WRC Rally Italy
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Craig Breen is typically, well, Craig Breen at the finish.
"It's pretty tough going for less than 7kms!" he says. "I said to Scott [Martin, co-driver] over the finish 'it's a bucket and spade you need in there'."
"It's pretty tough going for less than 7kms!" he says. "I said to Scott [Martin, co-driver] over the finish 'it's a bucket and spade you need in there'."
Yazeed Al Rajhi enters the test now.
Stopwatch
Breen goes quicker by 2s over Evans.
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Breen's 1.3s up on Evans at the split, so the signs are good for the Citroen driver.
Craig Breen is our next man in the stage. With fresher tyres after not having to complete the last stage after Paddon's crash, could ha have an advantage?
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"No concerns," says Evans. "We tried a bit, but it's difficult to know how the stage will evolve."
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There's so much dust coming from under the Ford Fiesta, what a picturesque and beautiful venue for a rally, with the stage running next to the coast.
Evans completes, 5m18.3s. Sordo did a 5m10s this morning.
Evans completes, 5m18.3s. Sordo did a 5m10s this morning.
Weird stage this.
As we saw this morning, Dani Sordo – who was first on the road – went quickest. Unlike every other stage on the rally, there's a section of this stage which does have benefits to running first on.
Evans scored his first WRC points here in 2014, can he grab some more in the powerstage?
As we saw this morning, Dani Sordo – who was first on the road – went quickest. Unlike every other stage on the rally, there's a section of this stage which does have benefits to running first on.
Evans scored his first WRC points here in 2014, can he grab some more in the powerstage?
Green flag
The stage is underway with Elfyn Evans sweeping the stage. Get your banadl out Elf!
That's Welsh for broom, by the way...
That's Welsh for broom, by the way...
The big one to watch here is Ogier.
We know how much he loves taking extra points in the powerstage, but that's not the only motivation for the Frenchman to push.
One spot ahead is Juho Hanninen and there's blood in the water. The Finn has steering issues.
Ogier took 21.2s out of Hanninen on the last stage and the gap between the two is now 5.6s. Game on.
We know how much he loves taking extra points in the powerstage, but that's not the only motivation for the Frenchman to push.
One spot ahead is Juho Hanninen and there's blood in the water. The Finn has steering issues.
Ogier took 21.2s out of Hanninen on the last stage and the gap between the two is now 5.6s. Game on.
Information
Probably a good idea at this point to remind you of how the order looks heading into this powerstage:
After SS17 overall:
1 Tanak 3h19m51.2s
2 Latvala +23.4s
3 Neuville +1m19.2s
4 Lappi +2m26.3s
5 Hanninen +3m31.8s
6 Ogier +3m37.4s
After SS17 overall:
1 Tanak 3h19m51.2s
2 Latvala +23.4s
3 Neuville +1m19.2s
4 Lappi +2m26.3s
5 Hanninen +3m31.8s
6 Ogier +3m37.4s
David Evans
So, 10 minutes to go until our powerstage. Hayden Paddon's co-driver Seb Marshall takes us through it.
SS17/19 Sassari – Argentiera (4.32 miles)
"The organisers have added a kilometre to the beginning of this stage and it’s mainly in keeping with the rest, except that some of the corners are just a little bit longer.
"Coming past where we started last year and the road’s really narrow, it feels like there’s just been a path cut over and through the rocks. Again there are lots of short corners which you simply can’t cut because of the bedrock on the line inside or a wall on the outside.
"Then we turn at a particularly deceptive corner and go onto probably the most famous part of the stage. This bit’s just like driving on the beach, it’s really sandy – almost like somebody’s taken some sand dunes ripped out the bushes and said: “There, that’ll do for a road!”
"After that it’s that downhill hairpin left where Sebastien Ogier overshot and had to reverse last year… and still won the powerstage.
"Then we’re down and pretty much onto the beach, which is really spectacular with the backdrop, the plumes of sand and dust from behind the cars and some really fast sweeping corners over some crests to the end."
