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WRC Rally Germany
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Lappi: "It didn't feel so bad. I tried my best. I lost a little bit of confidence towards the end, it felt a bit slippy. I wasn't expecting to lose that much [time to Tanak]."
Stopwatch
Lappi is in and is fourth of the four runners so far, a whopping 13.1s down on Tanak and 5.8s down on Neuville ahead.
For reference, the Toyotas all opted for four hard tyres this morning.
For reference, the Toyotas all opted for four hard tyres this morning.
Lappi and Sordo will be next to finish the stage, but they won't challenge the leading three going off their split times.
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Tanak: "To be honest, not yet [comfortable]. The stability we are struggling with in tricky places and compression. We are learning on every stage."
Not bad if he's "only" learning.
Not bad if he's "only" learning.
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Reports that Neuville left some gearbox oil on the road when he completed the stage.
One to watch...
One to watch...
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Tanak completes the stage a whole 5s quicker than Ogier - 7.3s up on Neuville - meaning he retakes the overall rally lead!
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Ogier: "It's a dirty stage still in places, a bit slippery. We are trying to drive clever and it's not so bad. [The balance of the car is] OK.
Stopwatch
Ogier finishes the stage 2.3s quicker than Neuville, thanks to a time of 12m30.2s.
Tanak is now 6.2s on Neuville and 4.3s up on Ogier at the final split, this is a hell of a run from the Toyota driver.
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Neuville: "Yeah I had the feeling I was doing a good stage this time. There's some dust on the road, but we have to consider we have two spare wheels, which doesn't help."
Stopwatch
Ogier is 1.9s up on Neuville at the final split as the first man on the road completes the stage in 12m32.5s.
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What can Tanak do? Be four seconds faster than Ogier at the same point.
Ogier's been making up incremental time on Neuville and at the third split he's passed him, now 0.7s quicker than his rival.
What can Tanak do though?
What can Tanak do though?
Lappi, Sordo and Mikkelsen are now on the road.
Lappi is already over a second slower than the first three at the opening split.
Neuville's fourth split time is 9m51.3s.
Lappi is already over a second slower than the first three at the opening split.
Neuville's fourth split time is 9m51.3s.
More time for Tanak! He's 3.3s quicker than Neuville and 3.4s up on Ogier at the second split.
Up ahead, Neuville hits the third split in a time of 7m50.4s as Ogier makes some time up.
The M-Sport man is 0.1s down on Neuville at the second split.
The M-Sport man is 0.1s down on Neuville at the second split.
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Blistering start from Tanak. He's 1.9s quicker than Neuville at the first split, 2.3s on Ogier.
Keeping that pace, he would overhaul Ogier to return to the overall lead.
Keeping that pace, he would overhaul Ogier to return to the overall lead.
It's now a 5m27.4s at the second split for Neuville, as Ogier goes 0.4s slower at the first split.
Tanak is now in the stage too.
Tanak is now in the stage too.
It's a 3m36.3s at the first split for Neuville.
Ogier joins the fray.
Green flag
Neuville gets us going once again.
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As we head to the third stage, here's the latest description from Loudon.
SS3 Mittelmosel (13.67 miles)
"While the name might suggest you never leave the vineyards, this one is comprised of the typical hairpins and narrow roads between the grapes and the country roads which take you from one vineyard to the next.
"This stage finishes with a section beneath the trees which could be quite dusty and dirty and even a bit damp if there’s been some ran about."
SS3 Mittelmosel (13.67 miles)
"While the name might suggest you never leave the vineyards, this one is comprised of the typical hairpins and narrow roads between the grapes and the country roads which take you from one vineyard to the next.
"This stage finishes with a section beneath the trees which could be quite dusty and dirty and even a bit damp if there’s been some ran about."
So we'll turn our attention back to WRC and await the next stage.
Stopwatch
And naturally, Lefebvre is slower through the next split and he looked like the only driver to challenge Kopecky's WRC2 benchmark.
Hes 2.4s down on the leading time after being as high as 1.3s up earlier in the stage.
Hes 2.4s down on the leading time after being as high as 1.3s up earlier in the stage.
Last night's star Jan Kopecky holds the early WRC2 lead, with a stage time of 11m34.3s, but Stephane Lefebvre is is on course to take over - he's quicker through the first three splits.
There's around 20 minutes until the next stage, so we'll keep an eye on the early WRC2 runners.
