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WRC Rally Finland
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Mikkelsen lays down a benchmark time of 5m33.6 to go fastest.
"It's been a really difficult weekend for us. But knowing the guys in the team, I expect to be fighting for a good result in Germany again."
"It's been a really difficult weekend for us. But knowing the guys in the team, I expect to be fighting for a good result in Germany again."
Mikkelsen now over eight seconds quicker at the second split. The Norwegian is unlikely to bag any Power Stage points today though after another trying weekend.
Andreas Mikkelsen into the stage now and he's already four seconds up on Pietarinen at the first split.
Al Qassimi comes through the stage now. He's 2.9 seconds slower than Pietarinen's Skoda.
Pietarinen finishes the stage after a HUGE jump! Spectacular stuff from the WRC2 leader.
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Confirmation of a 20 second penalty for Suninen for a late arrival to service. Ogier moves up one spot which could prove crucial in his championship battle with Neuville.
Al Qassimi the first of the WRC runners to get going now.
The Finn in the Skoda moved into the lead of the junior class following trouble for Kalle Rovanpera. The other Skoda of Ole Christian Veiby crashed out spectacularly on Saturday.
WRC2 leader Pietarinen gets the Power Stage underway!
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We believe that Teemu Suninen has taken a penalty to allow his M-Sport team-mate Ogier up the leaderboard and a better road position.
So it's happened already!
So it's happened already!
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Ostberg cleaning his windscreen ahead of the final test. He knows he needs to give it his all to claim second.
"I can [keep second] if I do a good stage. It's all down to that. I've seen we can be faster and I've seen he can be faster."
"I can [keep second] if I do a good stage. It's all down to that. I've seen we can be faster and I've seen he can be faster."
Latvala was fastest on the first pass through this stage this morning. He was 1.2 seconds quicker than Ostberg. Can the Finn repeat this performance and secure a Toyota one-two?
Here's the running order for the final stage:
PietarinenAl Qassimi
Mikkelsen
Neuville
Breen
Evans
Ogier
Suninen
Paddon
Latvala
Ostberg
Tanak
PietarinenAl Qassimi
Mikkelsen
Neuville
Breen
Evans
Ogier
Suninen
Paddon
Latvala
Ostberg
Tanak
The Estonian had to fend off the impressive Ostberg on Friday, but pulled away handsomely on Saturday and now takes a 32.2 second lead into the Power Stage. Victory all but assured!
But while the battles in the lower places remain heated and increasingly tactical, Ott Tanak has been in a class of his own in the lead of the rally.
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Neuville knows that every point counts in this Power Stage and is expecting similar tactics from the third M-Sport Fiesta of Teemu Suninen to help the Frenchman.
"We will see what strategy M-Sport will play and what problem Suninen will have."
"We will see what strategy M-Sport will play and what problem Suninen will have."
The Belgian is ninth, while title rival Sebastien Ogier is sixth following M-Sport team orders on Friday.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville has been in damage limitation mode this weekend, with a less than favourable road position.
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Okay, so before we strap ourselves into this final stage of the event, here are rally leader Ott Tanak's thoughts of the Ruuhimäki test:
SS23 Ruuhimäki (6.90 miles)
"We know this road really well – for so long this has been the shakedown stage, so we drove it a lot. There are some changes though, we have an extra four or five kilometres at the start and the finish is a few hundred metres longer.
"The start is on a smaller road and then we come to the place we know where it’s faster. The jumps at the end are quite famous, these rolling jumps everybody knows about them – I’m sure that’s going to be spectacular to watch. The finish is changed, now we come through a quarry and over a jump at the flying finish.
SS23 Ruuhimäki (6.90 miles)
"We know this road really well – for so long this has been the shakedown stage, so we drove it a lot. There are some changes though, we have an extra four or five kilometres at the start and the finish is a few hundred metres longer.
"The start is on a smaller road and then we come to the place we know where it’s faster. The jumps at the end are quite famous, these rolling jumps everybody knows about them – I’m sure that’s going to be spectacular to watch. The finish is changed, now we come through a quarry and over a jump at the flying finish.
Citroen's Mads Ostberg currently holds a slender lead over Jari-Matti Latvala. The Norwegian lost time on the previous stage and is now just 2.6s ahead of the Finn.
But the main talking point ahead of the final stage of the event is the battle for second place behind runaway leader Ott Tanak.
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It has been a dramatic morning so far, with local lad Esapekka Lappi crashing out on the first test of the day. The Finn sent his Toyota Yarris into the trees on SS21.
We're back for live coverage of the final stage of Rally Finland! It's the Power Stage on the second pass through Ruuhimäki.
Holding that place right now is Citroen's Mads Ostberg, but Jari-Matti Latvala has hauled his Toyota to within 2.5 seconds of the Norwegian heading into the Power Stage.
Anyone for a spot of Power Stage action today? We've got a cracker lined up in Finland as the battle for second place goes right down to the wire.
There's a short break before the final stage of Rally Finland, so we'll pop off for a bit to prepare for the epic battle for the runner-up spot!
