WRC Italy, Barcelona MotoGP
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Lights out
WRC - Italy: Onto the morning's final stage, a little 4.5-mile burst called Ozieri.
Leader Hayden Paddon gets the chance to give us the lowdown on the second shortest stage of the day, for reasons which will become obvious.
"This is a great stage," said Paddon. "It's great because it really reminds me of driving at home!
"The stage is a short one, but it has the same sort of feeling as a gravel public road in New Zealand: it's quick, wide and flowing – really good.
"And it's not so abrasive for the tyre, either. I like this one!"
Leader Hayden Paddon gets the chance to give us the lowdown on the second shortest stage of the day, for reasons which will become obvious.
"This is a great stage," said Paddon. "It's great because it really reminds me of driving at home!
"The stage is a short one, but it has the same sort of feeling as a gravel public road in New Zealand: it's quick, wide and flowing – really good.
"And it's not so abrasive for the tyre, either. I like this one!"
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Rowland ran precariously onto the grass at Turn 12 on lap 16 in his efforts to wrestle the lead away from Orudzhev.
Vaxiviere took advantage to gain an overlap on the outside of Rowland into the final hairpin, but the order has somehow remained unchanged.
Vaxiviere took advantage to gain an overlap on the outside of Rowland into the final hairpin, but the order has somehow remained unchanged.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: With a quarter of an hour of racing remaining, the leaders have been joined by Vaxiviere and Merhi.
Dillmann in fifth is also closing in on the group.
Dillmann in fifth is also closing in on the group.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: The lead fight is developing well.
Rowland appears increasingly determined to find a way past Orudzhev, as championship rival Vaxiviere is closing in on the duo rapidly.
Tio Ellinas in 15th has received a drive-through penalty notice as his Strakka team left equipment on the grid after the designated time.
Rowland appears increasingly determined to find a way past Orudzhev, as championship rival Vaxiviere is closing in on the duo rapidly.
Tio Ellinas in 15th has received a drive-through penalty notice as his Strakka team left equipment on the grid after the designated time.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Vaxiviere has escaped without serious damage from his incident with Latifi and holds third spot.
The Lotus man is 4.8s behind the battling lead pair. Merhi is fourth, ahead of Dillmann and Stoneman.
The Lotus man is 4.8s behind the battling lead pair. Merhi is fourth, ahead of Dillmann and Stoneman.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Rowland has bridged the gap to leader Orudzhev, and into Turn 1 on lap nine staged a passing move on the Russian's outside.
The Arden driver successfully edged Rowland wide and survives in the lead.
The Arden driver successfully edged Rowland wide and survives in the lead.
WRC - Italy: We've still got another eight hours of rallying to go today, in what is the longest single day of WRC competition since the Safari Rally era.
Why such a marathon? Because last year the competitors weren't over-impressed with the Sardinia route.
'OK then,' replied the organisers, 'we'll make you work for your money this year...'
Italy revamps controversial WRC route
Why such a marathon? Because last year the competitors weren't over-impressed with the Sardinia route.
'OK then,' replied the organisers, 'we'll make you work for your money this year...'
Italy revamps controversial WRC route
FR3.5 - Hungaroring Latifi's great run is over. The Arden man was defending his inside line into Turn 1, and allowed Vaxiviere to attack on the outside.
On the exit of the corner Latifi appeared to squeeze Vaxiviere, and contact between the Frenchman's endplate and Latifi's rear-tyre has resulted in a puncture.
Latifi's car has been wheeled back into the garage.
On the exit of the corner Latifi appeared to squeeze Vaxiviere, and contact between the Frenchman's endplate and Latifi's rear-tyre has resulted in a puncture.
Latifi's car has been wheeled back into the garage.
WRC - Italy: As we mentioned yesterday, the only time a Kiwi has ever led a WRC round prior to Paddon's brilliant performance this weekend was when the late Possum Bourne headed his home event briefly in 1999.
Does this mean we're allowed a pic of Bourne in a Subaru (albeit in 2001, we don't have 1999 to hand...)? Of course we are.
