WRC Rally Catalunya
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Quick resume of SS1 times: 1 Tanak; 2 Ostberg +1.8s; 3 Neuville +2.1s; 4 Meeke +2.7s; 5 Ogier +3.0s; 6 Mikkelsen +3.1s.
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Sordo admits he gave it everything to stay in this early fight at the front. He said: "I pushed like hell, I want to be in the fight. I had to push..."
Stopwatch
Sordo through SS2 +0.4s
Latvala reports a problem with the gear changes, but insists it was his mistake - sounds like he was shifting up too early. Slowest so far through SS2, but his hard Michelins are primed and ready for SS3.
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Back to SS1, where Ostberg is second quickest, despite not being able to see where he was going for much of the stage!
"There's so much dust in the car, I can barely see out of screen, it was a horrible experience. Dust is dust... we can eat dust, so that's OK"
"There's so much dust in the car, I can barely see out of screen, it was a horrible experience. Dust is dust... we can eat dust, so that's OK"
End of SS2, Tanak: "The stage is extremely slippery and some surprises sometimes. For the long one, we have to manage the tyres we have."
The Estonian will start Terra Alta with two hards and two softs on the car (same as Ogier).
Neuville reported no problems at the end of the stage, but talked briefly about a couple of wide lines from the Frenchman ahead.
The Estonian will start Terra Alta with two hards and two softs on the car (same as Ogier).
Neuville reported no problems at the end of the stage, but talked briefly about a couple of wide lines from the Frenchman ahead.
Stopwatch
Tanak -3.1 SS2.
Lefebvre +12.9s end of SS1 - it's definitely not cleaning!
Meeke said he's bedding himself in, no dramas just two lines and lots of rocks on the road.
Meeke said he's bedding himself in, no dramas just two lines and lots of rocks on the road.
Stopwatch
Meeke through SS1 +2.7 to Tanak.
Neuville is up 2.5s at the end of SS2.
Ogier didn't stop at the end of SS2.
There's not a huge amount of time in the road sections this morning – and there's a refuel to get through before SS3.
There's not a huge amount of time in the road sections this morning – and there's a refuel to get through before SS3.
Ex VW/Skoda/Citroen man Mikkelsen said: "I was trying to get used to the car, there were no surprises in there. I'm happy with the time, it will take me some time to get used to the car."
Stopwatch
Ogier through SS2: 4m08.0s for the 4.03-mile Bot stage.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen +3.1 at the finish.
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Lappi: "I don't have much experience of these roads. I expected more cleaning, there are some places where it's not so bad, but generally it's quite messy."
This is only his second start in Spain.
This is only his second start in Spain.
Green flag
Crikey, it's all happening here... stage two's only gone and started as well!
Stand by, words from Rally Finland winner Lappi coming.
Stand by, words from Rally Finland winner Lappi coming.
Stopwatch
Lappi 7.6 down on Tanak at the finish.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen's first split in an i20 is +1.1s.
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Hanninen in +7.3 at the finish.
Hanninen: "There's a line coming, but it's so narrow - we can't use this line. It's really, really tricky..."
Hanninen: "There's a line coming, but it's so narrow - we can't use this line. It's really, really tricky..."
Stopwatch
Lappi +6.6s at split one. Clearly not much cleaning going on...
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Sixth on the road, Evans says there's still no clean line coming.
"The drivers are all taking different lines, trying to be clean, neat and tidy. It's still very slippery, but there's no dust. I think there's scope for me to go a bit harder."
Think he's talking in terms of pace rather than tyres, he's on the hardest DMACK.
"The drivers are all taking different lines, trying to be clean, neat and tidy. It's still very slippery, but there's no dust. I think there's scope for me to go a bit harder."
Think he's talking in terms of pace rather than tyres, he's on the hardest DMACK.
Stopwatch
Evans +4.3 at the end of the stage. Hanninen +5.4s at split...
Evans +0.1s at split. Sordo reports a lack of later grip from hard tyre - he finished the stage +5.3 to fastest man Tanak.
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Latvala's hard tyre set-up is aimed firmly at Terra Alta, the loop's monster mixed stage which comes later this morning.
He said: "I am happy. The boys up front are on softs, so I knew I would lose some time – that's normal."
He said: "I am happy. The boys up front are on softs, so I knew I would lose some time – that's normal."
Sordo +3.9s at split
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Tanak: "There's not really a line coming. I can see where they're going, but it's not really a line. I'm happy with the way the car's handling, it's a good feeling now."
