WRC Rally Catalunya
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Juho Hanninen is quicker than the Hyundais of Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo in this stage, a good sign for Toyota who have struggled to make inroads into the top 10 so far.
Hanninen is 2.5s up on Neuville at the second split in this test.
Hanninen is 2.5s up on Neuville at the second split in this test.
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"It's difficult to compete but we have to do the best job we can and learn as much," says Evans at the end of the stage. Looking at the splits his time will be in keeping with his position just outside the top 10. But we'll see.
Stopwatch
There's a tidy battle going on at the back end of the top 10. It looks like Toyota's Esapekka Lappi will jump Stephane Lefebvre of Citroen for ninth.
Lappi 4.6s up at second split on Lefebvre and only needs 1.9s to take the place.
Elfyn Evans is 11th after the DMACK tyre struggled in the hot weather on gravel yesterday. He needs to pull back just under half a minute to overhaul Lefebvre.
Lappi 4.6s up at second split on Lefebvre and only needs 1.9s to take the place.
Elfyn Evans is 11th after the DMACK tyre struggled in the hot weather on gravel yesterday. He needs to pull back just under half a minute to overhaul Lefebvre.
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We're waiting for relevant split times, so as usual, we've resorted to the mega LAT archive. It's never too early. Here's current Toyota boss Tommi Makinen on his way to Rally Spain victory 20 years ago. Was it really that long ago?
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There's some steep drops on this stage, it's one you certainly don't want to make any mistakes on as the reward is usually retirement. Full focus for this one.
Here's a quick reminder of the order and the battles to watch up front:
1 Meeke 1h24m21.3s
2 Ogier +9.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.6s
4 Sordo +11.4s
5 Tanak +13.6s
6 Neuville +15.9s
Here's a quick reminder of the order and the battles to watch up front:
1 Meeke 1h24m21.3s
2 Ogier +9.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.6s
4 Sordo +11.4s
5 Tanak +13.6s
6 Neuville +15.9s
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We have Khalid Al Qassimi and Elfyn Evans into the stage which is underway now. After them, here's who to expect after in the running order.
Lappi
Lefebvre
Hanninen
Neuville
Sordo
Ostberg
Tanak
Meeke
Ogier
Mikkelsen.
Lappi
Lefebvre
Hanninen
Neuville
Sordo
Ostberg
Tanak
Meeke
Ogier
Mikkelsen.
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This test is just over 13 miles, and appears dry at the moment.
The previous stage did have a bit of rain, but this one is clear for now.
The previous stage did have a bit of rain, but this one is clear for now.
Kris Meeke ended the gravel stages in third overall, but took the lead on the switch to asphalt this morning
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Just five minutes until we get underway into El Pont d'Armentera, SS8, and don't forget we're back on asphalt today after Friday's gravel stages.
Could Kris Meeke be ready to repeat his asphalt pace in Corsica earlier this year and assert the temperamental Citroen at the top of the order? There's a swarm of Hyundais and Fords behind ready to challenge him for it. The action awaits.
Could Kris Meeke be ready to repeat his asphalt pace in Corsica earlier this year and assert the temperamental Citroen at the top of the order? There's a swarm of Hyundais and Fords behind ready to challenge him for it. The action awaits.
Autosport
Good morning and welcome back to Autosport's Rally Spain coverage. We've had one stage this morning. In an interesting test, we've had a shake-up, and Kris Meeke has gone from third to first!
SS7
1 Meeke 12m22s
2 Sordo +3.6
3 Hänninen +4.0
4 Neuville +6.1s
5 Tanak +10.3s
6 Ogier +10.7s
Overall after SS7
1 Meeke 1h24m21.3s
2 Ogier +9.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.6s
4 Sordo +11.4s
5 Tanak +13.6s
6 Neuville +15.9s
SS7
1 Meeke 12m22s
2 Sordo +3.6
3 Hänninen +4.0
4 Neuville +6.1s
5 Tanak +10.3s
6 Ogier +10.7s
Overall after SS7
1 Meeke 1h24m21.3s
2 Ogier +9.1s
3 Mikkelsen +9.6s
4 Sordo +11.4s
5 Tanak +13.6s
6 Neuville +15.9s
So, that’s that. A day in the Spanish dirt is done. Now the cars will head back to Salou for an extended end of day service (1h15m) where the cars will be transformed from gravel to asphalt specification.
The mechanics and engineers will be flat out for all of those 75 minutes working on a complete transmission and suspension change. That’s the basic job, if anybody comes in with damage or a potential engine fault then things will get really lively in the PortAventura car park.
The mechanics and engineers will be flat out for all of those 75 minutes working on a complete transmission and suspension change. That’s the basic job, if anybody comes in with damage or a potential engine fault then things will get really lively in the PortAventura car park.
Going into the final stage of the day, Nil Solans stands on the verge of lifting this year's Junior World Rally Championship. Solans needs to score the bonus points on offer for three stage wins and that's enough for him to lift his maiden world title. He's won two already...
Suninen through and still in the lead of WRC2 despite a problem in Terra Alta...
"I'm not so happy," said the Fiesta-driving Finn, who dropped 23.9s to Jan Kopecky. "We lost power steering in this stage."
Tempestini stays second behind Suninen. Kopecky is still angry about the time he lost catching Jordan Serderidis first time through Terra Alta.
"This time it was better," said the Skoda factory driver. "I had a five-minute gap to the guy ahead and it's always better when you don't have to stop in the dust..."
"I'm not so happy," said the Fiesta-driving Finn, who dropped 23.9s to Jan Kopecky. "We lost power steering in this stage."
Tempestini stays second behind Suninen. Kopecky is still angry about the time he lost catching Jordan Serderidis first time through Terra Alta.