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So the classification at the end of SS2 is:
1. Ogier 10m50.2s
2. Neuville +1s
3. Tanak +1.7s
4. Latvala +4.8s
5. Lappi +5s
6. Sordo +7.4s
7. Evans +8.4s
8. Breen +8.8s
9. Ostberg +9.2s
10. Mikkelsen 9.5s
11. Suninen +11.3s.
Overall classification
1. Ogier 13m2.3s
2. Tanak +0.8s
3. Neuville +2.1s
4. Lappi +5.6s
5. Latvala +6.5s
6. Sordo +6.9s
7. Breen +9s
8. Mikkelsen +9.6s
9. Evans +11.3s
10. Ostberg +12.1s.
1. Ogier 10m50.2s
2. Neuville +1s
3. Tanak +1.7s
4. Latvala +4.8s
5. Lappi +5s
6. Sordo +7.4s
7. Evans +8.4s
8. Breen +8.8s
9. Ostberg +9.2s
10. Mikkelsen 9.5s
11. Suninen +11.3s.
Overall classification
1. Ogier 13m2.3s
2. Tanak +0.8s
3. Neuville +2.1s
4. Lappi +5.6s
5. Latvala +6.5s
6. Sordo +6.9s
7. Breen +9s
8. Mikkelsen +9.6s
9. Evans +11.3s
10. Ostberg +12.1s.
That's our 11 regulars through, but amateur Jourdan Serderidis will be next in, followed by European Rally Champion Marijan Griebel.
Stopwatch
Suninen is in and the slowest of all WRC regulars with a time of 11m01.5s, that's several seconds down to the back of the field.
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Breen: "Incredibly polluted [with dirt], I was so cautious not to make any mistakes. Hopefully the next one is clean."
Good choice of words there.
Good choice of words there.
Stopwatch
Breen comes in eighth of the 10 drivers so far with a time of 10m59s.
Citroen was much improved in Finland, but it's not got off to a stellar start in Germany.
Citroen was much improved in Finland, but it's not got off to a stellar start in Germany.
Stopwatch
Ostberg edges out Mikkelsen for eighth out of the nine runners so far, with a time of 10m59.4s.
"I was very happy with that, I enjoyed the stage. I've been out of tarmac for so long. To come back and be almost competitive is an amazing feeling."
"I was very happy with that, I enjoyed the stage. I've been out of tarmac for so long. To come back and be almost competitive is an amazing feeling."
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Evans: "Quite a lot of understeer which is surprising compared to the shakedown yesterday. Some places are really dirty."
Stopwatch
Elfyn Evans finishes the stage 3.6s slower than Latvala, and you can clearly see the gravel on the road here.
Evans is 8.4s off Ogier's benchmark.
I suspect Ogier won't complain about the running order.
Evans is 8.4s off Ogier's benchmark.
I suspect Ogier won't complain about the running order.
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Latvala: "Yeah, it's in the ballpark [to Ogier], there's some places where the dirt is coming onto the tarmac and you need to be cautious and you could be caught more [by dirt] at the end of the stage.
Stopwatch
Latvala finishes the stage and he ends a run of three drivers going consecutively slower.
He ends the run fourth fastest with a time of 10m55s, he's 4.8s down on Ogier and 3.1s off Tanak ahead.
He ends the run fourth fastest with a time of 10m55s, he's 4.8s down on Ogier and 3.1s off Tanak ahead.
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Mikkelsen: "Well, we tried. I don't feel perfect, we had a clean stage. I tried to be more aggressive on the steering wheel and working on my driving technique.
"It was getting a bit dirty. It's a combination of dirt and not being 100% in the car.
"I'm happy with the performance."
"It was getting a bit dirty. It's a combination of dirt and not being 100% in the car.
"I'm happy with the performance."
Stopwatch
In the battle for slowest through the stage, Mikkelsen throws his hat into the ring.
His time of 10m59.7s is somehow 2.1s down on Sordo. He's 9.5s down on Ogier.
Will be interesting to hear what he has to say.
His time of 10m59.7s is somehow 2.1s down on Sordo. He's 9.5s down on Ogier.
Will be interesting to hear what he has to say.
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Sordo: "I didn't feel really good with the car, I felt in the stage I wasn't fast. We need to improve. It was difficult."
Not ideal for a tarmac specialist.
Not ideal for a tarmac specialist.
Stopwatch
Sordo is the next to finish, well off the pace too.
His time is 10m576s, 7.4s down on Ogier and 2.4s down on Lappi, who was the slowest until Sordo completed his run.
His time is 10m576s, 7.4s down on Ogier and 2.4s down on Lappi, who was the slowest until Sordo completed his run.
By: Matt Beer
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