WRC Poland, British GP supports
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WRC - Poland: We'll have the Hyundais of Sordo and Paddon next, followed by Czech privateer Martin Prokop (all of whom are around the foot of the top 10), but then it's man of the moment Tanak - he was second overall after SS2 and has just started the stage.
WRC - Poland: While we were talking about Meeke, his time was tailing off.
He completes the stage only fifth fastest, 6s off Mikkelsen's pace.
That puts him fourth overall for now, but he's fallen away from Latvala and Ogier rather than getting deeper into the podium fight.
He completes the stage only fifth fastest, 6s off Mikkelsen's pace.
That puts him fourth overall for now, but he's fallen away from Latvala and Ogier rather than getting deeper into the podium fight.
WRC - Poland: Evans (Elfyn, not David) and Neuville are fourth and fifth in the stage times so far, and that puts them absolutely equal overall. They'll be on the cusp of the top six when it all shakes out.
WRC - Poland: All that is despite Meeke rolling in a big way at shakedown yesterday.
Meeke's car was looking pristine at service this morning, says DAVID EVANS.
The boys are seen giving the DS 3 a quick polish while KM talks to his engineer Didier Clement.
While the team took all the time available in restoring the car to all its glory after the shakedown shunt yesterday, they reckon they could have had it in good working order in a 45-minute service. The only mechanical damage to the car was a broken front-left damper.
Meeke's car was looking pristine at service this morning, says DAVID EVANS.
The boys are seen giving the DS 3 a quick polish while KM talks to his engineer Didier Clement.
While the team took all the time available in restoring the car to all its glory after the shakedown shunt yesterday, they reckon they could have had it in good working order in a 45-minute service. The only mechanical damage to the car was a broken front-left damper.
Kris Meeke
WRC - Poland: He's right about Meeke - the Citroen man is second fastest at split one, between Mikkelsen and Latvala.
Meeke began this stage fifth overall, right on Latvala's tail.
Meeke began this stage fifth overall, right on Latvala's tail.
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WRC - Poland: Latvala ponders his and everyone else's performances quickly at the stage end:
"Andreas is in a really good rhythm, but that is what I was expecting.
"Myself, I'm also very, very happy with the driving.
"On these stages, Sebastien will be losing because there is a lot of cleaning.
"Let's see. Boys like Kris Meeke and Ott will be challenging us."
"Andreas is in a really good rhythm, but that is what I was expecting.
"Myself, I'm also very, very happy with the driving.
"On these stages, Sebastien will be losing because there is a lot of cleaning.
"Let's see. Boys like Kris Meeke and Ott will be challenging us."
WRC - Poland: Latvala goes second quickest, just seven tenths off Mikkelsen.
That brings Latvala past Ogier into what is currently second overall, subject to where Tanak and Meeke pop in when they arrive.
That brings Latvala past Ogier into what is currently second overall, subject to where Tanak and Meeke pop in when they arrive.
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WRC - Poland: Mikkelsen reckons his pace so far is partly because the Poland route is nearly all-new so the experience deficit he still feels he faces elsewhere is reduced.
"The rallies they've done 10 times are more difficult. On rallies with new stages, we're all on the same level experience-wise."
"The rallies they've done 10 times are more difficult. On rallies with new stages, we're all on the same level experience-wise."
Stopwatch
WRC - Poland: Mikkelsen is through fastest, 3.7s quicker than Ogier - though he had been 4.7s up at the last split.
That means Mikkelsen is 6.5s clear of Ogier overall. Let's see how many cars slot in between them.
That means Mikkelsen is 6.5s clear of Ogier overall. Let's see how many cars slot in between them.
WRC - Poland: Ostberg is 5.7s off Ogier but it'll be a while before we can figure out what that means overall as while the Norwegian is second in the championship through consistency, the men he's battling with for minor points right now are a fair way down the start order.
WRC - Poland: Next man through Ostberg is slower than Ogier, but the other VWs of current leader Mikkelsen and Latvala are both quicker than the world champion - by 4s in Mikkelsen's case.
Stopwatch
WRC - Poland: Ogier is in and he suspects he'll drop away from the leaders here as there's a lot of loose gravel on the road.
"More corners means more cleaning, there's a lot of loose. I'm happy with my driving, but I expect to lose time. It will get faster for every car."
"More corners means more cleaning, there's a lot of loose. I'm happy with my driving, but I expect to lose time. It will get faster for every car."
WRC - Poland: Very decent WRC2 field this weekend so we'll keep and eye on that too.
Factory Skoda man (and reigning ERC champion) Esapekka Lappi flew on SS2, outpacing Abbring and Bertelli's WRC entries as well as beating the WRC2 pack by 5s - which is a lot on an eight-mile, super-fast stage.
