WRC Rally Finland
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"It looks like Lappi's becoming a bit of a problem now," says Paddon, looking over his shoulder (metaphorically, there's too many gubbins in and around the driver's seat to do that literally).
Hayden Paddon arrives at stage end time control with an 11m51.8s, second fastest and 1.5s off Lappi.
It was such a bright start to that stage by Suninen too. He had been 1.4s faster early on before conceding 4.6s to Lappi by stage end.
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Suninen says he's not taking "stupid risks" but knows he needs to push.
Suninen's lead over Lappi in fifth place is down to only 1.3s! He sets an 11m54.9s.
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"A little bit better, this one. I'm changing setup every single stage because it's very hard to find a good compromise. I'm struggling a lot with the new aero on the car," remarks Ogier. He lost a further 5.7s to Lappi in there.
Ogier sets an 11m56.0s. Second fastest for now.
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"Some parts felt really good, other parts really hesitant. Overall not terrible," says Evans.
Evans sets a 12m01.4s but lost most of his time to Lappi in the latter part of that stage. 11.1s behind. Dust playing a part, I wonder?
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"It was a really nice stage. I enjoyed the small road even if it's not in our favour," says Lappi, referring to the extra gravel sweeping required in the narrow sections of road.
"The big road at the end is quite crazy, a lot of crests with lifting." he adds.
"The big road at the end is quite crazy, a lot of crests with lifting." he adds.
Suninen's now 1.0s down on Lappi after the fourth split.
Stopwatch
It's an 11m50.3s for Lappi - fastest for now, at least until his Toyota team-mates show up later and potentially usurp him again.
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Breen's not really looking on the bright side of that stage time though.
"A couple of stupid moments in places. I think the rears are quite dead now. Lost it in a few places and lost the confidence at the end," he says.
"A couple of stupid moments in places. I think the rears are quite dead now. Lost it in a few places and lost the confidence at the end," he says.
Breen arrives with an 11m59.3s. 6.9s up on Neuville. Any threat from behind is gone now, at least.
Stopwatch
News in that Lappi vs Suninen battle - the Ford driver is 1.4s faster after the second split. Suninen's got some fight in him.
Neuville punches in a 12m06.2s. 8.9s quicker than Mikkelsen, but slower than everyone else that followed him in the splits so far.
Hanging dust reported around the 10.5 mile mark - with tall trees and no wind to carry it away that's not much of a surprise.
Mikkelsen rocks up at stage end with a 12m15.1s. Fastest if only for a moment and by default too.
Before we get into those flying Toyotas, a focus on those currently running. Evans has started the stage as Lappi goes 0.2s faster than Breen at the second split.
The yellow house jump might be missing but the similarly iconic Kakaristo junction is still included this year and it's as packed as ever. The only flag that's even close to as ubiquitous to the Finnish white and blue in the packed crowd? Estonian flags. There's plenty. A sign of what's coming later...
Lappi has resumed his quest to overhaul Suninen, as Breen is already 5.2s up on Neuville at the second split.
Breen has headed off into Kakaristo's forests now too. Neuville meanwhile is 0.4s up on Mikkelsen at the second split.
Green flag
Kakaristo has kicked off, by the way. Hyundai pair Mikkelsen and Neuville are already on their way.
Information
Anyway, back to the here and now, what can we expect from Kakaristo? Seb Marshall gives us his thoughts.
SS14/17 Kakaristo (14.70 miles)
We start on the same section of stage we used in 2014, it’s really narrow and technical. We then come back onto what’s known as the middle road in Ouninpohja, the more traditional part of the stage. We follow this – in the same direction as last year – for five kilometres which includes the famous Amazon jump which has a tendency to throw the car sideways in the air – remember that famous picture of Tanak last year? And then we come to Kakaristo junction.
We go over Tommi’s jump and continue down through the narrow section almost to the end of what would be the full length of Ouninpohja stage before we turn off at the final junction and head into what was the Hassi stage in 2011. This is a great idea of the organisers, it’s a fantastic stretch to the finish including one jump which leads into a left over a jump, this caused carnage further down the field a few years ago as the cars flew over the first jump and then simply could make the next corner.
SS14/17 Kakaristo (14.70 miles)
We start on the same section of stage we used in 2014, it’s really narrow and technical. We then come back onto what’s known as the middle road in Ouninpohja, the more traditional part of the stage. We follow this – in the same direction as last year – for five kilometres which includes the famous Amazon jump which has a tendency to throw the car sideways in the air – remember that famous picture of Tanak last year? And then we come to Kakaristo junction.
