WRC Italy, Barcelona MotoGP
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WRC - Italy: Mikkelsen is surprisingly disconsolate at the end of the stage, he reckons those behind will take out a lot of time.
WRC - Italy: Mikkelsen has reached the end of the stage, a brilliant 5.5s up on Ogier and that's enough to move him up to second in the rally, for now.
Latvala is really flying now, 1.8s up on Mikkelsen in the third split.
Latvala is really flying now, 1.8s up on Mikkelsen in the third split.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Ogier is in, 14m06.4s.
"It was like driving on ice," says Ogier.
The Rally Sweden winner adds: "I'm happy, I couldn't have driven better on this stage."
"It was like driving on ice," says Ogier.
The Rally Sweden winner adds: "I'm happy, I couldn't have driven better on this stage."
WRC - Italy: The times all look really close so far, so it's a lottery for the stage win. Be sure to wait for Haydon Paddon, though.
He's 11th on the road, or 10th if you discount Meeke.
He's 11th on the road, or 10th if you discount Meeke.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Latvala is a scalding 1.6s up on Ogier in the first split, the Rally Portugal winner may be moving up in the order if he keeps that up...
WRC - Italy: Ostberg has really picked up the pace on this stage then, he's 1.5s up on Ogier through the second split with only one remaining.
He was 22s off the leader on the last stage, so this is a decent improvement from the sole-remaining Citroen.
He was 22s off the leader on the last stage, so this is a decent improvement from the sole-remaining Citroen.
WRC - Italy: Mikkelsen is 1.4s down on Ogier through split two.
The Norwegian is 4.7s behind Ogier overall on the rally.
The Norwegian is 4.7s behind Ogier overall on the rally.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Finally we get some splits, Mikkelsen is 0.1s quicker than Ogier, but Ostberg is the pace-setter. He's 0.4s up on Ogier.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Bravo! We have a first split time for Ogier. It's a 3m03.3s. Mikkelsen next up.
WRC - Italy: Ogier and Mikkelsen should be into the stage, and hopefully we can give you split times in this one.
If you are just joining us, we only got stage end times from the screens in the previous stage.
If you are just joining us, we only got stage end times from the screens in the previous stage.
WRC - Italy: This stage is called Grighine Nord, and is 11.1 miles long. The running order is in championship format:
Ogier
Mikkelsen
Ostberg
Meeke
Latvala
Evans
Sordo
Neuville
Prokop
Tanak
Of course Meeke will be missing after retiring on the previous stage.
Ogier
Mikkelsen
Ostberg
Meeke
Latvala
Evans
Sordo
Neuville
Prokop
Tanak
Of course Meeke will be missing after retiring on the previous stage.
Quote
WRC - Italy: The fast tempo of stages today is certainly helping with the suspense and drama, we're only a minute or so away from Ogier beginning SS3.
Jari Matti-Latvala takes us through the stage:
"This one starts with a nice flowing uphill stretch of road, but then you come through a series of junctions before you start the downhill part of the stage.
"This is so tricky because it is so steep coming down the hill. The last five kilometres is more flowing, but not always so fast and the road surface here is a very hard base, so we expect a lot of gravel and a lot of cleaning."
Jari Matti-Latvala takes us through the stage:
"This one starts with a nice flowing uphill stretch of road, but then you come through a series of junctions before you start the downhill part of the stage.
"This is so tricky because it is so steep coming down the hill. The last five kilometres is more flowing, but not always so fast and the road surface here is a very hard base, so we expect a lot of gravel and a lot of cleaning."
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: What an opening to the day in Sardinia! Here's a brief roundup of the stage:
Haydon Paddon takes the rally lead with a stunning stage win on his debut in the 2015-spec Hyundai.
Kris Meeke goes off the stage a quarter of the way through, damaging his rear suspension.
Sebastien Ogier puts in a spectacular time, second behind Paddon even though he's clearing the road.
Dani Sordo Makes it two Hyundais in the top three as he round off the podium, but he's still fifth overall in the rally.
Haydon Paddon takes the rally lead with a stunning stage win on his debut in the 2015-spec Hyundai.