Lappi's Skoda team-mate Pontus Tidemand is second in class, followed by colourful Estonian Karl Kruuda and Citroen protege Stephane Lefebvre.
Factory Skoda man (and reigning ERC champion) Esapekka Lappi flew on SS2, outpacing Abbring and Bertelli's WRC entries as well as beating the WRC2 pack by 5s - which is a lot on an eight-mile, super-fast stage.
Lappi's Skoda team-mate Pontus Tidemand is second in class, followed by colourful Estonian Karl Kruuda and Citroen protege Stephane Lefebvre.
Incidentally, while Rally Poland takes the lead this weekend, we'll also be bringing you updates from GP2 and GP3 on the British Grand Prix support bill, World Rallycross at Holjes, the Blancpain Sprint Series at Moscow Raceway and NASCAR's second Daytona event of the year.
And there's moment-by-moment coverage of all the Formula 1 action from Silverstone on the GP version of AUTOSPORT Live from 10am too.
And there's moment-by-moment coverage of all the Formula 1 action from Silverstone on the GP version of AUTOSPORT Live from 10am too.
Lights out
WRC - Poland: Ogier has left the startline. Let's get going.
WRC - Poland: If you're just joining us, we've had one super-fast short stage to kick us off, no retirements yet, a tightly packed field and the following lead pack order:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Tanak
3 Ogier
4 Latvala
5 Evans
6 Kubica
7 Evans
8 Neuville
9 Paddon
10 Ostberg
1 Mikkelsen
2 Tanak
3 Ogier
4 Latvala
5 Evans
6 Kubica
7 Evans
8 Neuville
9 Paddon
10 Ostberg
WRC - Poland: We're particularly appreciative of Nagle's help as he had a pretty rubbish day yesterday after Meeke crashed on the shakedown.
With Citroen busy repairing the car in time for the evening superspecial, Meeke and Nagle had to take the ceremonial start on foot rather than driving themselves over the ramp like everyone else.
Hopefully if the car hadn't been repairable no one would've forced them to walk the whole rally route...
With Citroen busy repairing the car in time for the evening superspecial, Meeke and Nagle had to take the ceremonial start on foot rather than driving themselves over the ramp like everyone else.
Hopefully if the car hadn't been repairable no one would've forced them to walk the whole rally route...
Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle
WRC - Poland: Kris Meeke's co-driver Paul Nagle is doing stage descriptions for us this weekend. Here's his expert view of SS3:
SS3 Goldap (9.16 miles)
This stage has more junctions than the first one and they will tend to slow down the rhythm and the flow of the road. But don't get me wrong, between those junctions it's still incredibly fast.
Not far after the start we turn square left at some trees and just behind the trees – or even in the trees – is the Russian border. We'll not be thinking too much about that, though.
SS3 Goldap (9.16 miles)
This stage has more junctions than the first one and they will tend to slow down the rhythm and the flow of the road. But don't get me wrong, between those junctions it's still incredibly fast.
Not far after the start we turn square left at some trees and just behind the trees – or even in the trees – is the Russian border. We'll not be thinking too much about that, though.
WRC - Poland: Breakfast sorted, David Evans on the road towards Russia, rally cars lining up for the next stage... shall we resume?
WRC - Poland - SS2 summary:
* Mikkelsen sets the pace and moves into the rally lead
* Tanak goes second on the stage and overall
* Ogier loses a little time cleaning the road and falls from first to third
* Kubica falls from second to sixth with a deliberately cautious run on the very quick stage
Drama building in WRC2 too - Nasser Al-Attiyah has stopped on the stage and Jari Ketomaa has a puncture.
The next stage is just over an hour away, so we're going to pause for some breakfast, while our rally expert DAVID EVANS is setting off "on a five-hour drive to and from the Russian border", either to watch some rally cars or for a secret spy liaison with our Blancpain-at-Moscow-bound sportscar expert GARY WATKINS.
Here's the sort of thing our man is likely to be encountering on his journey:
"Must be slightly alarming for the driver of this car, seeing the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner staring at him every time he looks in the rear view mirror."
* Mikkelsen sets the pace and moves into the rally lead
* Tanak goes second on the stage and overall
* Ogier loses a little time cleaning the road and falls from first to third
* Kubica falls from second to sixth with a deliberately cautious run on the very quick stage
Drama building in WRC2 too - Nasser Al-Attiyah has stopped on the stage and Jari Ketomaa has a puncture.
The next stage is just over an hour away, so we're going to pause for some breakfast, while our rally expert DAVID EVANS is setting off "on a five-hour drive to and from the Russian border", either to watch some rally cars or for a secret spy liaison with our Blancpain-at-Moscow-bound sportscar expert GARY WATKINS.
