WRC Rally Catalunya
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"Just bring them back," says Tanak of his plan to save points. Looking at Ogier's split, it's game over in that battle.
Worth keeping in mind Tanak has an arm tied behind his back with a gravel gearbox.
Worth keeping in mind Tanak has an arm tied behind his back with a gravel gearbox.
Stopwatch
At the last split, Meeke is 1.6s down on Ogier but his gap at the start of the stage was 26.2s.
Stopwatch
Tanak arrives and he's fastest, 1.2s quicker than Hanninen, but all eyes are further back on Ogier's rapid pace, which is also better than Meeke at the splits.
Stopwatch
Ogier is 3.7s up on Tanak at the final split, Ogier is set to more than double his advantage in second if he keeps this up.
Stopwatch
Hanninen all but secures fourth on the penultimate stage, extending his gap over Ostberg to 1m29.1s with the fastest time so far.
Up next will be Ott Tanak.
Up next will be Ott Tanak.
Stopwatch
Ostberg is next and ties Lefebvre's time.
That all but seals fifth for Ostberg as it means Lefebvre needs to beat him by 17s on the last stage.
That all but seals fifth for Ostberg as it means Lefebvre needs to beat him by 17s on the last stage.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is 5.9s quicker than Evans, but his hydraulic issue continues, he's using the gear lever rather than paddleshift and he's got no intercom. Nightmare.
That's a brilliant time considering.
That's a brilliant time considering.
Stopwatch
At the first split, Hanninen is quickest with Tanak 0.1s slower.
BUT OGIER IS A FULL 1.4s QUICKER AT THE FIRST SPLIT THAT TANAK.
The gap between Ogier and Tanak was 2.3s.
BUT OGIER IS A FULL 1.4s QUICKER AT THE FIRST SPLIT THAT TANAK.
The gap between Ogier and Tanak was 2.3s.
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Elfyn Evans reaches the stage end.
"When you want to be fighting at the front it's been a difficult and frustrating weekend," says Evans, who clearly wants to get on the first flight out of Spain after this one.
"When you want to be fighting at the front it's been a difficult and frustrating weekend," says Evans, who clearly wants to get on the first flight out of Spain after this one.
Stopwatch
Al Qassimi arrives and it's a 10m53.4s.
Evans follows quickly and he's 18.9s quicker.
Evans follows quickly and he's 18.9s quicker.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is 0.8s quicker than Ostberg at that first split. He's 17s behind Ostberg overall so he needs to go a bit quicker to reel that back in.
Stopwatch
Another stall could stunt Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi's progress in this stage at one of the roundabouts. Elfyn Evans is 5.3s up on him at the first split.
Green flag
The stage is underway.
Information
Still waiting for SS18 to get underway. More when we have it.
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Scratch that, it was due to be underway at 0954hrs but hasn't quite got going yet.
Green flag
The penultimate stage, SS18 Riudecanyes – named after a reservoir – is underway.
This is the stage with the infamous Coll de la Teixeta roundabout where drivers do a donut for crowds. It's 10.16 miles and there's two splits for us to keep an eye on.
This is the stage with the infamous Coll de la Teixeta roundabout where drivers do a donut for crowds. It's 10.16 miles and there's two splits for us to keep an eye on.
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No need for an extensive recap after that one. Kris Meeke quickest again completing his Sunday clean sweep so far. Ogier extends his lead in second to 2.3s over Tanak.
Fourth-placed Hanninen trails Tanak by 17.9s while Lefebvre is sixth and 17s behind Ostberg. Those are the closest battles that remain.
Fourth-placed Hanninen trails Tanak by 17.9s while Lefebvre is sixth and 17s behind Ostberg. Those are the closest battles that remain.
Information
SS17
1 Meeke 3m58.6s
2 Ogier +2.3s
3 Tanak +2.8s
4 Sordo +3.1s
5 Hanninen +3.6s
6 Ostberg +3.8s
Overall after SS17
1 Meeke 2h42m50.3s
2 Ogier +26.2s
3 Tanak +28.5s
4 Hanninen +46.4s
5 Ostberg +2m10.8s
6 Lefebvre +2m27.8s
1 Meeke 3m58.6s
2 Ogier +2.3s
3 Tanak +2.8s
4 Sordo +3.1s
5 Hanninen +3.6s
6 Ostberg +3.8s
Overall after SS17
1 Meeke 2h42m50.3s
2 Ogier +26.2s
3 Tanak +28.5s
4 Hanninen +46.4s
5 Ostberg +2m10.8s
6 Lefebvre +2m27.8s
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Supreme confidence from Meeke with two stages to go.
