Live text
WRC Rally Catalunya
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Sort by
Information
- Kris Meeke extends his lead to 13.9s before the superspecial this evening
- Dani Sordo crashes out of second and team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen hits the same rock retiring from sixth. That dents Hyundai's manufacturer standings position
- Sebastien Ogier overtakes Ott Tanak on this stage, which becomes second for the Frenchman after Sordo's retirement.
- Juho Hanninen is promoted to fourth ahead of Thierry Neuville.
- Dani Sordo crashes out of second and team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen hits the same rock retiring from sixth. That dents Hyundai's manufacturer standings position
- Sebastien Ogier overtakes Ott Tanak on this stage, which becomes second for the Frenchman after Sordo's retirement.
- Juho Hanninen is promoted to fourth ahead of Thierry Neuville.
Quote
Ott Tanak reportedly hit Hyundai rock, attacked by Sordo and Mikkelsen.
"Yeah, that's right," says the Estonian. "We had some issues but they are repaired."
When asked if it will be a big battle with Ogier tomorrow, he says: "Sure."
"Yeah, that's right," says the Estonian. "We had some issues but they are repaired."
When asked if it will be a big battle with Ogier tomorrow, he says: "Sure."
SS12
1 Ogier 7m30s
2 Tanak +0.6s
3 Lappi +1s
= Hanninen +1s
5 Meeke +1.2s
6 Neuville +1.7s
Overall after SS12
1 Meeke 2h13m46.4s
2 Ogier +13.9s
3 Tanak +14s
4 Hanninen +29.4s
5 Neuville +52.1s
6 Ostberg +1m11.9s
1 Ogier 7m30s
2 Tanak +0.6s
3 Lappi +1s
= Hanninen +1s
5 Meeke +1.2s
6 Neuville +1.7s
Overall after SS12
1 Meeke 2h13m46.4s
2 Ogier +13.9s
3 Tanak +14s
4 Hanninen +29.4s
5 Neuville +52.1s
6 Ostberg +1m11.9s
Quote
Some discussion about Ogier, Tanak and team orders. But Ogier dismisses that.
"Of course I would have loved to be faster today but at least we stayed out of trouble," he says. "We are fighting for the title so I think it will be a big push tomorrow."
"Of course I would have loved to be faster today but at least we stayed out of trouble," he says. "We are fighting for the title so I think it will be a big push tomorrow."
Quote
Here's your rally leader.
"It's been a good day," says Meeke. "This morning we were able to catch everyone on the hop, this afternoon was about not doing anything stupid. Tricky superspecial now, I didn't bless myself in glory in Germany on the superspecial."
Quite. You can't help but admire Meeke's honesty and ability to put incidents behind him and perform at the highest level.
"It's been a good day," says Meeke. "This morning we were able to catch everyone on the hop, this afternoon was about not doing anything stupid. Tricky superspecial now, I didn't bless myself in glory in Germany on the superspecial."
Quite. You can't help but admire Meeke's honesty and ability to put incidents behind him and perform at the highest level.
Twitter
Crash
Reports of Mikkelsen stopped in the stage, that's two Hyundais in this stage with Sordo, and that puts an enormous dent in the manufacturer championship assault for the marque.
Stopwatch
Ogier is in. HE'S FASTEST BY 0.6s AND THAT GIVES HIM SECOND BY A TENTH.
Incredible battle upfront and Tanak falls to third behind Ogier.
Meeke's lead is now 13.9s to Ogier with one superspecial stage left today.
Incredible battle upfront and Tanak falls to third behind Ogier.
Meeke's lead is now 13.9s to Ogier with one superspecial stage left today.
Quote
Thierry Neuville is reflective at the end of this test.
"It's not over, I think we deserve better than this," says Neuville. "The car is fine, we are in the faster times, we are happy with the car."
"It's not over, I think we deserve better than this," says Neuville. "The car is fine, we are in the faster times, we are happy with the car."
Stopwatch
Meeke arrives and he only loses 0.6s to Tanak. That means his lead is currently 14s, but Ogier could yet reduce that depending on his time.
Stopwatch
We haven't spoken about Kris Meeke on this stage. He's slower than Tanak by 1s at the split, but he has a gap of 14.6s over Tanak starting the stage to play with.