Does this mean we're allowed a pic of Bourne in a Subaru (albeit in 2001, we don't have 1999 to hand...)? Of course we are.
Possum Bourne, WRC New Zealand 2001
WRC - Italy: Last night was a night of firsts for Hayden Paddon, notes DAVID EVANS.
Not only was it the first time a New Zealander has led a WRC round after a full day of competition, but it was also the first time the rally leader has come into service and done a live radio interview on a breakfast show – it was mid-morning in the land of the long white cloud by the time Paddon was back in Alghero for the final time on Friday night.
Not only was it the first time a New Zealander has led a WRC round after a full day of competition, but it was also the first time the rally leader has come into service and done a live radio interview on a breakfast show – it was mid-morning in the land of the long white cloud by the time Paddon was back in Alghero for the final time on Friday night.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Vaxiviere is applying a lot of pressure on Nicholas Latifi for third.
The Canadian made a great getaway and has moved up from seventh on the grid.
Roberto Merhi in fifth is also in close attendance.
The Canadian made a great getaway and has moved up from seventh on the grid.
Roberto Merhi in fifth is also in close attendance.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Lap three, and Orudzhev has a 2.2s lead over Rowland.
Jazeman Jaafar has pitted with a right-rear puncture. The Malaysian earlier had a massive lock-up into Turn 1.
Jazeman Jaafar has pitted with a right-rear puncture. The Malaysian earlier had a massive lock-up into Turn 1.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy - SS14 summary:
* Paddon goes quicker than Ogier again and now leads by 9.9s
* Latvala sets the pace, closing to within 4.4s of fifth-placed Neuville...
* ...partly because Neuville had a 40s penalty for joining the stage late after repairing power steering problems
* Tanak has a spin but holds third overall
* Paddon goes quicker than Ogier again and now leads by 9.9s
* Latvala sets the pace, closing to within 4.4s of fifth-placed Neuville...
* ...partly because Neuville had a 40s penalty for joining the stage late after repairing power steering problems
* Tanak has a spin but holds third overall
Green flag
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Orudzhev makes a great start to lead into Turn 1.
Vaxiviere was up from third to second, but has now been repassed by polesitter Rowland and Latifi.
Vaxiviere was up from third to second, but has now been repassed by polesitter Rowland and Latifi.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: The grid is being cleared of team personnel for the cars to set off on their formation lap.
Egor Orudzhev on the front row is something of an unknown quantity this far up the grid, but the Russian has done a superb job thus far in the weekend.
Egor Orudzhev on the front row is something of an unknown quantity this far up the grid, but the Russian has done a superb job thus far in the weekend.
Egor Orudzhev, Arden, Hungaroring FR3.5 2015
Trophy
WRC - Italy: So that's the VW Polo R WRC's 400th stage win in just two and a half years of competition. That's ferociously good.
And in more good news for Latvala, his pace coupled with Neuville's penalty means he's now just 4.4s away from getting back into the top five.
In case you missed it earlier, Latvala's day has so far gone: 'win a stage and close on the two leaders... damage a tyre on a rough landing and lose three minutes... resume charge.'
And in more good news for Latvala, his pace coupled with Neuville's penalty means he's now just 4.4s away from getting back into the top five.
In case you missed it earlier, Latvala's day has so far gone: 'win a stage and close on the two leaders... damage a tyre on a rough landing and lose three minutes... resume charge.'
WRC - Italy - SS14 results:
Stage times:
1 Latvala 28m37.4s
2 Paddon +6.4s
3 Ogier +7.8s
4 Tanak +12.9s
5 Neuville +15.5s
6 Meeke +18.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Paddon
2 Ogier +9.9s
3 Tanak +1m08.9s
4 Ostberg +2m28.6s
5 Neuville +3m42.5s
6 Latvala +3m46.9s
Stage times:
1 Latvala 28m37.4s
2 Paddon +6.4s
3 Ogier +7.8s
4 Tanak +12.9s
5 Neuville +15.5s
6 Meeke +18.1s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Paddon
2 Ogier +9.9s
3 Tanak +1m08.9s
4 Ostberg +2m28.6s
5 Neuville +3m42.5s
6 Latvala +3m46.9s
Quote
WRC - Italy: Paddon reckons he "really, really struggled" with that stage - not happy with his pace notes and grappling with understeer, but while that means he wasn't rivalling Latvala's stage-winning pace, he's still pulling away from the world champion in the overall rally lead.