We go over Tommi’s jump and continue down through the narrow section almost to the end of what would be the full length of Ouninpohja stage before we turn off at the final junction and head into what was the Hassi stage in 2011. This is a great idea of the organisers, it’s a fantastic stretch to the finish including one jump which leads into a left over a jump, this caused carnage further down the field a few years ago as the cars flew over the first jump and then simply could make the next corner.
David Evans
Marcus Gronholm is a man of many classic moments, but few could match his description of the moment a steel rod pierced the bottom of his Peugeot 307 WRC and continued through the seat of his co-driving brother-in-law Timo Rautiainen. Having watched the video, you can now buy the t-shirt...
This t-shirt is so popular, your reporter is currently wearing one right now!
Into the ass of timo
Now, there's a video of double world champion Marcus Gronholm discussing a large, hard object interacting with his co-driver Timo Rautiainen's derriere during Rally Turkey in 2005 coming up. You'll understand the context in a moment courtesy of DAVID EVANS...
David Evans
The weather’s a bit cloudier than yesterday, but the temperatures are still rising into the mid to high 20s. Nobody’s going to be running the soft tyre, it’s the medium all around. Interestingly, nobody has taken two spares – something Ostberg regretted in yesterday afternoon’s loop.
Welcome back! We're a few minutes away from our next stage kicking off, so first of all we'll catch up with DAVID EVANS on a few bits and pieces.
Just a quick 15 minute pause and we'll be right back for the next stage, Kakaristo. Get yourself a quick cuppa and we'll see you in a few!
The reason for Lappi's couple of seconds time loss has become apparent too - running wide and clattering a ditch as he entered a long straight. His car is fine but that would have killed his momentum.
We've just seen a replay of Evans' 'moment' in that stage, dropping the rear of his Fiesta off the road and hanging into a ditch at high speed. He literally gasps "oh no!" before recovering it. Scary. He'll have been really glad to reach stage end after that.
Our WRC2 juniors are setting their times right now, as a battle over thrid place between Hyundai development driver Jari Huttunen and works Skoda driver Ole Christian Veiby continues.
Veiby's taken more time out of Huttunen here, cutting his deficit to third place down to only 1.6s. A matter of time until that places swaps, surely. And he's got his sights set on Pietarinen too.
Veiby's taken more time out of Huttunen here, cutting his deficit to third place down to only 1.6s. A matter of time until that places swaps, surely. And he's got his sights set on Pietarinen too.
Information
Now for the implications. Tanak is looking an irresistible force as he increases his lead further, while Suninen is now seriously under threat from Lappi behind.
1. Tanak 1h22m42.1s
2. Ostberg +19.0s
3. Latvala +37.0s
4. Paddon +1m00.1s
5. Suninen +1m12.9s
6. Lappi +1m18.8s
7. Evans +1m29.0s
8. Ogier +1m32.2s
9. Breen +2m03.3s
10. Neuville +2m35.6s
1. Tanak 1h22m42.1s
2. Ostberg +19.0s
3. Latvala +37.0s
4. Paddon +1m00.1s
5. Suninen +1m12.9s
6. Lappi +1m18.8s
7. Evans +1m29.0s
8. Ogier +1m32.2s
9. Breen +2m03.3s
10. Neuville +2m35.6s
Information
Firstly, a recap on stage times through that test.
SS13 - Pihlajakoski 1
1. Tanak 6m50.8s
2. Ostberg +4.7s
3. Latvala +5.4s
4. Lappi +6.2s
5. Paddon +9.5s
6. Evans +10.2s
7. Breen +10.7s
8. Ogier +11.8s
9. Suninen +12.5s
10. Neuville +13.2s
SS13 - Pihlajakoski 1
1. Tanak 6m50.8s
2. Ostberg +4.7s
3. Latvala +5.4s
4. Lappi +6.2s
5. Paddon +9.5s
6. Evans +10.2s
7. Breen +10.7s
8. Ogier +11.8s
9. Suninen +12.5s
10. Neuville +13.2s
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"In this moment it's difficult to push maximum and there's no need, so we just need to find a good rhythm," says Tanak. You could apply those words to all the other drivers and it would make sense. Just not Tanak. Playing down his pace once again.
Stopwatch
Tanak's clocked a stage time. He's fastest. Grass is also green, last time we checked. 6m50.8s. 4.7s up on Ostberg.
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"We are just driving slowly this morning to see the speed of the others," says Ostberg, making it sound like he's doing some local sightseeing.
"[I'm] not willing to do anything stupid let's say, but no-one is. At this speed, you want to stay on the road."
"[I'm] not willing to do anything stupid let's say, but no-one is. At this speed, you want to stay on the road."
Erstwhile rally leader Mads Ostberg has completed this stage, setting a 6m55.5s. He's up 0.7s on Latvala, but Tanak is coming.
By: Matt Beer
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