Stopwatch
The first split for Ogier is in, and he's 0.2s quicker than Tanak. The gap between them, which becomes the fight fro second after Sordo's retirement on this stage, is 0.5s. Battlestations.
Tanak arrives now, he's fastest by 0.4s. That's what he needs to do but will it be enough?
Stopwatch
Tanak has gone 0.1s quicker than Hanninen at the second split, that's quality from the Estonian who has a gravel gearbox in his Fiesta.
With Sordo gone, can Tanak keep second ahead of a resurgent Ogier?
With Sordo gone, can Tanak keep second ahead of a resurgent Ogier?
Stopwatch
Neuville is third quickest and 0.7s slower than Lappi and Hanninen who are tied.
Not only does that cost Sordo a chance at victory, it's one less car to take points away from M-Sport driver Sebastien Ogier, as Thierry Neuville, Sordo's team-mate, is further down the order after hydraulic issues.
Twitter
Crash
SORDO IS OUT.
The second place man has broken steering and is stopped in SS12.
The second place man has broken steering and is stopped in SS12.
Stopwatch
There's contrasting fates in the Hyundai camp. Dani Sordo is quickest, but Neuville is 1.7s slower.
Neuville is 14.2s behind new team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen in sixth, and that's his next target on his road to recovery after hydraulic issues this morning.
Neuville is 14.2s behind new team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen in sixth, and that's his next target on his road to recovery after hydraulic issues this morning.
Stopwatch
Hanninen ties Lappi's time. The former is 7.8s ahead of Mikkelsen and 14.5s behind Ogier in fifth.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is in and he loses more time to Lappi. After starting the day ahead of him, he's now over half a minute behind Lappi, he's ninth and Lefebvre 10th.
Stopwatch
Lappi is next in, it's been a strong afternoon for the Finn. He's 11.5s quicker than Evans over that short test.
Lappi is also quicker than team-mate Juho Hanninen, who has two stage wins today, by 0.1s at the first split.
Lappi is also quicker than team-mate Juho Hanninen, who has two stage wins today, by 0.1s at the first split.
Stopwatch
Elfyn Evans is next at the end of the stage and it's 36.1s quicker than Al Qassimi. Evans has struggled on the DMACK tyres this weekend and is outside of the top 10 as it stands.
Stopwatch
It's a nice quick run through this stage and Al Qassimi has already completed. He's managed an 8m18.6s.
Stopwatch
No rest for the wicked as SS12 is underway with Al Qassimi.
It's the Savalla stage, 8.77 miles. It starts fairly open, but then narrows as the cars head first to Segura and then to Conesa. It finishes with a very narrow lane which will test the drivers concentration after a long run.
The test was topped by Juho Hanninen's Toyota in 7m25.3s this morning.
It's the Savalla stage, 8.77 miles. It starts fairly open, but then narrows as the cars head first to Segura and then to Conesa. It finishes with a very narrow lane which will test the drivers concentration after a long run.
The test was topped by Juho Hanninen's Toyota in 7m25.3s this morning.
Information
SS11:
1 Ogier 10m59.6s
2 Neuville +0.6s
3 Meeke +0.9s
4 Tanak +1.4s
5 Sordo +1.5s
6 Hanninen +1.7s
Overall after SS11:
1 Meeke 2h06m15.2s
2 Sordo +14.1s
3 Tanak +14.6s
4 Ogier +15.1s
5 Hanninen +29.6s
6 Mikkelsen +37.4s
1 Ogier 10m59.6s
2 Neuville +0.6s
3 Meeke +0.9s
4 Tanak +1.4s
5 Sordo +1.5s
6 Hanninen +1.7s
Overall after SS11:
1 Meeke 2h06m15.2s
2 Sordo +14.1s
3 Tanak +14.6s
4 Ogier +15.1s
5 Hanninen +29.6s
6 Mikkelsen +37.4s
Quote
Four-time is flying and he's happy at stage end for the first time today.
"Finally, an OK time," says a relieved Ogier. "We changed the setup often and it seems to be better. We have to keep pushing."
"Finally, an OK time," says a relieved Ogier. "We changed the setup often and it seems to be better. We have to keep pushing."
Stopwatch
And here's Ogier. He spent most of the morning complaining at himself for driving too slowly, and now he arrives and goes quickest over Neuville by 0.6s.
