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Lappi completes the stage in 8m23s. The times have been dropping off with every passing car, which could be a coincidence.
Neuville's time is still looking hard to beat. Rally leader Mikkelsen is 2.9s down half-way through the stage.
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"This stage was tight and not so easy. I hope we can fix the issues we have. It's much more satisfying to drive when the feeling is good so not so happy at the moment," says Tanak.
Tanak is through the stage in 8m19.2s. He loses 6.2s to Neuville and with it his second place.
Neuville's time is looking very strong. Tanak and Lappi are both slower across all the splits so far.
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"I try what I can. The soft tyres were the right choice," says a tight-lipped Ogier.
Ogier has also completed the stage. He drops 3s to Neuville and is now 9s behind overall. His time: 8m15.8s.
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"Without the rain there would be no chance for us to be in the top eight, so it has helped but there is still some cleaning," Neuville said. "We are pushing very hard and we've had a couple of moments so we need to calm down this afternoon."
Stopwatch
Neuville's stage time is 8m12.8s. He'll have to wait and see if that's good enough compared to his rivals.
Tanak is 2.4s down on Neuville through the first split. Neuville looks to be on a flier.
Ogier has struggled for pace against Neuville this morning, and that trend looks to be continuing in this stage. He is 1.5s down after the second split.
Neuville has a 6s gap over chief championship rival Sebastien Ogier, but is 18s behind his team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen heading into SS5.
Green flag
The stage is now live, with Thierry Neuville first in.
As Marshall eluded to, tyre management could be very crucial. Ostberg and Marhsall's driver Paddon have already said they have chosen the wrong compound, so they could hemorrhage more time in here.
A quick reminder ahead of this stage that Andreas Mikkelsen is leading the event after four stages. He heads Ott Tanak by just under 15 seconds with Neuville, Suninen and Ogier close behind.
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SS5 Monte Baranta (6.69 miles)
"This is the reverse of a stage that was used a few years ago – we also used some sections of this at shakedown yesterday. It starts off in a quarry section for spectators, then we’re over the jumps from shakedown and onto the finish. Again, in places this stage should clean quite a bit.
By the time we get to this stage, tyre management will be really important. It’s not the longest of loops in terms of kilometres, but it will be very, very hard on the tyres."
"This is the reverse of a stage that was used a few years ago – we also used some sections of this at shakedown yesterday. It starts off in a quarry section for spectators, then we’re over the jumps from shakedown and onto the finish. Again, in places this stage should clean quite a bit.
By the time we get to this stage, tyre management will be really important. It’s not the longest of loops in terms of kilometres, but it will be very, very hard on the tyres."
The final stage of the loop is by far the shortest, but according to Paddon's co-driver Seb Marshall, is no less challenging.
David Evans
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has been the big loser of the morning, with the final super-twisty section of SS2 costing Elfyn Evans and Teemu Suninen. At the penultimate split in Tula, only Mikkelsen and Ostberg were quicker than the Fiesta WRC pair. But a couple of miles later Evans paid the highest price, dropping 13 minutes when he stopped and changed a steering arm and Suninen too had shipped 16.1s to the leader.
M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson told Autosport: “It’s been a tough start. Very disappointing. It looks like Elfyn just couldn’t stop the car in time then touched the rock face with the steering open – that’s just about the worst situation, there’s nothing can be done about that.
“He’s done very well in getting the steering arm changed quickly, he’s shown his skills in that department this morning. He’s worked in the automotive industry and he’s spent a lot of time in the factory, so you’d probably back him in that kind of job even against some of the technicians. But it is disappointing.
“As for Teemu, like Elfyn, he was setting a fantastic pace in the first half, but he seems to have struggled in the twistier section towards the finish.”
M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson told Autosport: “It’s been a tough start. Very disappointing. It looks like Elfyn just couldn’t stop the car in time then touched the rock face with the steering open – that’s just about the worst situation, there’s nothing can be done about that.
“He’s done very well in getting the steering arm changed quickly, he’s shown his skills in that department this morning. He’s worked in the automotive industry and he’s spent a lot of time in the factory, so you’d probably back him in that kind of job even against some of the technicians. But it is disappointing.
“As for Teemu, like Elfyn, he was setting a fantastic pace in the first half, but he seems to have struggled in the twistier section towards the finish.”
As we wait for the final stage of Friday morning, let's check back with David Evans who spoke to M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson after the opening test, SS2.
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Here is the classification after SS4
1. Veiby 41m55.5s
2. Arai +3.6s
3. Loubet +7.4s
4. Lefebvre +8.2s
1. Veiby 41m55.5s
2. Arai +3.6s
3. Loubet +7.4s
4. Lefebvre +8.2s
The battle in WRC2 is very intriguing so far.
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1. Mikkelsen 40m14.0s
2. Tanak +14.2s
3. Neuville +18.2s
4. Suninen +19.8s
5. Ogier +24.2s
6. Ostberg +24.9s
7. Latvala +25.1s
8. Paddon +29.9s
9. Breen +32.2s
10. Lappi +35.3s
2. Tanak +14.2s
3. Neuville +18.2s
4. Suninen +19.8s
5. Ogier +24.2s
6. Ostberg +24.9s
7. Latvala +25.1s
8. Paddon +29.9s
9. Breen +32.2s
10. Lappi +35.3s
So let's have a look at how the overall classification looks after that stage win for Ott Tanak in SS4.
One more stage lies between Paddon and that service break however, and that is due to start in around 25 minutes.
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"It's too damp for us this morning" Paddon says. "We need softs on the car which we don't have so we will just have to regroup at service and push in the afternoon."
Stopwatch
Hayden Paddon is the final WRC car through this third stage of the morning, setting a time of 9m04.6s.
Rain isn't visible on the TV pictures we have, so there could well be some isolated showers in here.
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"We made a mistake with the tyres," Ostberg said. "We expected it to be dry so put hard tyres on but it was wet in here so it was a bad choice."
Stopwatch
Mads Ostberg has completed SS4 meanwhile and sets a time of 9m05.9s, coincidentally the exact same time as his Citroen team-mate Craig Breen.
Tanak's 8m58.4s is still the stage benchmark. Only he and rally leader Mikkelsen have broken the 9 minute barrier.
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"It was a decent run, that was the first time through there with a WRC car," says Suninen. "There's no corners that are first and second gear so it's easier for me!"
Stopwatch
Suninen drops a little in the last split however, setting a 9m01.0s.
Suninen is on exactly the same pace as Mikkelsen through the final split. Impressive given he is missing a significant chunk of aero from his front bumper.
Craig Breen completes but currently without a time.
Suninen's pace is continuing to look strong though. The Finn started the stage just shy of the podium places in fourth.
Craig Breen will be the next man through in his Citroen C3 WRC. His pace doesn't look as encouraging as in the previous test however where he was third quickest.
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"The speed is comfortable, I am driving at a speed which is safe with no risks. I know I can lift up the speed when I get more self confidence," reveals Latvala.
Stopwatch
Latvala is also now through with a 9m00.8s.
Stopwatch
Evans' time confirmed as a 9m01.2s. That's 2.3s down on Tanak's time.
Times are slow in filtering through, but from the splits we do have Latvala looks to be on the same pace as Mikkelsen and Evans in SS4. This stage is one that should suit his Toyota according to rally leader Mikkelsen.
By: Matt Beer
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