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WRC - France: It's closing up again in the final part of the stage. Neuville was over three seconds up on Ogier at split four. At split six that gap has come down to under two seconds.
Auto GP - Brno: Karthikeyan's second flying lap was a 1m44.777s, which briefly moved the Indian into provisional pole.
Super Nova team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli responded on the next tour to break into the 1m43s, recording a time of 1m43.913s.
Super Nova team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli responded on the next tour to break into the 1m43s, recording a time of 1m43.913s.
WRC - France: Now we are getting Loeb's splits, and he's over a second up on Neuville and Sordo by split two. But it does look like Neuville raised his game as the stage went on.
WRC - France: Neuville is stretching his legs now and at split four he's 3.4s up on Ogier.
But back at split two, it's Sordo who has been fastest of all through the opening partof the stage.
We haven't got anything through from Loeb yet.
But back at split two, it's Sordo who has been fastest of all through the opening partof the stage.
We haven't got anything through from Loeb yet.
Romain Dumas
WRC - France: A story worth reporting further down the field... 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Romain Dumas is making another rallying appearance in a WRC Ford this weekend.
His co-driver is veteran Denis Giraudet, best known for his years alongside Didier Auriol. This is Giraudet's first WRC appearance since he suffered back injuries in Finland last year when working with Evgeny Novikov.
Dumas and Giraudet are currently 12th.
Auto GP - Brno: The Italian trio of, title aspirants, Sergio Campana and Vittorio Ghirelli, as well as Andrea Roda are first to take to the track.
WRC - France: First splits are in and it's looking better for Ogier.
On the last two short stages he'd lost a couple of seconds to Neuville within the first couple of splits, whereas this time they're just a few tenths apart.
On the last two short stages he'd lost a couple of seconds to Neuville within the first couple of splits, whereas this time they're just a few tenths apart.
Green flag
Auto GP - Brno: Qualifying for the Auto GP title-deciding meeting at Brno is underway.
WRC - France: The drivers hoping for damper conditions to suit their mix of softs and hards reckoned their choice would pay off on this stage, but so far the indications are that it's pretty dry. That would play into Neuville's hands.
WRC - France: The WRC field is splitting into packs. We've got Neuville, Loeb, Sordo and Latvala within 4s at the front, Ogier in a lonely no man's land, then Novikov, Hirvonen, Mikkelsen and Ostberg within 20s in sixth to ninth places, some distance back.
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Auto GP - Brno: Karthikeyan is fourth in the Auto GP drivers' standings, and maintains slim hopes of taking the crown.
"To win the title will be difficult," conceded Karthikeyan. "I can continue my pole run [which stands at four consecutive poles] or win some races, but it doesn't matter, it is much better to win it. But at least no one can beat me on taking the most poles in the season."
"To win the title will be difficult," conceded Karthikeyan. "I can continue my pole run [which stands at four consecutive poles] or win some races, but it doesn't matter, it is much better to win it. But at least no one can beat me on taking the most poles in the season."
WRC - France: One minute to go until Vosges goes live.
Ogier is in first, then Neuville.
Ogier is in first, then Neuville.
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Auto GP - Brno: Comfortably fastest in Friday's two free practice sessions, Narain Karthikeyan played down expectactions of continuing his margin of superioty over the Auto GP field into qualifying at Brno.
"We set the [fastest practice] time on softs, although not new tyres," said Karthikeyan. "I like the track, it's not bad, but we don’t know what tyres everyone was on. We set the [best] time on softs, [but they were] not new. I think the others will close up in qualifying."
"We set the [fastest practice] time on softs, although not new tyres," said Karthikeyan. "I like the track, it's not bad, but we don’t know what tyres everyone was on. We set the [best] time on softs, [but they were] not new. I think the others will close up in qualifying."
Bruno Thiry
WRC - France: The world is going to want to learn a lot more about Neuville in years to come, we reckon. Appropriately enough, there's a radio interview with the rally leader playing in the media centre now.
And fans of moderately successful WRC drivers of the 1990s and early 2000s will be pleased to learn that Neuville's hero growing up was Bruno Thiry. Here's his Skoda Octavia in Cyprus in 2001.