SS17/19 Sassari – Argentiera (4.32 miles)
"The organisers have added a kilometre to the beginning of this stage and it’s mainly in keeping with the rest, except that some of the corners are just a little bit longer.
"Coming past where we started last year and the road’s really narrow, it feels like there’s just been a path cut over and through the rocks. Again there are lots of short corners which you simply can’t cut because of the bedrock on the line inside or a wall on the outside.
"Then we turn at a particularly deceptive corner and go onto probably the most famous part of the stage. This bit’s just like driving on the beach, it’s really sandy – almost like somebody’s taken some sand dunes ripped out the bushes and said: “There, that’ll do for a road!”
"After that it’s that downhill hairpin left where Sebastien Ogier overshot and had to reverse last year… and still won the powerstage.
"Then we’re down and pretty much onto the beach, which is really spectacular with the backdrop, the plumes of sand and dust from behind the cars and some really fast sweeping corners over some crests to the end."
The below win was pretty unpopular in Italy, as McRae beat home favourite and team-mate Piero Liatti by just six seconds!
Is this the most beautiful WRC car ever? This may have been when the Italian round of the WRC was in Sanremo, but it's 20 years since Colin McRae won the event with Nicky Grist. It's also 10 years since Colin passed away. RIP.
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Twitter
Information
SS17 could yet get underway, but for now, here's the order.
SS17:
1 Lappi 8m46.9s
2 Latvala +1.5s
3 Ogier +2s
4 Tanak +3.6s
5 Mikkelsen +5s
6 Ostberg +8.7s
After SS17 overall:
1 Tanak 3h19m51.2s
2 Latvala +23.4s
3 Neuville +1m19.2s
4 Lappi +2m26.3s
5 Hanninen +3m31.8s
6 Ogier +3m37.4s
SS17:
1 Lappi 8m46.9s
2 Latvala +1.5s
3 Ogier +2s
4 Tanak +3.6s
5 Mikkelsen +5s
6 Ostberg +8.7s
After SS17 overall:
1 Tanak 3h19m51.2s
2 Latvala +23.4s
3 Neuville +1m19.2s
4 Lappi +2m26.3s
5 Hanninen +3m31.8s
6 Ogier +3m37.4s
It looks like the cars will drive through the stage at road speed, effectively cancelling any more running on this stage. We'll confirm that ASAP.
It does have interesting implications for Breen and Evans. If they get to miss this stage, they'll have fresher tyres for the points scoring finale. Interesting.
It does have interesting implications for Breen and Evans. If they get to miss this stage, they'll have fresher tyres for the points scoring finale. Interesting.
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Tanak was eager to get away from stage end.
When asked how are his tyres, he replies: "I don't know, you tell me, I can't see them from in the car!"
The young Estonian will be happy when this rally is over, given how close he was to taking his first win in Poland last year, when a late puncture robbed him of his and DMACK's first overall win.
Now he's back with the works M-Sport team and ready to reward boss Malcolm Wilson for his faith in him. Just one stage to go.
When asked how are his tyres, he replies: "I don't know, you tell me, I can't see them from in the car!"
The young Estonian will be happy when this rally is over, given how close he was to taking his first win in Poland last year, when a late puncture robbed him of his and DMACK's first overall win.
Now he's back with the works M-Sport team and ready to reward boss Malcolm Wilson for his faith in him. Just one stage to go.
Crash
Paddon is off on a right-hander, it was reportedly a heavy crash but both he and Seb Marshall are OK.
The stage may be delayed because of where the car is situated.
The stage may be delayed because of where the car is situated.
Stopwatch
Tanak is in, his lead is now 23.4s going into the final stage.
He's 3.6s slower than Lappi.
He's 3.6s slower than Lappi.
Stopwatch
Latvala arrives 1.5s slower than Lappi.
"I realised that's it," he says referring to his stall this morning. "I came with a good rhythm in this one."
Tanak is 0.3s slower than Latvala at the second split.