"This time it was better," said the Skoda factory driver. "I had a five-minute gap to the guy ahead and it's always better when you don't have to stop in the dust..."
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SS6 resume
- It's another Terra Alta masterclass from Ogier, who goes fastest to close the gap right up to leader Andreas Mikkelsen.
- Mikkelsen struggles with a damper issue from the midpoint, but is still over the moon with his first day as a Hyundai driver. His countryman Ostberg struggles to keep pace and slips back after a thriller of a day fighting Andreas in his private Ford. Mads' problem in SS6 is running with the heater full on - it's absolutely scorchio in the Onebet-backed Fiesta.
- Kris Meeke rues a spin on SS4 which cost him five or six seconds - he's three off the front at the end of the day. But the Northern Irishman knows he's got a pace Citroen beneath him for the asphalt to come.
- Tanak, Ostberg, Sordo and Neuville are all within striking distance of the lead. Tanak lost his feeling with the Fiesta in the afternoon, while Hyundai men Sordo and Neuville felt a second spare tyre cost them time on the second loop of Spanish gravel.
- It's another Terra Alta masterclass from Ogier, who goes fastest to close the gap right up to leader Andreas Mikkelsen.
- Mikkelsen struggles with a damper issue from the midpoint, but is still over the moon with his first day as a Hyundai driver. His countryman Ostberg struggles to keep pace and slips back after a thriller of a day fighting Andreas in his private Ford. Mads' problem in SS6 is running with the heater full on - it's absolutely scorchio in the Onebet-backed Fiesta.
- Kris Meeke rues a spin on SS4 which cost him five or six seconds - he's three off the front at the end of the day. But the Northern Irishman knows he's got a pace Citroen beneath him for the asphalt to come.
- Tanak, Ostberg, Sordo and Neuville are all within striking distance of the lead. Tanak lost his feeling with the Fiesta in the afternoon, while Hyundai men Sordo and Neuville felt a second spare tyre cost them time on the second loop of Spanish gravel.
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Ostberg's time has been hot in the last stage - but for all the wrong reasons...
"We struggled with the car, the heater is stuck on and when we have this kind of problem I cannot stay focused. The car is full of dust and it's like 100 degrees in here. Stupid things are hurting us at the moment."
"We struggled with the car, the heater is stuck on and when we have this kind of problem I cannot stay focused. The car is full of dust and it's like 100 degrees in here. Stupid things are hurting us at the moment."
Stopwatch
Overall after SS6: 1 Mikkelsen 1h11m56.3s; 2 Ogier +1.4s; 3 Meeke +3.0s; 4 Tanak +6.3s; 5 Ostberg +7.1s; 6 Sordo +10.8s
Mikkelsen leads at the end of day one!
Stopwatch
Ostberg `+6.4 to Mikkelsen at the finish
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Lefebvre +24.2s at the finish.
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Ostberg +4.3s to Mikkelsen at last split
Meeke was happy enough at the end of the day. He said: "We made a good choice for the tyres this afternoon. I'm just frustrated with the spin on the first stage [this afternoon]. But this is a good position overnight. I'm happy.
What about Ogier's speed on the asphalt sections in Terra Alta?
"He's always had a good technique on the Tarmac sections, we know that."
What about Ogier's speed on the asphalt sections in Terra Alta?
"He's always had a good technique on the Tarmac sections, we know that."
Stopwatch
Meeke +0.8s to Ogier at the finish
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Ostberg +0.7s to Mikkelsen at the third split.
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Mikkelsen admits he was concerned with the Hyundai's handling in Terra Alata 2. He said: "At the midpoint it felt like I had a puncture. I think something happened with the suspension, it was crashing through all the time. But we are here and it's a different day tomorrow. Not a bad first day, fighting at the top is good."
Stopwatch
Last split for Meeke +0.7s to Ogier.
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Ogier just 1.4s behind Mikkelsen after day one.
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Mikkelsen +7.8s to Ogier at the finish.
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Lappi: "At least we have brakes now, but the suspension is not good enough - it's too nervous."
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Meeke lost time and +1.0s at third split
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Lappi +18.5s at finish. Mikkelsen +6.2 to Ogier (slight improvement) at penultimate split.
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Ostberg split 2 +0.2s to Ogier but -1.4s to Mikkelsen.
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Hanninen through +16.0s to Ogier. His team-mate Lappi is clearly not having the same brake problems as the morning. He's 'only' +16.5s to the fastest at the last split.
Hanninen said: "I was too careful in the rough sections, too cautious, not so good."
Hanninen said: "I was too careful in the rough sections, too cautious, not so good."
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Asked what he could take from today, Evans' replied: "Nothing."
Ouch. On the upside, DMACK's new cover should go well in Wales. #justsayin
Ouch. On the upside, DMACK's new cover should go well in Wales. #justsayin
Stopwatch
Meeke fastest in split 2 -4.4 to Ogier. Ostberg 1.2s down at split one. Mikkelsen +7.8 to Ogier at midpoint.
Stopwatch
DMACK man Evans finishes the stage +48.4s and 1m21.0s down on his Michelin-shod M-Sport team-mate Ogier at the end of the day.
Sordo starts the weekend and the Tarmac 9.4s behind Ogier. That's definitely within striking distance of the M-Sport Ford, but what will the gap be to the Norwegian scrap right at the sharp end.
Sordo said: "I try to go faster, but it's so slippery. We lost some time in the Tarmac place."
Sordo said: "I try to go faster, but it's so slippery. We lost some time in the Tarmac place."
Stopwatch
Is Evans going to drop a minute in the stage? He's +42.9 at the penultimate split.
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Hanninen +10.9s at mid-point; Sordo's finished +7.6s
By: Matt Beer
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