WRC - Italy: Paddon finishes the stage, and he lost a bit of time near the end but is still 1.4s quicker than Ogier was. He now leads the rally by 9.9s.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Gustav Malja's failure in qualifying was apparently down to hitting the ignition switch off while trying to secure a loose cord in the cockpit.
It is a tough break for the Swede who showed much promise in Friday's collective tests.
It is a tough break for the Swede who showed much promise in Friday's collective tests.
FR3.5 - Hungaoring: No action will be taken on Vaxiviere for, possibly, holding up Stoneman.
The Lotus team also complained of traffic, which prevented Frenchman Vaxiviere from maintaining his early session provisional pole on his second run on new tyres.
The Lotus team also complained of traffic, which prevented Frenchman Vaxiviere from maintaining his early session provisional pole on his second run on new tyres.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Dean Stoneman attributed his unusually low 11th place in qualifying to traffic.
The Red Bull junior racer was tucked up behind Matthieu Vaxiviere on his last laps.
"I got held up on two laps by the Lotus," said Stoneman. "The aero effect from the car in front hurt us. I couldn't back off to create space because I would have missed the chequered flag."
The Red Bull junior racer was tucked up behind Matthieu Vaxiviere on his last laps.
"I got held up on two laps by the Lotus," said Stoneman. "The aero effect from the car in front hurt us. I couldn't back off to create space because I would have missed the chequered flag."
WRC - Italy: OK, small problems for Tanak - he reports an early spin on the stage. "I f***ed it up a bit," he admits. But he's third quickest nevertheless.
WRC - Italy: No problems for Tanak, he's through the stage and looking pretty secure in third place overall right now.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Past split five and Paddon is 3.6s faster than Ogier there.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: After his problem earlier on this stage, incidentally, Kubica got going again with a three-minute delay. He'd had to change a damaged tyre.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Onto split four, and Paddon is 2.2s faster than Ogier now.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Latvala is in and fastest so far, nearly 8s quicker than Ogier. That gets him back to within 1m18s of Ostberg overall, with Neuville yet to slot somewhere in between them.
"When I see my time and it's a good time, I'm just more annoyed that I had a puncture in the previous stage," Latvala admits with a fair amount of frustration.
"When I see my time and it's a good time, I'm just more annoyed that I had a puncture in the previous stage," Latvala admits with a fair amount of frustration.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Trouble for Ostberg on the run to the finish, he's suddenly dropped half a minute there. A puncture is the cause.
"I start to get a good rhythm and then something has to happen," says the downcast Norwegian, who is adamant he didn't hit anything to trigger the puncture.
"Bad luck. Very bad luck."
"I start to get a good rhythm and then something has to happen," says the downcast Norwegian, who is adamant he didn't hit anything to trigger the puncture.
"Bad luck. Very bad luck."
Quote
WRC - Italy: Ogier is fastest so far, nine tenths quicker than Meeke, but expects to lose time to Paddon. With so many problems for drivers under Rally 2, Ogier is almost first on the road again and he's feeling it:
"I'm happy with my drive, but I know I'm going to lose quite a bit of time because there are not so many cars in front of me now and it was quite slippery in there.
"Hayden is driving fantastically and for sure he's using his advantage well.
"But this afternoon is a long loop and I will have no problem with cleaning that, so that's the time to come back."
"I'm happy with my drive, but I know I'm going to lose quite a bit of time because there are not so many cars in front of me now and it was quite slippery in there.
"Hayden is driving fantastically and for sure he's using his advantage well.
"But this afternoon is a long loop and I will have no problem with cleaning that, so that's the time to come back."