"I realised that's it," he says referring to his stall this morning. "I came with a good rhythm in this one."
Tanak is 0.3s slower than Latvala at the second split.
Crash
Hayden Paddon has stopped right at the start of the stage. Reports are he may have gone off.
He crashed out while leading yesterday.
He crashed out while leading yesterday.
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Neuville is in, he's in the good position of having two new tyres in the boot of his i20. He's got to be odds on for the power stage?
"We will see," he answers. "Talk to me at the end!"
"We will see," he answers. "Talk to me at the end!"
Stopwatch
Tanak is 0.7s slower than Latvala at the first split, that's fine for Tanak.
It's difficult for the drivers to judge pace effectively, as they have no team radio or split times on the dash to tell them where their rivals are. They just have to guess!
It's difficult for the drivers to judge pace effectively, as they have no team radio or split times on the dash to tell them where their rivals are. They just have to guess!
Neuville is nowhere near Lappi's pace, likely conserving his tyres for the powerstage.
Sounds like Lappi will be taking the powerstage nice and easy to guarantee his fourth place.
Stopwatch
Latvala is 2.4s slower than Lappi at split one.
Stopwatch
Fourth placed Lappi goes quickest by two seconds, and with Hanninen's issues he has a huge gap back to fifth overall.
Stopwatch
Lappi is quickest at the third split and looks set for a fifth stage win if he carries on like that.
Crash
HANNINEN LOSES 19.2s TO OGIER!
The gap between the two is now 5.6s going into the powerstage, and if there's anyone you don't want on a charge behind you when your car is broken, it's Ogier.
The gap between the two is now 5.6s going into the powerstage, and if there's anyone you don't want on a charge behind you when your car is broken, it's Ogier.
Stopwatch
It's a powersteering worry for Hanninen.
Hanninen is 9.4s down on Ogier at the second split.
Hanninen is 9.4s down on Ogier at the second split.
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Ogier is fastest by 3s, he says: "We pushed a bit more because Hanninen may have a problem."
Hanninen is in fifth, and 24.8s ahead of Ogier.
Hanninen is in fifth, and 24.8s ahead of Ogier.
Stopwatch
Ogier moves ahead of Mikkelsen by a second at the last split.
Stopwatch
Ostberg drops 3.5s to Mikkelsen. He's seventh overall and has big gaps in front and behind, so not likely to move without someone retiring.
Stopwatch
Ogier and Ostberg are both slower at the first split than Mikkelsen.
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Mikkelsen has taken another 10s out of Sordo up to the next split, putting him a net 22.5s up at the final split.
He completes the stage and beats Sordo by a whopping 36.7s.
"I'm trying to explore more." he says. "The feeling is getting better with the car."
He completes the stage and beats Sordo by a whopping 36.7s.
"I'm trying to explore more." he says. "The feeling is getting better with the car."
Stopwatch
First split in, and Mikkelsen has taken 11.4s out of Sordo.
In his first event in a 2017 car, Mikkelsen has bedded-in slowly but has looked rapid this morning. As has team-mate Breen.
In his first event in a 2017 car, Mikkelsen has bedded-in slowly but has looked rapid this morning. As has team-mate Breen.
Information
In terms of tyres, the Citroen, Toyota and M-Sport drivers have all taken five soft michelins, as has Hyundai man Dani Sordo.
Thierry Neuville has taken an extra soft, so he has six, and Paddon has taken three softs and two hards.
Mads Ostberg has five hards.
Thierry Neuville has taken an extra soft, so he has six, and Paddon has taken three softs and two hards.
Mads Ostberg has five hards.
Information
Running order:
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Romagna
Ostberg
Ogier
Hanninen
Lappi
Neuville
Latvala
Tanak
Paddon
Evans
Breen
Prokop
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Romagna
Ostberg
Ogier
Hanninen
Lappi
Neuville
Latvala
Tanak
Paddon
Evans
Breen
Prokop
By: Matt Beer
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