Kris Meeke goes off the stage a quarter of the way through, damaging his rear suspension.
Sebastien Ogier puts in a spectacular time, second behind Paddon even though he's clearing the road.
Dani Sordo Makes it two Hyundais in the top three as he round off the podium, but he's still fifth overall in the rally.
WRC - Italy: And now we can update the overall rally order:
1 Paddon 20m43.4s
2 Ogier +4s
3 Mikkelsen +8.7s
4 Latvala +8.8s
5 Sordo +13.7s
6 Kubica +15s
1 Paddon 20m43.4s
2 Ogier +4s
3 Mikkelsen +8.7s
4 Latvala +8.8s
5 Sordo +13.7s
6 Kubica +15s
WRC - Italy: Citroen off to retrieve Meeke's car, which is reported to be without its left-rear wheel after the Argentina winner went off the road.
WRC - Italy: That's the WRC runners in, here's the stage times.
1 Paddon 18m15s
2 Ogier +5.3s
3 Sordo +7.1s
4 Latvala +10.1s
5 Kubica +11.3s
6 Mikkelsen +11.7s
1 Paddon 18m15s
2 Ogier +5.3s
3 Sordo +7.1s
4 Latvala +10.1s
5 Kubica +11.3s
6 Mikkelsen +11.7s
WRC - Italy: Paddon had the same tyre setup as Ogier with two soft tyres on the back of the car.
He has the new and updated i20 WRC, the main difference in the cockpit being flappy paddles on the steering wheel for gear changes.
He has the new and updated i20 WRC, the main difference in the cockpit being flappy paddles on the steering wheel for gear changes.
WRC - Italy: PADDON GOES QUICKEST! That's enough for the Kiwi to take the rally lead.
Paddon got on two wheels at one point in the stage and claims he was "lucky."
He goes 5.3s quicker than Ogier on his first rally in the 2015-spec Hyundai. Unbelievable.
Paddon got on two wheels at one point in the stage and claims he was "lucky."
He goes 5.3s quicker than Ogier on his first rally in the 2015-spec Hyundai. Unbelievable.
WRC - Italy: Tanak manages fifth, that could well be the quickest of the all-hard tyre runners. Only 12s down on Ogier.
"We are through and we can improve on that," says Titanak.
That's a very good time from the Estonian, even with handbrake problems. Remember, this is only the second rally for the new Fiesta.
"We are through and we can improve on that," says Titanak.
That's a very good time from the Estonian, even with handbrake problems. Remember, this is only the second rally for the new Fiesta.
Quote
WRC - Italy: Prokop can't keep his rally lead, and loses 26.7s to Ogier. That's the slowest so far.
"It was really tricky, we had some problems with the pacenotes."
"It was really tricky, we had some problems with the pacenotes."
WRC - Italy: Neuville comes through and is 16.4s down on Ogier.
"Towards the end it was quite slippery. I took it a bit more steady."
Neuvile also reckons there is some mud on the stage.
Up next is erstwhile rally leader, MARTIN PROKOP.
Yes, you read that right, he topped the superspecial on Pirellis yesterday.
"Towards the end it was quite slippery. I took it a bit more steady."
Neuvile also reckons there is some mud on the stage.
Up next is erstwhile rally leader, MARTIN PROKOP.
Yes, you read that right, he topped the superspecial on Pirellis yesterday.
WRC - Italy: Dani Sordo has really been one of the performers of the season so far, if a little short on luck. It's a great start to the day for him, only 1.8s down on Ogier.
"I didnt take any risks and stayed in the middle of the road," says the Spaniard.
He led the shakedown yesterday and apparently has more in the tank.
Thierry Neuville is up next and his low starting spot should help him.
"I didnt take any risks and stayed in the middle of the road," says the Spaniard.
He led the shakedown yesterday and apparently has more in the tank.
Thierry Neuville is up next and his low starting spot should help him.
WRC - Italy: Latvala's rear right tyre is a soft, with the rest hard. That's an interesting setup.
He's through the stage, 4.8s off Ogier, second overall. Not bad considering he had a puncture scare during the stage.