Breaking news
MotoGP - Barcelona: We had an amazing third practice session in Spain earlier this morning, in which some big names were scrabbling to earn Q2 places and a rookie went fastest of all.
Here's the full recap and results:
Barcelona MotoGP practice three
Here's the full recap and results:
Barcelona MotoGP practice three
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Paddon is storming this - he's now over 2s faster than Ogier on the splits. His lead could get back over 10s.
WRC - Italy: We should pay a bit of attention to who's fastest on this stage too rather than just Paddon vs Ogier as this mega stage is a cool one to tell your friends you were fastest on. Latvala is now a tenth quicker than Ostberg at split three.
WRC - Italy: But Padden is going in after team-mate Neuville, who is starting right now but four minutes late as he'd been doing his second lash-up fix of the weekend to address that power steering problem. A 40s penalty awaits Neuville for his late arrival.
WRC - Italy: At the second splits, Ostberg is quickest by a small margin over Latvala, with Ogier a couple of seconds adrift.
But to be honest the only head to head that really matters now on the splits is Paddon vs Ogier. And the Kiwi is on the startline now.
But to be honest the only head to head that really matters now on the splits is Paddon vs Ogier. And the Kiwi is on the startline now.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Kubica is stopped on the tracking system. No information yet on the ex-F1 driver, who was down the order after going off on Friday.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Indeed it's now Latvala who is fastest of all at split one, half a second up on Ostberg and 0.8s quicker than Ogier.
Big task ahead for Latvala - next man in front for him is Neuville in fifth, and the Hyundai is a minute up the road. Still if Neuville has to tackle this 26-mile run with no power steering, as his SS12 problems hinted, then that gap will soon vanish.
Big task ahead for Latvala - next man in front for him is Neuville in fifth, and the Hyundai is a minute up the road. Still if Neuville has to tackle this 26-mile run with no power steering, as his SS12 problems hinted, then that gap will soon vanish.
WRC - Italy: Ostberg's been in great form today after a sketchy Friday. Fastest on the last stage, he's just passed split one here 0.3s quicker than Ogier.
He's in a bit of a no man's land overall though - 50s behind Tanak in third, 50s clear of Neuville in fourth. Even if Latvala now produces a lightning charge, he's got two minutes to make up on the Citroen.
He's in a bit of a no man's land overall though - 50s behind Tanak in third, 50s clear of Neuville in fourth. Even if Latvala now produces a lightning charge, he's got two minutes to make up on the Citroen.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Oliver Rowland was in relaxed mood after taking pole position at the Hungaroring. The Briton expertly managed a congested circuit to take pole in the final minute of the session.
"I came out of the pits right in the middle of everyone, so I backed off a lot to create some space rather than run the risk of coming up on someone who had decided to back off at the end of their lap," said Rowland.
"Apart from the last corner on the last lap, all my laps were clean as far as traffic was concerned. I have started on pole twice here before, so third time lucky. In two litres I was on pole, and last year when Merhi won in the rain I was on pole. I was surprised where he came from [Merhi starts sixth], as he was nowhere yesterday.
"We did a good race run yesterday, which I am happy about, so I am just aiming for a clean start."
"I came out of the pits right in the middle of everyone, so I backed off a lot to create some space rather than run the risk of coming up on someone who had decided to back off at the end of their lap," said Rowland.
"Apart from the last corner on the last lap, all my laps were clean as far as traffic was concerned. I have started on pole twice here before, so third time lucky. In two litres I was on pole, and last year when Merhi won in the rain I was on pole. I was surprised where he came from [Merhi starts sixth], as he was nowhere yesterday.
"We did a good race run yesterday, which I am happy about, so I am just aiming for a clean start."
Oliver Rowland
Lights out
WRC - Italy: Meeke, Kubica (our remaining Rally 2 runners after Mikkelsen and Sordo's problems), Ogier, Ostberg and Latvala are onto Monte Lerno. Rally leader Paddon won't be for another nine minutes yet.
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas
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