS has learned that there's speculation that Ogier's morning might be about to get worse. He could be in for a four-minute penalty, according to the WRC's official timing system.
After a four-minute delay at the start of SS2, Ogier then started SS3 on his original time and not the due time - the discrepancy can be seen from the picture.
Early arrival at a control is penalised at one minute per minute, which would mean an extra four minutes added to his total time.
WRC - France: And the leading positions after the opening morning of the rally:
1) Latvala 29m06.8s
2) Mikkelsen +0.7s
3) Meeke +7.2s
4) Evans +15.3s
5) Sordo +20.3s
6) Ostberg +21.2s
7) Kubica +26.1s
8) Hirvonen +34.6s
1) Latvala 29m06.8s
2) Mikkelsen +0.7s
3) Meeke +7.2s
4) Evans +15.3s
5) Sordo +20.3s
6) Ostberg +21.2s
7) Kubica +26.1s
8) Hirvonen +34.6s
WRC - France: So, here are the leading times for SS3:
1) Latvala 4m54.6s
2) Mikkelsen +4.0s
3) Ostberg +5.9s
4) Meeke +6.7s
5) Evans +7.6s
6) Sordo +7.6s
7) Kubica +8.4s
8) Hirvonen +10.5s
1) Latvala 4m54.6s
2) Mikkelsen +4.0s
3) Ostberg +5.9s
4) Meeke +6.7s
5) Evans +7.6s
6) Sordo +7.6s
7) Kubica +8.4s
8) Hirvonen +10.5s
WRC - France: Interestingly, Sordo sets the exact same time as Evans for that stage, which is 10 seconds quicker than Hyundai team-mate Bouffier.
WRC - France: Evans seemed to be nursing an apparent overheating issue on that stage. The Welshman brings it home 7.6s off the pace, fifth quickest for that stage.
WRC - France: Ostberg strikes back in the battle of the Citroens, edging out Meeke by 0.4s on that stage to go third quickest so far.
WRC - France: The power issues that dogged Neuville in the previous stage seem to have continued, as the Belgian comes through 1m37s slower than the pacesetters.
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WRC - France: Hirvonen is through, losing a further 10.5s to Latvala in another difficult morning.
"I'm struggling with the tyres - I just keep sliding," Hirvonen says.
"I'm struggling with the tyres - I just keep sliding," Hirvonen says.
WRC - France: Mikkelsen is through, and he loses four seconds to Latvala, and the lead by 0.7s as a result.
WRC - France: Mikkelsen is 2.6s slower than Latvala at the split, so there's a chance for the latter to retake the lead here.
WRC - France: Ogier drops 17.1 to Latvala in SS3.
WRC - France: Latvala is 12.1s up on Ogier at the first split.
WRC - France: The final stage of the loop, Pays de Salm, is just 9.59km in length, so don't expect too many dramatic changes to the leaderboard.
Ogier has made it through already, in 5m11.7s, but was still suffering from engine and gearbox issues. Expect him to drop some more time relative to the leaders.
Ogier has made it through already, in 5m11.7s, but was still suffering from engine and gearbox issues. Expect him to drop some more time relative to the leaders.
WRC - France: And the overall positions after SS2:
1) Mikkelsen 24m08.9s
2) Latvala +3.3s
3) Meeke +3.8s
4) Evans +11.0s
5) Sordo +16.0s
6) Ostberg +18.6s
7) Kubica +21.0s
8) Hirvonen +27.4s
1) Mikkelsen 24m08.9s
2) Latvala +3.3s
3) Meeke +3.8s
4) Evans +11.0s
5) Sordo +16.0s
6) Ostberg +18.6s
7) Kubica +21.0s
8) Hirvonen +27.4s
WRC - France: Most of the WRC runners are through the stage now, here are the leading times:
1) Mikkelsen 18m33.5s
2) Meeke +3.6s
3) Latvala +3.8s
4) Evans +7.7s
5) Sordo +10.1s
6) Ostberg +14.1s
7) Kubica +16.3s
8) Hirvonen +20.7s
1) Mikkelsen 18m33.5s
2) Meeke +3.6s
3) Latvala +3.8s
4) Evans +7.7s
5) Sordo +10.1s
6) Ostberg +14.1s
7) Kubica +16.3s
8) Hirvonen +20.7s
WRC - France: Sordo completes the stage 10.1s down on Mikkelsen to go fifth quickest, while Kubica goes seventh after reaching the end of the stage.
WRC - France: Much fancied asphalt runners Sordo and Kubica are +6.9s at split six and +10.3s at split five respectively.
By: Jamie Klein, David Evans
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