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Neuville: "I got into a good rhythm with the car. We have two [soft] spares. I hope this is a good choice. It's more clear than we thought, I hope the temperature can be OK."
The Belgian's on a full soft option, if it gets hot he could be cooking Michelins.
The Belgian's on a full soft option, if it gets hot he could be cooking Michelins.
Stopwatch
Tanak fastest by 3.0s
Stopwatch
Neuville quicker than Ogier by 0.9s.
Tanak -2.4 at split one.
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Ogier: "Happy with my drive. A clean stage."
How many times does Ogier say: "Happy with my stage," each season. I reckon it's around 193.
How many times does Ogier say: "Happy with my stage," each season. I reckon it's around 193.
Stopwatch
Ogier through at 7m19.7s
Neuville +1.3s at split one.
Green flag
Sorry! So busy fiddling with pictures of blue skies, forgot to mention Ogier is onto SS1... Not just in, he's through the first split.
Anything else I can tell you before the start of SS1? Tyres, how about some tyre news…
Lappi: 6 hards; Neuville 6 softs; Latvala/Hanninen/Ostberg 5 hards; Tanak/Ogier 3 softs, 2 hards; Sordo/Mikkelsen 4 hards, 1 soft.
So, basically, tyre choice is all over the place!
Lappi: 6 hards; Neuville 6 softs; Latvala/Hanninen/Ostberg 5 hards; Tanak/Ogier 3 softs, 2 hards; Sordo/Mikkelsen 4 hards, 1 soft.
So, basically, tyre choice is all over the place!
Sun
Weather-wise, it’s warm and sunny. Here’s the evidence from our lovely friend, WRC Live’s Colin Clark – stationed at the end of SS1.
Blue skies and sunshine in Spain
Information
So, SS1 Caseres. It’s 7.96 miles (or 12.50 kilometres if you prefer) and is about as far south of Salou as the crews will go this weekend.
It starts from the village of Caseres on a fast, narrow road that widens after a junction in Arenys de Lledo and heads up through a windfarm. There’s some dirty asphalt at the end of the stage, but not much to worry about. Exactly the same as last year’s stage.
It starts from the village of Caseres on a fast, narrow road that widens after a junction in Arenys de Lledo and heads up through a windfarm. There’s some dirty asphalt at the end of the stage, but not much to worry about. Exactly the same as last year’s stage.
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Oh yeah, and for the manufacturers: M-Sport 325; Hyundai 261; Toyota 213 and Citroen 163. M-Sport could just about win the title in Spain. As for the maths… answers on a postcard (along with your workings out, naturally).
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It’s six weeks since the last round of the World Rally Championship; summer has become autumn (or winter has become spring if you’re tuning in south of the equator) since we departed Saarbrucken.
Suddenly its Spain, the last-but-last-but one (is that right? Think the day before, the day before Christmas being Christmas Eve’s eve…) rally of the WRC season.
This is where we’re at: Ogier 177; Neuville 160; Tanak 144.
Those are the three chaps in with a shot at taking this year’s title. There are 90 points on offer and the best fourth-placed Jari-Matti Latvala could manage is 173 (he’s on 123 right now).
If Ogier finishes second and Neuville takes an overall and powerstage win, the French star’s lead would be whittled down to eight points with two rounds to run.
If Ogier wins and Tanak retires, the Estonian’s season is done; if Neuville retires and Ogier takes 30 points, the Belgian goes to Wales 43 points down with 60 on offer.
If Ogier retires, anything can happen.
That enough?
Good.
Wish I’d never started that potential results connotations for the championship thing. My head hurts and we haven’t even started stage one.
Suddenly its Spain, the last-but-last-but one (is that right? Think the day before, the day before Christmas being Christmas Eve’s eve…) rally of the WRC season.
This is where we’re at: Ogier 177; Neuville 160; Tanak 144.
Those are the three chaps in with a shot at taking this year’s title. There are 90 points on offer and the best fourth-placed Jari-Matti Latvala could manage is 173 (he’s on 123 right now).
If Ogier finishes second and Neuville takes an overall and powerstage win, the French star’s lead would be whittled down to eight points with two rounds to run.
If Ogier wins and Tanak retires, the Estonian’s season is done; if Neuville retires and Ogier takes 30 points, the Belgian goes to Wales 43 points down with 60 on offer.
If Ogier retires, anything can happen.
That enough?
Good.
Wish I’d never started that potential results connotations for the championship thing. My head hurts and we haven’t even started stage one.
By: Matt Beer
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