Thank you Thierry for not only giving us hope that Ogier will have a rival for the next 10 years, but giving AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live an excuse to run a picture of an Octavia WRC.
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Auto GP - Brno: "We signed the contract on Monday," said Zele Racing's new recruit Kral. "It was a really last minute deal.
"It was big money for GP2 this year, and we couldn't really make it. That's why I haven't been doing anything.
"It doesn't really make sense to do a one-shot race, except here, which is a home race. I can bring some partners along, they will see me here racing again. It is a Czech race, with Czech fans, so let's see what happens for qualifying."
"It was big money for GP2 this year, and we couldn't really make it. That's why I haven't been doing anything.
"It doesn't really make sense to do a one-shot race, except here, which is a home race. I can bring some partners along, they will see me here racing again. It is a Czech race, with Czech fans, so let's see what happens for qualifying."
Auto GP - Brno: Former GP2 race winner Josef Kral has prepared for his Auto GP debut this weekend by running a half-marathon three days ago.
The Czech, who is making his first start at Brno since competing in Formula Master in 2009, has been without a drive since September last year when he ended his GP2 season prematurely.
The Czech, who is making his first start at Brno since competing in Formula Master in 2009, has been without a drive since September last year when he ended his GP2 season prematurely.
WRC - France: The final stage of day one starts in just over 20 minutes.
It's a repeat of the 34 kilometres of Vosges, the rally's longest stage and the most eventful of this loop when it was run for the first time this morning.
With the top four covered by just 4.1s and the 2013 world champion trailing the lead pack, it's going to be a tense end to the afternoon.
It's a repeat of the 34 kilometres of Vosges, the rally's longest stage and the most eventful of this loop when it was run for the first time this morning.
With the top four covered by just 4.1s and the 2013 world champion trailing the lead pack, it's going to be a tense end to the afternoon.
WRC - France - SS6 results:
Stage: 1 Neuville 7m53.4s; 2 Latvala +1.9s; 3 Sordo +2.0s 4 Ogier +3.8s; 5 Loeb +4.6s; 6 Novikov +5.1s.
Overall: 1 Neuville; 2 Loeb +2.6s; 3 Sordo +3.7s; 4 Latvala +4.1s; 5 Ogier +24.7s; 6 Novikov +48.3s.
Stage: 1 Neuville 7m53.4s; 2 Latvala +1.9s; 3 Sordo +2.0s 4 Ogier +3.8s; 5 Loeb +4.6s; 6 Novikov +5.1s.
Overall: 1 Neuville; 2 Loeb +2.6s; 3 Sordo +3.7s; 4 Latvala +4.1s; 5 Ogier +24.7s; 6 Novikov +48.3s.
WRC - France: We have a change of lead! Loeb loses 4s to Neuville on this stage and that means M-Sport Ford's young Belgian moves ahead.
This rally was supposed to mark the ceremonial handover of WRC power from Loeb to Ogier... but Neuville is underlining that rallying isn't just about Sebastiens.
This rally was supposed to mark the ceremonial handover of WRC power from Loeb to Ogier... but Neuville is underlining that rallying isn't just about Sebastiens.
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WRC - France: More self-flagellating honesty from Mikko Hirvonen as he completes the stage 9s down on Neuville.
"When it gets slippery I'm just not on the pace. I need to improve."
"When it gets slippery I'm just not on the pace. I need to improve."
WRC - France: Conditions are pretty dry, and that's hurting those who have kept some soft tyres among their choices. Great news for Neuville and also his team-mate Novikov.
Latvala is 1.9s down on Neuville, so the gap is now 4.1s overall.
Latvala is 1.9s down on Neuville, so the gap is now 4.1s overall.
Stopwatch
WRC - France: Neuville is 3.6s faster than Ogier, that's going to be tough to be.
"We've had some really good information from our weather guy," said Neuville. "I'm just pushing..."
"We've had some really good information from our weather guy," said Neuville. "I'm just pushing..."
WRC - France: The field goes straight from SS5 onto SS6, and Ogier is already through Massif des Grands Crus. But he's still off Neuville's pace on the splits.