Overall classification after SS22
1. Tanak 2h29.51.9
2. Ostberg +32.2
3. Latvala +34.7
4. Paddon +1:30.3
5. Suninen +1:54.1
6. Ogier +2:13.3
7. Evans +2:26.6
8. Breen +3:06.7
9. Neuville +3:50.6
10. Mikkelsen +8:30.0
1. Tanak 2h29.51.9
2. Ostberg +32.2
3. Latvala +34.7
4. Paddon +1:30.3
5. Suninen +1:54.1
6. Ogier +2:13.3
7. Evans +2:26.6
8. Breen +3:06.7
9. Neuville +3:50.6
10. Mikkelsen +8:30.0
So there we have it! Latvala comes out on top in the penultimate stage of Rally Finland, and it's an important stage victory for the Finn.
Ott Tanak remains your leader but that battle for second place between Latvala and Mads Ostberg is as hot as you like!
Stage results S22 Laukka
1. Latvala 5m21.8s
2. Ostberg +2.6s
3. Paddon +3.7s
4. Tanak +3.7xs
5. Evans +6.2s
6. Ogier +6.4s
7. Breen +6.4s
8. Suninen +7.7s
9. Neuville +10.4s
10. Mikkelsen +13.0s
Ott Tanak remains your leader but that battle for second place between Latvala and Mads Ostberg is as hot as you like!
Stage results S22 Laukka
1. Latvala 5m21.8s
2. Ostberg +2.6s
3. Paddon +3.7s
4. Tanak +3.7xs
5. Evans +6.2s
6. Ogier +6.4s
7. Breen +6.4s
8. Suninen +7.7s
9. Neuville +10.4s
10. Mikkelsen +13.0s
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Meanwhile, Ott Tanak passes through the stage slower than Latvala and Ostberg but the Estonian is unconcerned:
"Took it very steady. It was all about getting through.
"We are like 80 points behind [Neuville] so it changes something but it doesn't feel like there is too much opportunity now."
"Took it very steady. It was all about getting through.
"We are like 80 points behind [Neuville] so it changes something but it doesn't feel like there is too much opportunity now."
It appears Ostberg has been struggling with tyre wear in that one. The Citroen driver certainly is feeling the pressure from Latvala and needs to keep his head with just one stage to go.
Crash
Mads Ostberg through the stage now. The Norwegian held a slender 5.1 second lead over Latvala coming into the stage but loses time!
Ostberg is 2.6 seconds behind the Finn and now has just a 2.5 second lead heading into the final stage of the rally! What drama.
Ostberg is 2.6 seconds behind the Finn and now has just a 2.5 second lead heading into the final stage of the rally! What drama.
Paddon's joy does not last too long though asJari-Matti Latvala lowers the Hyundai's time by 3.7 seconds. The Toyota driver has had a mega event and remains on course for a podium on home soil.
Paddon had a 19 seconds advantage over Suninen coming into the stage and goes fastest in SS22 with a time of 5m25.5! Easily the best time we've seen and the Kiwi is feeling confident at last.
"Really happy with how the weekend has gone. we've done the best we could this weekend. Bring on Turkey!"
"Really happy with how the weekend has gone. we've done the best we could this weekend. Bring on Turkey!"
It's been a strong event for Suninen, who crosses the flying finish with a time of 5m29.5, some 1.3 seconds slower than team-mate Ogier.
The Finn remains in fifth place, behind Hayden Paddon, who is next through the stage.
The Finn remains in fifth place, behind Hayden Paddon, who is next through the stage.
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Ogier is naturally targeting the Power Stage to take more points out of title rival Neuville:
"We will of course try our best. It should be very difficult to take the maximum score though."
"We will of course try our best. It should be very difficult to take the maximum score though."
M-Sport team-mates Ogier and Teemu Suninen are onto the stage. What tactics might the two Ford boys play before the Power Stage? You will recall Elfyn Evans, in the third car, helped Ogier gain valuable road order advantage for day two by slowing at the end of Friday's opening day.
It's Evans who is fastest through the stage at present, with Ogier just two seconds adrift.
It's Evans who is fastest through the stage at present, with Ogier just two seconds adrift.
Stopwatch
Next up is Craig Breen, who goes even faster than the two Hyundais with a 5m28.2. The Irishman endured a difficult Friday in his Citroen and is currently eighth overall.
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Neuville beats Mikkelsen by 2.6 seconds on that one to go fastest. The points leader has his eyes on the Power Stage victory, and has a few words for M-Sport ahead of the final stage.
"We will see what strategy M-Sport will play and what problem Suninen will have."
"We will try to limit the amount of time to Ogier."
"We will see what strategy M-Sport will play and what problem Suninen will have."
"We will try to limit the amount of time to Ogier."
Stopwatch
Mikkeslen through the stage first with a 5m34.8. The Norwegian is happier with his pace through the second pass but admits to taking few risks this morning.
Let's see what team-mate Neuville can manage.
Let's see what team-mate Neuville can manage.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville onto the stage now. He currently lies in ninth place. Definitely a case of damage limitation for the Belgian this weekend.
By: Matt Beer
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