"When you get a feeling this good, and the car is working this well, it's easy," says Meeke. "I took no risks, I'm just enjoying it."
"When you get a feeling this good, and the car is working this well, it's easy," says Meeke. "I took no risks, I'm just enjoying it."
Stopwatch
Just the rally leader to go. His lead was extended to 23.9s at the start of the last stage.
Meeke arrives, and he's 2.3 seconds quicker than Ogier. That's a phenomenal pace displayed by the Northern Irishman.
Meeke arrives, and he's 2.3 seconds quicker than Ogier. That's a phenomenal pace displayed by the Northern Irishman.
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No sign of conservatism – pace, not political ideology – from Ogier.
"If I want to keep second place it's better to keep a good rhythm because Ott is fast!" he says.
"If I want to keep second place it's better to keep a good rhythm because Ott is fast!" he says.
Stopwatch
Ogier arrives and he's FASTER! 0.5s to the good for the Frenchman, his advantage in second is up to 2.3s.
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Tanak laments his gravel gearbox, which he hints is limiting his pace. But his pace is still good.
"There's still some stages to go," Tanak correctly points out. "For the team it's important to get both cars to the end. I try to do my best."
"There's still some stages to go," Tanak correctly points out. "For the team it's important to get both cars to the end. I try to do my best."
Stopwatch
Next up is Tanak and he tops Hanninen's previous benchmark by 0.8s. It will be interesting to see where Ogier is in relation to this. He'll be up next.
Stopwatch
Toyota's Hanninen is next in and he's quickest now, just 0.2s ahead of Ostberg. Hanninen's fourth place is still safe given the 1m24.4s gap between him and Ostberg.
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Mads Ostberg is in and says "it's nice to control the car and not for the car to control me"! Go figure, he's quickest by a second.
The stage is so short there's no splits, so we're relying on just the end of stage times here.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is in, 3.1s up on Evans and fastest so far. He may have a small hydraulic issue though, according to the Frenchman.
Worth remembering, the drivers did this stage pretty much in total darkness this morning, so the times will fall with the frontrunners.
Worth remembering, the drivers did this stage pretty much in total darkness this morning, so the times will fall with the frontrunners.
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Evans time has been adjusted and he's only 7.4s quicker than Al Qassimi, he was given an extra minute which he could have done with as it goes...
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Evans is over a minute behind Lefebvre, so not much for the Welshman to gain over the remaining two stages.
When asked if the short stage suits the tyres better, he says: "Not really. It's about getting to the end for us now. We have to be smart and take as many championship points away as we can and get a good road position for GB."
When asked if the short stage suits the tyres better, he says: "Not really. It's about getting to the end for us now. We have to be smart and take as many championship points away as we can and get a good road position for GB."
Stopwatch
Evans is 1m07.4s quicker than Al Qassimi. Lefebvre is next in and started the stage.
Stopwatch
It was a 5m13.9s for Al Qassimi, Kris Meeke did a 4m00.9 dead this morning.
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No delay in the end, just a glitch on the timing screens. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is in.
"Proper Catalunya stages, the enjoyment has started to come," says the UAE driver. "Unfortunately we stalled the car on the start."
"Proper Catalunya stages, the enjoyment has started to come," says the UAE driver. "Unfortunately we stalled the car on the start."
Information
Looks like we have a short delay to the start of the stage, updates on that when we get it.
Stopwatch
Kris Meeke topped this test in 4m00.9s this morning. The 2017 cars will come thick and fast through this test.
Information
This stage is a series of downhill hairpins, followed by a quick section and another hairpin towards the end, one of the most popular spectator spots on the rally. It's a real mix over 3.9 miles, a short test. There's three minutes between each cars.
Information
In just a few minutes; SS17, the first of three to end the day. Here's the running order:
Al Qassimi
Evans
Lefebvre
Ostberg
Hanninen
Tanak
Ogier
Meeke
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Al Qassimi
Evans
Lefebvre
Ostberg
Hanninen
Tanak
Ogier
Meeke
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Autosport
Hello and welcome back to the conclusion of Rally Catalunya, it's been the most eventful of mornings as Thierry Neuville hit a rock and retired and Kris Meeke found a new gear. Catch up with the events of the loop below.
Autosport
That's it for Autosport Live's coverage of Rally Spain, there's one stage remaining, a super special, and we'll have a full report of the day up on our website after that.
Join us again tomorrow at 0900hrs for the concluding action.
Join us again tomorrow at 0900hrs for the concluding action.
By: Matt Beer
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