"You can't always be at your best in the car," says the new world champion, "but I'm pushing harder this afternoon."
"You can't always be at your best in the car," says the new world champion, "but I'm pushing harder this afternoon."
WRC France - SS5 results:
Stage: 1 Neuville 6m02.8s; 2 Sordo +0.2s; 3 Novikov +1.4s; 4 Loeb +2.7s; 5 Latvala +3.2s; 6 Ogier +3.3s.
Overall: 1 Loeb; 2 Neuville +2.0s; 3 Sordo +3.7s; 4 Latvala +4.2s; 5 Ogier +22.9s; 6 Novikov +45.2.s
Stage: 1 Neuville 6m02.8s; 2 Sordo +0.2s; 3 Novikov +1.4s; 4 Loeb +2.7s; 5 Latvala +3.2s; 6 Ogier +3.3s.
Overall: 1 Loeb; 2 Neuville +2.0s; 3 Sordo +3.7s; 4 Latvala +4.2s; 5 Ogier +22.9s; 6 Novikov +45.2.s
Evgeny Novikov
WRC - France: Evgeny Novikov has a great run with the third fastest time, something he credits to the wisdom of hour hard tyres too.
That will be handy in his battle for sixth with Hirvonen, Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg.
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WRC - France: Sebastien Loeb is through, he's only third fastest and Neuville is now within two seconds of him.
Loeb is another one who reckons Neuville got the tyre choice spot on with his hards.
"I'm pushing hard now but with soft tyres on the front and hard on the rear, it was not possible to do better than that."
Loeb is another one who reckons Neuville got the tyre choice spot on with his hards.
"I'm pushing hard now but with soft tyres on the front and hard on the rear, it was not possible to do better than that."
WRC - France: Mikko Hirvonen had a tough morning but is happier despite only being fifth fastest.
"That was much better, but Neuville's time is incredible," he says.
Hirvonen's Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo is Neuville's nearest challenger on the stage now, he's just 0.2s adrift.
"That was much better, but Neuville's time is incredible," he says.
Hirvonen's Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo is Neuville's nearest challenger on the stage now, he's just 0.2s adrift.
WRC - France: Jari-Matti Latvala loses three seconds to Neuville so falls behind him to what should be third place.
Latvala reckons Neuville's choice of four hard tyres was just right for the drying stage and that mixing softs and hards wasn't a good move for VW.
Latvala reckons Neuville's choice of four hard tyres was just right for the drying stage and that mixing softs and hards wasn't a good move for VW.
Stopwatch
WRC - France: A cracking start from Thierry Neuville as he goes 3.3s faster than Ogier through the stage.
"I hope that's the fastest time," he smiles, "it was a good one..."
"I hope that's the fastest time," he smiles, "it was a good one..."
WRC - France: The afternoon loop is underway as Sebastien Ogier completes the Klevener stage, although he's still not entirely happen.
He's down in fifth place and has a 22-second deficit to leader Sebastien Loeb.
He's down in fifth place and has a 22-second deficit to leader Sebastien Loeb.
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Auto GP - Brno: Championship leader Vittorio Ghirelli explains what winning the Auto GP championship would mean for him.
"If I could win the Auto GP title this weekend, it would help to attract sponsors for 2014, but it's also about the [glory] of winning it," said Ghirelli, who is chasing his maiden crown in car racing.
"That's the objective. That's what drivers are here for; you race to win. If you finish second no one remembers. If you win, people remember and perhaps someone could look at you for a future opportunity. I am concentrating on bringing this home, let’s see how it goes."
"If I could win the Auto GP title this weekend, it would help to attract sponsors for 2014, but it's also about the [glory] of winning it," said Ghirelli, who is chasing his maiden crown in car racing.
"That's the objective. That's what drivers are here for; you race to win. If you finish second no one remembers. If you win, people remember and perhaps someone could look at you for a future opportunity. I am concentrating on bringing this home, let’s see how it goes."
Breaking news
Narain Karthikeyan
Auto GP - Brno: Here's the full story of Karthikeyan's dominant Friday.