That puts him just 0.5s behind Tanak, 1s behind Sordo in the overall order.
That puts him just 0.5s behind Tanak, 1s behind Sordo in the overall order.
Quote
First off, a few words from the rally leader.
"We had a nice rhythm, a little more clean than the previous stage," says a very confident Meeke. "When I get in the lead, most of my victories come from the front."
"We had a nice rhythm, a little more clean than the previous stage," says a very confident Meeke. "When I get in the lead, most of my victories come from the front."
Stopwatch
Meeke is in and that's second quickest. He extends his lead to 14.1s over Sordo, but we've still got Ogier to come.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REIGNING CHAMPION IS ON A CHARGE! Watch this space...
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REIGNING CHAMPION IS ON A CHARGE! Watch this space...
Stopwatch
Right, where's the leader? Kris Meeke is faster than anyone at the second split, and Tanak completes to take a tenth out of Sordo. That means wherever Meeke and Ogier end up, Sordo heads Tanak in the order by 0.5s.
Tanak is happy and feels he has improved the car from this morning, but hinted the gravel gearbox is holding him back a touch.
Tanak is happy and feels he has improved the car from this morning, but hinted the gravel gearbox is holding him back a touch.
Stopwatch
Ostberg is in and on the face of things that looks like a decent time in fifth. But he's lost 10s to Lappi which means Ostberg holds eighth, but only 12.3s ahead of Lappi now. The gap almost halved.
Quote
Neuville arrives and he's quickest, 0.9s quicker than Sordo and he lowers the gap between he and Hanninen to 22s. We'll confirm where he is in the order when everyone is through but he'll likely stay seventh.
"I felt quite comfortable," says Neuville. "I was able to go a good speed. We lost a lot of time due to technical problems but anything can happen and it's a tricky rally. We have to take as many points as we can."
Of his oil issue he says: "It's coming from the engine but it's fine."
"I felt quite comfortable," says Neuville. "I was able to go a good speed. We lost a lot of time due to technical problems but anything can happen and it's a tricky rally. We have to take as many points as we can."
Of his oil issue he says: "It's coming from the engine but it's fine."
Tanak and rally leader Meeke are into the stage. Next up will be Neuville, Ostberg, then Tanak, Meeke and Ogier.
Stopwatch
Sordo arrives, quickest so far by 0.2s. He needs that in his bid to consolidate second, he started the stage 13.5s behind Meeke, 0.6s ahead of Tanak and 1.9s ahead of Ogier. Game on.
Quote
Hanninen arrives and it's quickest, 0.9s ahead of team-mate Lappi.
"OK, that's good," he announces.
He's chasing fifth and Mikkelsen. He started this stage 1.1s behind. He could well take it here.
"OK, that's good," he announces.
He's chasing fifth and Mikkelsen. He started this stage 1.1s behind. He could well take it here.
Stopwatch
Lefebvre is next to arrive and he's 10.4s slower than Lappi on this stage alone, and that means the gap between Lappi and him is almost half a minute now.
Earlier in the stage, Neuville is 2.1s down on Sordo's benchmark first split.
Earlier in the stage, Neuville is 2.1s down on Sordo's benchmark first split.
Quote
Lappui arrives and he won't threaten for fastest time for the second stage in the row, by the sounds of things.
"A few mistakes and a few times over the crests I was too slow," he says. "I thought I could improve on this run but I just couldn't. We need to work on the pacenotes a bit for next year."
"A few mistakes and a few times over the crests I was too slow," he says. "I thought I could improve on this run but I just couldn't. We need to work on the pacenotes a bit for next year."
Stopwatch
Evans completes and he's 1m02.9s faster than Al Qassimi. But there's a hint of frustration in his voice. He can't extract the grip from the DMACK tyre.
Stopwatch
We have Evans, Lappi, Lefebvre and Hanninen into the stage now.
Khalid Al Qassimi has completed and he's managed it in 12m20.7s. He reports a lot of 'polution' or debris in the road, he says it's difficult to commit to the stage given the debris.
Khalid Al Qassimi has completed and he's managed it in 12m20.7s. He reports a lot of 'polution' or debris in the road, he says it's difficult to commit to the stage given the debris.
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