Elfyn Evans follows, slowest so far, 19.7s down on the benchmark.
"Much damper than we expected, but we just have to keep going," says Evans.
He's through the stage, 4.8s off Ogier, second overall. Not bad considering he had a puncture scare during the stage.
Elfyn Evans follows, slowest so far, 19.7s down on the benchmark.
"Much damper than we expected, but we just have to keep going," says Evans.
WRC - Italy: It is ironic that Meeke told Ogier to be more like Sebastien Loeb and to stop complaining about clearing the road, but the Brit's retirement will mean he'll be sweeping the road tomorrow morning if he returns under rally2.
Talk about a kick in the teeth.
Talk about a kick in the teeth.
WRC - Italy: If you are just joining us, we have no split times for this stage, just end-of-stage times.
Ostberg is the latest through and he's the first car with five hard tyres. He's 16.7s down on Ogier and the Frenchman's time is already looking spectacular.
"We are through the first stage and I'm happy with that," says the Citroen driver.
His team-mate Kris Meeke should be through next but he is still stopped on stage. Reports are that Meeke has gone off the road and has suspension damage. We'll confirm that for you as soon as possible.
Ostberg is the latest through and he's the first car with five hard tyres. He's 16.7s down on Ogier and the Frenchman's time is already looking spectacular.
"We are through the first stage and I'm happy with that," says the Citroen driver.
His team-mate Kris Meeke should be through next but he is still stopped on stage. Reports are that Meeke has gone off the road and has suspension damage. We'll confirm that for you as soon as possible.
WRC - Italy: Mikkelsen is through and is 6.4s slower than Ogier.
"It's so slippery," he exclaims. "It's really difficult to get the balance right."
"It's so slippery," he exclaims. "It's really difficult to get the balance right."
Quote
WRC - Italy: Ogier's time is 18m20.3s. He has soft tyres on the back.
"Almost lucky with the rain but it's already dry," claims Ogier. There was not really dampness, it was very slippy. I did what I can."
"Almost lucky with the rain but it's already dry," claims Ogier. There was not really dampness, it was very slippy. I did what I can."
WRC - Italy: We reckon wrong! Meeke has stopped on stage.
Ogier is through the end of the stage, chased by the WRC helicopter. Spots of rain in the sky.
There's also no sign of the dust behind Ogier we heard so much about before the rally, Ogier's road clearing won't affect his times as much if there is less dust.
Ogier is through the end of the stage, chased by the WRC helicopter. Spots of rain in the sky.
There's also no sign of the dust behind Ogier we heard so much about before the rally, Ogier's road clearing won't affect his times as much if there is less dust.
WRC - Italy: So there is definitely a problem with live timing, so updates may be a little ad hoc for the minute.
On the tracker, it looks like Meeke had a brief stop a quarter of the way through the stage. We reckon he has got going again.
On the tracker, it looks like Meeke had a brief stop a quarter of the way through the stage. We reckon he has got going again.
WRC - Italy: Just to clarify, the running order is in championship order, as per this year's rules.
WRC - Italy: No split times as of yet, we're waiting for Ogier to come through first. We could have a problem with the timing screens here.
WRC - Italy: Here's today's running order with the first five cars into the stage already:
Ogier
Mikkelsen
Ostberg
Meeke
Latvala
Evans
Sordo
Neuville
Prokop
Tanak
Ogier
Mikkelsen
Ostberg
Meeke
Latvala
Evans
Sordo
Neuville
Prokop
Tanak
WRC - Italy: Today see’s a multitude of tests on the Italian dust, with nine stages totalling just over 82 miles of action.
First up is SS2, which will also run later as SS8. Our trusty stage guide this weekend is none other than Rally Portugal winner Jari Matti-Latvala, who previews the 16.71 mile stage:
"This is the one we might be able to gamble on with the tyres. If you’re going to take a soft, this is probably the place to take it on Friday morning.
"This stage has a combination of a lot of really fast open sections with some narrow, more tricky, technical places between the walls and bushes. The rhythm’s not always coming on this one."