Here's the sort of thing our man is likely to be encountering on his journey:
"Must be slightly alarming for the driver of this car, seeing the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner staring at him every time he looks in the rear view mirror."
Robert Kubica fan
Checkered flag
WRC - Poland - SS2 results:
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 5m57.0s
2 Tanak +0.5s
3 Meeke +1.5s
4 Latvala +2.7s
5 Ogier +3.4s
6 Evans +4.6s
WRC leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Tanak +2.3s
3 Ogier +2.8s
4 Latvala +4.1s
5 Meeke +5.0s
6 Kubica +7.4s
7 Evans +7.6s
8 Neuville +8.0s
9 Paddon +9.0s
10 Ostberg +11.1s
11 Sordo +11.8s
12 Prokop +12.1s
13 Abbring +17.4s
14 Bertelli +19.0s
Stage times:
1 Mikkelsen 5m57.0s
2 Tanak +0.5s
3 Meeke +1.5s
4 Latvala +2.7s
5 Ogier +3.4s
6 Evans +4.6s
WRC leaderboard:
1 Mikkelsen
2 Tanak +2.3s
3 Ogier +2.8s
4 Latvala +4.1s
5 Meeke +5.0s
6 Kubica +7.4s
7 Evans +7.6s
8 Neuville +8.0s
9 Paddon +9.0s
10 Ostberg +11.1s
11 Sordo +11.8s
12 Prokop +12.1s
13 Abbring +17.4s
14 Bertelli +19.0s
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WRC - Poland: Abbring is back in the WRC this weekend after a holiday back to his old job in the European Rally Championship last weekend (that didn't go too well - he shunted his Citroen on day one in Ypres). He reckons he needs to add some speed to his pace notes, but he's enjoying the rally at least.
"Fantastic! I think the way these stages are it's going to be the fastest of the season. But it's also difficult and we've been changing a lot of pace notes!"
"Fantastic! I think the way these stages are it's going to be the fastest of the season. But it's also difficult and we've been changing a lot of pace notes!"
WRC - Poland: Abbring is slowest so far in the third Hyundai. Just Bertelli to come in after that to complete the WRC pack.
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WRC - Poland: Here's Kubica's verdict:
"It was OK. It's not easy to come to such fast stages without big experience, so we took it very easy. The pace notes were a bit too close, but it's all OK."
"It was OK. It's not easy to come to such fast stages without big experience, so we took it very easy. The pace notes were a bit too close, but it's all OK."
WRC - Poland: Kubica is ninth fastest on the stage, and after his strong performance on the superspecial that equates to sixth overall. Respectable.
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WRC - Poland: Tanak is very happy with his driving there but was a bit perturbed by an awkward gearshift early on.
Having gone out of a podium place with a transmission failure in Italy, Tanak's right to be anxious about that.
"I'm sure it's OK now though," he adds.
Having gone out of a podium place with a transmission failure in Italy, Tanak's right to be anxious about that.
"I'm sure it's OK now though," he adds.
WRC - Poland: Relatively quiet from Kubica on the split, on his current pace he's looking at slotting in towards the foot of the top 10.
WRC - Poland: Right! Here's someone making the most of running further down the order - Tanak puts the M-Sport Ford second, half a second behind Mikkelsen.
WRC - Poland: Sardinia hero Hayden Paddon is next in and no repeat of the Italy day one sensation yet, he's just behind team-mate Neuville in seventh on the stage standings.
"It's just a warm-up, there's a lot way to go. The next two stages are a bit more technical."
Paddon has taken two spare tyres for this morning, not so much because he suspects punctures, but because he wants more fresh rubber for the very long stage that ends the loop just before lunchtime. Could be a smart move, if the weight disadvantage before then isn't too costly.
"It's just a warm-up, there's a lot way to go. The next two stages are a bit more technical."
Paddon has taken two spare tyres for this morning, not so much because he suspects punctures, but because he wants more fresh rubber for the very long stage that ends the loop just before lunchtime. Could be a smart move, if the weight disadvantage before then isn't too costly.
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WRC - Poland: Dani Sordo is slowest of the eight cars so far, 9.5s off Mikkelsen's pace.
"A little bit dusty in the middle of the stage, in the forest. I wish it was a little bit faster all the time. I was happy with the car, but need more speed."
"A little bit dusty in the middle of the stage, in the forest. I wish it was a little bit faster all the time. I was happy with the car, but need more speed."
WRC - Poland: Meeke is in, second fastest behind Mikkelsen.
That puts him fourth overall for now given last night's little time loss.
That puts him fourth overall for now given last night's little time loss.
