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We also mentioned earlier Neuville having a fuel tank change at midday service after a fuel pressure issue. DAVID EVANS headed straight for Hyundai's service HQ to suss out the details.
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Esapekka Lappi goes quickest through Ittiri's rapid racecourse stage, setting a 1m29.0s. Ostberg came in ahead, 0.9s slower than Lappi's subsequent time.
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Neuville admitted to Autosport he was surprised by Ogier’s time in Monte Lerno.
“I don’t know what was going on for him – not even the second fastest time,” he said. “I was a bit surprised, maybe he found the wrong rhythm or something. It was more rough and rutted towards the end and our car was really working harder – we continued to take a bit and then a bit more.”
But how does the Belgian play the afternoon? Nineteen points clear at the top of the table and now 36s clear of the driver in third place. How much does he risk for the seven points between first and second?
“I continue [at the same speed],” said Neuville. “I feel comfortable, sometimes it’s a bit close with some rocks, especially running behind in the road. So far I managed and we know these stages, so that helps a little bit – but the risk, for sure, is less than it was yesterday.”
“I don’t know what was going on for him – not even the second fastest time,” he said. “I was a bit surprised, maybe he found the wrong rhythm or something. It was more rough and rutted towards the end and our car was really working harder – we continued to take a bit and then a bit more.”
But how does the Belgian play the afternoon? Nineteen points clear at the top of the table and now 36s clear of the driver in third place. How much does he risk for the seven points between first and second?
“I continue [at the same speed],” said Neuville. “I feel comfortable, sometimes it’s a bit close with some rocks, especially running behind in the road. So far I managed and we know these stages, so that helps a little bit – but the risk, for sure, is less than it was yesterday.”
As Mads Ostberg sets off for his quick tour of Ittiri's racecourse, DAVID EVANS grabbed Thierry Neuville for a quick discussion of Ogier's surprisingly lacklustre time through Monte Lerno this morning.
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Our first times are in from that quick city stage. Hayden Paddon sets a benchmark with 1m29.9s on the board, 0.1s ahead of Evans and 0.6s up on Craig Breen.
Neuville's Hyundai i20 after Friday's final stage. He'll need to keep it tidier today to keep Ogier in his sights. Image: McKlein
Ogier vs Neuville will roll on into this afternoon with only 4.9s separating them. It's a battle that nearly ended after a scare for Neuville in Friday's final stage, dipping his left rear off the road and ripping his rear wing off. Above is how his car looked afterward. He'll need to keep it cleaner this afternoon to challenge Ogier.
Elfyn Evans has checked in at time control ahead of stage 12. It's a quick 0.86 mile blast, so drivers' priority here will simply be finishing safe and sound ahead of Coiluna-Loelle's afternoon re-run, which was our first stage this morning.
Left: A badly dented radiator; Right: a shattered sumpguard; Middle: Repairs in service on Friday night
David Evans
As Ott Tanak will testify, the jump on the Monte Baranta stage took no prisoners yesterday, but it also cost triple Asia Pacific Rally Champion Gaurav Gill any chance of result in his MRF Ford Fiesta R5.
Like the Estonian, Gill landed heavily over the now notorious jump. Even though the Indian’s retirement came on the morning loop, the car wasn’t recovered until later in the day, forcing the M-Sport team into an all-nighter as they straightened chassis legs, engine mounts and just about everything at the front end.
These pictures (above) show the extent of the radiator damage caused by the landing, they also show one part of the now three-part sumpguard...
Like the Estonian, Gill landed heavily over the now notorious jump. Even though the Indian’s retirement came on the morning loop, the car wasn’t recovered until later in the day, forcing the M-Sport team into an all-nighter as they straightened chassis legs, engine mounts and just about everything at the front end.
These pictures (above) show the extent of the radiator damage caused by the landing, they also show one part of the now three-part sumpguard...
Before stage 13, a short blast around Citta' di Ittiri - Coros, a quick recap on stories elsewhere in Rally Italy.
Remember that big jump which knocked Tanak out of action yesterday? He wasn't the only driver caught out it transpired, as DAVID EVANS explains.
Remember that big jump which knocked Tanak out of action yesterday? He wasn't the only driver caught out it transpired, as DAVID EVANS explains.