Brno Auto GP practice two report
Checkered flag
Auto GP - Brno: FP2 result:
1 Narain Karthikeyan; 2 Tamas Pal Kiss; 3 Vittorio Ghirelli; 4 Sergio Campana; 5 Kimiya Sato; 6 Meindert van Buuren.
1 Narain Karthikeyan; 2 Tamas Pal Kiss; 3 Vittorio Ghirelli; 4 Sergio Campana; 5 Kimiya Sato; 6 Meindert van Buuren.
Auto GP - Brno: Title hopeful Sergio Campana demonstrates his first flashes of pace of the meeting by moving up to fourth in the closing minutes.
Auto GP - Brno: Karthikeyan has posted two searingly fast laps in succession. The first eclipsed his morning's best time by 0.7s, and his second effort lowered the fastest lap to 1m43.604s.
Team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli remains second quickest, but is some 1.255s adrift of the Indian.
Meindert van Buuren has moved into third spot ahead of Kevin Giovesi.
Team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli remains second quickest, but is some 1.255s adrift of the Indian.
Meindert van Buuren has moved into third spot ahead of Kevin Giovesi.
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Auto GP - Brno: Euronova racer Kimiya Sato holds seventh spot, with 10 minutes of FP2 remaing.
Sato, who is second in the Auto GP drivers' standings, could only manage the 13th fastest time in FP1 after suffering exhaust issues.
"I only did two proper laps," said Sato, "and it wasn’t even enough to warm up the tyres properly, so that time was unrepresentative. I was aware of the exhaust problem almost immediately after I started my first lap."
Sato, who is second in the Auto GP drivers' standings, could only manage the 13th fastest time in FP1 after suffering exhaust issues.
"I only did two proper laps," said Sato, "and it wasn’t even enough to warm up the tyres properly, so that time was unrepresentative. I was aware of the exhaust problem almost immediately after I started my first lap."
WRC - France: To complete our round-up of the feeder classes, Yeray Lemes is currently upstaging championship leader Pontus Tidemand by 8.5s in Junior WRC.
Tidemand is one to watch: he was mighty when he hopped into a WRC Ford for Sweden this year. At a time when the WRC is hungry for young stars, succeeding in the feeder series counts for a lot.
Last week, AUTOSPORT's rallying editor David Evans tackled the issue of the current WRC talent drought.
Tidemand is one to watch: he was mighty when he hopped into a WRC Ford for Sweden this year. At a time when the WRC is hungry for young stars, succeeding in the feeder series counts for a lot.
Last week, AUTOSPORT's rallying editor David Evans tackled the issue of the current WRC talent drought.
Auto GP - Brno: Karthikeyan's current fastest time is 0.3s slower than his morning benchmark.
Kevin Giovesi trails Karthikeyan by 0.682s in third.
Kevin Giovesi trails Karthikeyan by 0.682s in third.
Auto GP - Brno: A little over a third of the way into the half hour session, FP1 pacesetting team Super Nova has maintained its morning form.
Narain Karthikeyan is fastest on 1m44.841s, just 0.018s ahead of championshp leader Vittorio Ghirelli.
Narain Karthikeyan is fastest on 1m44.841s, just 0.018s ahead of championshp leader Vittorio Ghirelli.
Helio Castroneves
Houston IndyCar: America's premier single-seater series back at Reliant Park for the first time since the 2007 Champ Car race for a double-header in which Helio Castroneves could finally claim an IndyCar title.
Practice two + three, qualifying and race on RCL
ALMS Virginia: The penultimate race in American Le Mans Series history comes from the dramatic Virginia International Raceway. The Pickett HPD will obviously win outright but the Corvette/Ferrari/BMW/Porsche GT battle will thrill.
Qualifying and race on RCL
NASCAR Kansas: The 2013 Chase is already one quarter over and Matt Kenseth is in charge, but will Jimmie Johnson's Dover win last week mark the start of yet another surge for the five-time champion?
Race on RCL
By: Scott Mitchell, Sam Tremayne, David Evans, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Jamie O'Leary, Mark Glendenning, Dan Cross, Pablo Elizalde
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