WRC - Poland: Neuville says that dust is now starting to hang in the air in the tree-lined sections, making it harder to see some of the braking points.
WRC - Poland: Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville slot in behind the VWs but ahead of Ostberg.
Meeke is on the same pace as Latvala at the split. He had a fraught day yesterday that began with a hefty crash on the shakedown and ended with a stall at the start of the superspecial. It also featured birthday cake - happy 36th birthday for yesterday, Kris.
Meeke is on the same pace as Latvala at the split. He had a fraught day yesterday that began with a hefty crash on the shakedown and ended with a stall at the start of the superspecial. It also featured birthday cake - happy 36th birthday for yesterday, Kris.
WRC - Poland: We've got 14 World Rally Cars entered, so in theory the absolute best stage conditions today are going to be for those going in 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th etc.
Fourteenth-on-the-road Lorenzo Bertelli hasn't got the experience to make much use of that, but Ott Tanak, Kubica and Kevin Abbring in 11th/12/13th in the start order should profit.
Fourteenth-on-the-road Lorenzo Bertelli hasn't got the experience to make much use of that, but Ott Tanak, Kubica and Kevin Abbring in 11th/12/13th in the start order should profit.
WRC - Poland: Latvala finishes the stage 2.7s slower than Mikkelsen but into second just ahead of Ogier.
Stopwatch
WRC - Poland: Mikkelsen is in with a time 3.4s faster than Ogier to take the provisional rally lead. He averaged a little over 80mph there.
Mikkelsen doubts he'll be in the lead by the end of this one, though. He suspects the road is dusty enough that those further back (hello Kubica!) will benefit.
"For sure there is road cleaning, it will get faster and faster, for sure. A good rhythm, but not the biggest risks."
Mikkelsen doubts he'll be in the lead by the end of this one, though. He suspects the road is dusty enough that those further back (hello Kubica!) will benefit.
"For sure there is road cleaning, it will get faster and faster, for sure. A good rhythm, but not the biggest risks."
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WRC - Poland: Ostberg ends the stage slightly shellshocked by its sheer pace:
"It's so incredibly fast. I was a little bit shocked. So, so, so fast. I'm definitely not used to that. I need to get into this a little bit.
"The last time I was in the car was Sardinia, and I tell you this is very, very different to that."
Ever since this event first turned up on the WRC calendar in 2009 it's been a notoriously quick one, rivalling Finland.
"It's so incredibly fast. I was a little bit shocked. So, so, so fast. I'm definitely not used to that. I need to get into this a little bit.
"The last time I was in the car was Sardinia, and I tell you this is very, very different to that."
Ever since this event first turned up on the WRC calendar in 2009 it's been a notoriously quick one, rivalling Finland.
WRC - Poland: Ostberg gets to the end 5s slower than Ogier.
At the mid-point split, Mikkelsen is 1.4s up on Ogier.
At the mid-point split, Mikkelsen is 1.4s up on Ogier.
Stopwatch
WRC - Poland: Ogier is in with a time of 6m00.4s on this short blast to kick us off.
At the split, Ostberg was 2.4s down, which suggests road conditions are too dusty for the champ.
"It's OK, but it's a long day today without service so I didn't want to make a mistake.
"Not a bad stage, but quite slippery conditions."
Good point from Ogier there - today just has a midday regroup and tyre change, no proper service till tonight. So if you break your car, it's pretty much game over.
Ogier, unusually for a Friday, got into his second sentence of that interview before saying it was slippery running first on the dusty road. That's got to be a hint it's not too bad - he'd be lambasting it with his first word if it was bothering him.
At the split, Ostberg was 2.4s down, which suggests road conditions are too dusty for the champ.
"It's OK, but it's a long day today without service so I didn't want to make a mistake.
"Not a bad stage, but quite slippery conditions."
Good point from Ogier there - today just has a midday regroup and tyre change, no proper service till tonight. So if you break your car, it's pretty much game over.
Ogier, unusually for a Friday, got into his second sentence of that interview before saying it was slippery running first on the dusty road. That's got to be a hint it's not too bad - he'd be lambasting it with his first word if it was bothering him.
WRC - Poland: Remember we're running in championship order today (and tomorrow, with some Rally2 quirks) so following Ogier onto the stage are Mads Ostberg and Andreas Mikkelsen.
Those two haven't won a rally yet this year, but the other men who have - Jari-Matti Latvala and Kris Meeke - are still back in fourth and seventh in the standings right now.
Those two haven't won a rally yet this year, but the other men who have - Jari-Matti Latvala and Kris Meeke - are still back in fourth and seventh in the standings right now.
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, Gary Watkins, AUTOSPORT staff, Alex Kalinauckas, Edd Straw
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