Thierry Neuville narrowly avoided potential disaster this morning it transpires, as a fuel pressure problem occured between stage 12 and midday service. There's no better time for such gremlins to occur, as a quick 10-minute fuel tank change has remedied the issue. Ogier vs Neuville is still on for this afternoon!
Good afternoon all and welcome back to Saturday afternoon's leg of Rally Italy! There's some interesting news coming from service at the moment...
Autosport
That's about all for now. Join us this afternoon as Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville battle for the lead of Rally Italy. 
Ott Tanak may not have been the happiest man this morning after a heavy landing over a jumped sidelined him on Friday, but he is now just 35s away from the points scoring positions in 11th.
Ultimately though the event will be about power stage points for the Estonian.
Ultimately though the event will be about power stage points for the Estonian.
With a long drive back to service, we will be going a little quieter for the rest of the morning. Stay tuned for this afternoon's loop and for any updates we can bring you from service.
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"We hit the bank, spun and got the puncture," says Suninen, bluntly.
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Neuville has taken a big chunk out of Ogier's lead but is still second overall. Here is your overall classification after SS12.
1 Ogier 2h18m43.5s
2 Neuville +4.9s
3 Latvala +41.1s
4 Lappi +47.7s
5 Paddon +1m10.1s
6 Ostberg +1m15s
7 Breen +2m06.6s
1 Ogier 2h18m43.5s
2 Neuville +4.9s
3 Latvala +41.1s
4 Lappi +47.7s
5 Paddon +1m10.1s
6 Ostberg +1m15s
7 Breen +2m06.6s
The Finn was forced to change a puncture in stage but is back underway.
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Teemu Suninen meanwhile has stopped in the stage.
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"I had a lot of oversteer towards the end of the stage, but OK I'll have to push more in the afternoon. Wrong rhythm," says Ogier. He is very relaxed for a man that has just lost a huge chunk of his rall y lead.
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Ogier is through the stage in 18m13.7s. That's a massive 14.6s slower! The gap is down to just 4.9s now.
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"Yeah?" Neuville says when he hears about Ogier's pace. "I had a good stage but it was no more effort in this one than the last one. We need to get to the finish but we also want a good result for our championship."
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Neuville completes in 17m59.1s. We now await Ogier's time.
Neuville is a massive 9.6s faster than Ogier in the penultimate split! He looks set to take a big chunk out of the world champion's lead which stood at 19.5s heading into this stage!
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"It's been a good morning but it's hard work," says Latvala. "The grip is quite high in this stage so you can push quite hard. The sandy surface is binding together as it's damp which is providing the grip."
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Latvala is through the stage, and takes another second out of Lappi to extend his gap to 7s! Lappi had a good end to the stage however as he was over 3s down earlier on.
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"I was too careful in the beginning, but around half-way through when I realised there weren't so many rocks I started to push. We were living on the edge which was nice," explains Lappi.
Ogier is 5.9s slower than Neuville in the early splits too! There's action everywhere you look!
Lappi is now through SS12, and drops 0.2s to Hayden Paddon. It's Latvala's times that he is worried about however.
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"We need to work a little bit with the car. I love these stages, I'm always fast enough but I'm not feeling confident in the car, it's not so nice," says Ostberg.
His comments are a complete contrast to Paddon's who was at one with his i20, which goes some way to explain their difference in pace.
His comments are a complete contrast to Paddon's who was at one with his i20, which goes some way to explain their difference in pace.
Meanwhile Ostberg has indeed lost fifth place to Paddon. He's 5.1s slower in the stage to drop 4.9s behind overall.
Latvala meanwhile is hitting back at Lappi. Lappi was 0.7s ahead but is now 2.3s behind his team-mate as they work their way through this stage.
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"That's the first time since shakedown that the car has felt good again," says Paddon. "It's nothing to do with the car it's just the conditions coming to us. That was really, really enjoyable."
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Back to the main class, and Hayden Paddon is through SS12 16.9s quicker than Craig Breen! He is looking set to take fifth place in this stage from Mads Ostberg.
It is understood that Lefebvre and co-driver Gabin Moreau are trying to repair the damage.
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We have some news on Stephane Lefebvre in WRC2..
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Lappi is striking back after losing ground to Latvala in the previous stage. He's quicker through the opening split, but only by 0.7s.
Paddon meanwhile is continuing to pull away from Ostberg! He's 3.2s up at the midway point of the stage.
By: Matt Beer
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