First up is SS2, which will also run later as SS8. Our trusty stage guide this weekend is none other than Rally Portugal winner Jari Matti-Latvala, who previews the 16.71 mile stage:
"This is the one we might be able to gamble on with the tyres. If you’re going to take a soft, this is probably the place to take it on Friday morning.
"This stage has a combination of a lot of really fast open sections with some narrow, more tricky, technical places between the walls and bushes. The rhythm’s not always coming on this one."
WRC - Italy: Just to add another spanner in the works, there were thunder storms on the island last night, and there are reports of rain at SS3. It's going to be a cracker.
WRC - Italy: The deciding factor this weekend could well be tyre choice, and how long certain tyres last at various points in the rally. AUTOSPORT Rallies Editor DAVID EVANS explains:
"Just as it did on Friday morning in Mexico, for much of Argentina and every single waking hour in Portugal, the service park has become fixated on who’s going to do what with tyres.
"The big question is whether Sebastien Ogier can make softs last for the morning loop? Running in the loosest of loose gravel (did he mention he was running at the front of the field?), the Frenchman will get the best wear rate from the soft – if he’s not making contact with mother earth, the rubber’s not going to run out of grip."
It’s going to be fascinating to see if Ogier can ‘do a Mexico’ and run away the front. If anyone has the prowess to get the best out of the soft tyre, it’s undoubtedly the Frenchman.
"Just as it did on Friday morning in Mexico, for much of Argentina and every single waking hour in Portugal, the service park has become fixated on who’s going to do what with tyres.
"The big question is whether Sebastien Ogier can make softs last for the morning loop? Running in the loosest of loose gravel (did he mention he was running at the front of the field?), the Frenchman will get the best wear rate from the soft – if he’s not making contact with mother earth, the rubber’s not going to run out of grip."
It’s going to be fascinating to see if Ogier can ‘do a Mexico’ and run away the front. If anyone has the prowess to get the best out of the soft tyre, it’s undoubtedly the Frenchman.
WRC - Italy: Reigning champion Ogier has again dismissed his chances of winning pre-rally – as he did in Mexico earlier in the year which he won – because he will have to sweep the road as the first driver through the stages.
Kris Meeke responded by telling him to be more like Sebastien Loeb and to get on with it...
You can read the full story on AUTOSPORT.com here.
Kris Meeke responded by telling him to be more like Sebastien Loeb and to get on with it...
You can read the full story on AUTOSPORT.com here.
Ogier/Volkswagen/RallyItaly
WRC - Italy: Sebastien Ogier is already into our stage, more on him in a minute.
Martin Prokop topped yesterday’s superspecial and leads a rally for the first time in his career.
The independent is on Pirelli tyres, while the major teams run Michelin rubber. It was Prokop’s second stage win after hi SS16 win on the Swedish Rally.
At the time, that was the only overall stage win by an S2000 car. Is that still the case? We’ll look that one up.
Martin Prokop topped yesterday’s superspecial and leads a rally for the first time in his career.
The independent is on Pirelli tyres, while the major teams run Michelin rubber. It was Prokop’s second stage win after hi SS16 win on the Swedish Rally.
At the time, that was the only overall stage win by an S2000 car. Is that still the case? We’ll look that one up.
Prokop/XPB
WRC - Italy: We begin with Rally Italy, held once again on the beautiful island of Sardinia.
It’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and not far from certain French island claimed by the rallying population, Corsica.
It’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and not far from certain French island claimed by the rallying population, Corsica.
Sardinia/2015/WRC
Good morning and welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live.
The Le Mans 24 Hours takes centre stage this weekend, but we're not neglecting rally or motorcycle racing fans either - so we'll be bringing you full live coverage of Rally Italy and MotoGP's Catalunya Grand Prix as well, plus Formula Renault 3.5 at the Hungaroring and updates from IndyCar's Toronto event.
The Le Mans 24 Hours takes centre stage this weekend, but we're not neglecting rally or motorcycle racing fans either - so we'll be bringing you full live coverage of Rally Italy and MotoGP's Catalunya Grand Prix as well, plus Formula Renault 3.5 at the Hungaroring and updates from IndyCar's Toronto event.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, WRC Sardinia 2015
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas
Published:
Lap:
