WRC Rally Italy
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A big fight to watch in this stage is Hanninen vs Ogier.
Hanninen shouldn't be in this fight, as he crashed while in second overall on the last stage yesterday and dropped down the order to sixth.
Ogier started the stage 0.3s behind him and at split two, he's 2.6s ahead of the Finn.
Hanninen shouldn't be in this fight, as he crashed while in second overall on the last stage yesterday and dropped down the order to sixth.
Ogier started the stage 0.3s behind him and at split two, he's 2.6s ahead of the Finn.
Stopwatch
At the second split, Sebastien Ogier is a couple of seconds up on Lappi, and both are over eight seconds ahead of Sordo so far.
By the last split, Mikkelsen has lost 10s to Sordo.
By the last split, Mikkelsen has lost 10s to Sordo.
David Evans
A quick reminder that our Rallies Editor David Evans and WRC Live's Colin Clark have produced a video on the complexities of road sweeping, which is down to Dani Sordo today, for Rally Italy.
Lappi was ninth quickest through SS9 and was one of the drivers complaining about dust.
The cars are still at three minute intervals, but the dust appears to have caused more of an issue this morning.
The cars are still at three minute intervals, but the dust appears to have caused more of an issue this morning.
Stopwatch
We have our first green split on the board from the third driver in the stage.
Esapekka Lappi, who claimed three stage wins yesterday, is 3s up on Sordo at split one.
Esapekka Lappi, who claimed three stage wins yesterday, is 3s up on Sordo at split one.
Stopwatch
At the first split, Mikkelsen is slower than Sordo by 2.7s.
That's not unusual, though, as Sordo was consistently quicker yesterday when his car was working. Mikkelsen is still adapting to his Citroen C3 WRC which he is driving in competition for the first time this weekend.
That's not unusual, though, as Sordo was consistently quicker yesterday when his car was working. Mikkelsen is still adapting to his Citroen C3 WRC which he is driving in competition for the first time this weekend.
David Evans
One man who went well and is getting closer to that fight for second is Jari Matti Latvala. As always, Rallies Editor David Evans has an explanation:
Jari-Matti Latvala explained more about the suspension change which helped up his pace through Friday afternoon. The Finn had taken the softer Bos damper – the one tailored after the Portugal test – but where Juho Hanninen found confidence and speed, Latvala had found imprecision.
"I drive the car differently to Juho," Latvala told Autosport. “I need to have more support from the damper, I lean on it a lot more in the corners and with the new [softer] damper this wasn’t there so much. It felt better when I changed it.”
Latvala was full of praise for the speed his countryman and fellow Yaris WRC driver Esapekka Lappi showed on day one.
“To come through those stages at that speed and still stay on the road is very impressive, especially when you think how little experience he has at the top level.”
Jari-Matti Latvala explained more about the suspension change which helped up his pace through Friday afternoon. The Finn had taken the softer Bos damper – the one tailored after the Portugal test – but where Juho Hanninen found confidence and speed, Latvala had found imprecision.
"I drive the car differently to Juho," Latvala told Autosport. “I need to have more support from the damper, I lean on it a lot more in the corners and with the new [softer] damper this wasn’t there so much. It felt better when I changed it.”
Latvala was full of praise for the speed his countryman and fellow Yaris WRC driver Esapekka Lappi showed on day one.
“To come through those stages at that speed and still stay on the road is very impressive, especially when you think how little experience he has at the top level.”
Green flag
Sordo has now started the stage, it's his turn to spend the day sweeping the stages.
Some reward for his turbo and intercooler issues yesterday which cost him well over 14 minutes.
Some reward for his turbo and intercooler issues yesterday which cost him well over 14 minutes.
Information
Tyre choices for this loop:
Five softs: Mikkelsen/Sordo
Two hards, three softs: Breen/Paddon/Ogier/Latvala/Hanninen/Lappi:
Three hard, two softs: Ostberg/Neuville/Tanak
Five softs: Mikkelsen/Sordo
Two hards, three softs: Breen/Paddon/Ogier/Latvala/Hanninen/Lappi:
Three hard, two softs: Ostberg/Neuville/Tanak
Information
Running order for today:
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Lappi
Ogier
Hanninen
Ostberg
Latvala
Tanak
Neuville
Paddon
Breen
Evans
Prokop
Sordo
Mikkelsen
Lappi
Ogier
Hanninen
Ostberg
Latvala
Tanak
Neuville
Paddon
Breen
Evans
Prokop
David Evans
As he often does, rally-leading co-driver Seb Marshall brings you a description of the next stage and what to expect. Just a couple of minutes before we're underway.
SS11/14 Monti di Ala (17.95 miles)
"The first six and the last seven kilometres of this one are new," says Seb. "The middle section is up in the windfarm and this is really hard on the tyres.
"Generally this stage flows nicely and is quite fast, although there’s one section in the middle with a few hairpins that brings the speed down a bit.
"We’re running in a slightly different configuration this year, but Monti di Ala is a special one for me – it’s where I got my first stage win [with Kevin Abbring]."
SS11/14 Monti di Ala (17.95 miles)
"The first six and the last seven kilometres of this one are new," says Seb. "The middle section is up in the windfarm and this is really hard on the tyres.
"Generally this stage flows nicely and is quite fast, although there’s one section in the middle with a few hairpins that brings the speed down a bit.
"We’re running in a slightly different configuration this year, but Monti di Ala is a special one for me – it’s where I got my first stage win [with Kevin Abbring]."
There's already been one stage this morning, and it was pretty decisive.
Hayden Paddon went fastest, and extended his rally lead to 13.1s over team-mate Thierry Neuville. Neuville heads Ott Tanak by just 0.6s in the battle for second, with Latvala only 0.1s behind Tanak.
Next up, SS11.
Hayden Paddon went fastest, and extended his rally lead to 13.1s over team-mate Thierry Neuville. Neuville heads Ott Tanak by just 0.6s in the battle for second, with Latvala only 0.1s behind Tanak.
Next up, SS11.
Autosport
Good morning and welcome back to Autosport's Live coverage of Rally Italy.
Hayden Paddon is our leader, but it's a close fought battle and there's plenty of rallying to go.
Hayden Paddon is our leader, but it's a close fought battle and there's plenty of rallying to go.
Autosport
Here's the full report from Friday's action. Our Autosport Live coverage resumes with SS11 from 7.35am UK tomorrow. See you then. 
Information
SS9
1 Sordo 8m53.2s
2 Lappi +3.2
3 Tanak +3.6
4 Latvala +7.0
5 Ogier +7.1
6 Neuville +7.6
Overall after SS9:
1 Paddon 1h31m02.6s
2 Neuville+8.2
3 Tanak+9.5
4 Latvala+9.8
5 Ostberg+14.7
6 Hanninen+38.0s
7 Ogier+41.0s
8 Lappi +1m05.3s
9 Mikkeslen +1m57.9s
1 Sordo 8m53.2s
2 Lappi +3.2
3 Tanak +3.6
4 Latvala +7.0
5 Ogier +7.1
6 Neuville +7.6
Overall after SS9:
1 Paddon 1h31m02.6s
2 Neuville+8.2
3 Tanak+9.5
4 Latvala+9.8
5 Ostberg+14.7
6 Hanninen+38.0s
7 Ogier+41.0s
8 Lappi +1m05.3s
9 Mikkeslen +1m57.9s
Stopwatch
Lappi completes next, second quickest and 3.2s slower than Sordo. He's just over 20s behind Ogier now.
Stopwatch
Ostberg is a net fifth overall after completing the stage, and he now has a 23.3s buffer over Hanninen in sixth.
The Fiesta of Ostberg is only 14s off the lead and 4.9s behind Latvala in fourth. After a tough day, that's a brilliant result for the Norwegian.
The Fiesta of Ostberg is only 14s off the lead and 4.9s behind Latvala in fourth. After a tough day, that's a brilliant result for the Norwegian.
Stopwatch
Lappi is fastest at the first split.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is in, 12.3s slower than quickest man Sordo.
Hanninen hasn't stopped at stage end and has carried on. There's two pipes above the radiator spraying water.
What a dramatic and sad end to a brilliant day for Hanninen.
What a dramatic and sad end to a brilliant day for Hanninen.
Crash
The Finn falls from 7.9s behind Paddon in second, to fifth and 38s off the lead.
It looks like he may have gone off the road.
It looks like he may have gone off the road.
Crash
Hanninen completes the stage. HE'S LOST 38.9s!
Sounds like ignition problems for Hanninen. We'll wait and confirm that.
Sounds like ignition problems for Hanninen. We'll wait and confirm that.
Stopwatch
Hanninen's second split is 2.6s up on Paddon. He may reduce the lead slightly. He's next to complete the stage.
Stopwatch
Sordo beats Tanak by 3.6s to go fastest through SS9. His morning was ruined by turbo and intercooler issues.
Stopwatch
Hanninen ties Tanak's benchmark at the first split, meaning the Finn is one second quicker than Paddon at that point.
Remember, Paddon has 7.9s in hand over Hanninen.
Remember, Paddon has 7.9s in hand over Hanninen.
Quote
A very positive Paddon has had a brilliant day and his fifth place time means he still heads Neuville.
"It's been difficult with the small problem with the car," says Paddon. "The main thing today was getting the road position for tomorrow as that will be so important, and we've done that."
Only Hanninen's time to watch as a threat to Paddon's lead. He has 7.9s in hand.
"It's been difficult with the small problem with the car," says Paddon. "The main thing today was getting the road position for tomorrow as that will be so important, and we've done that."
Only Hanninen's time to watch as a threat to Paddon's lead. He has 7.9s in hand.
Stopwatch
Paddon is in, and most importantly, only drops 0.6s to third place man Thierry Neuville.
That means whatever happens, Paddon will lead Neuville by 8.2s overnight. Hanninen is still to come and trailed by 7.9s entering the stage.
That means whatever happens, Paddon will lead Neuville by 8.2s overnight. Hanninen is still to come and trailed by 7.9s entering the stage.
Stopwatch
Sordo is a second quicker than pacesetter Tanak at the first split. Sordo was quickest on the last stage after losing over 14 minutes on the two stages before that with a loose intercooler pipe.
Stopwatch
Paddon's first split was only a second off Tanak, but his second split is 3.1s down on Tanak at that point. He's the next to complete the stage.
Stopwatch
That means Tanak jumps ahead of Latvala by 0.3s in the order.
He's enjoying the benefit of taking six tyres, which was a deficit in terms of weight earlier on, but now he has one fresher tyre than his rivals. Good time.
He's enjoying the benefit of taking six tyres, which was a deficit in terms of weight earlier on, but now he has one fresher tyre than his rivals. Good time.
Stopwatch
Tanak completes now, he takes four seconds out of Neuville and goes quickest so far in his M-Sport Fiesta.
Stopwatch
Annoyingly, we can't compare Paddon and Neuville at split one as the latter doesn't have a time on the screen for that.
Tanak is still the fastest at that point, Paddon is a second slower.
Tanak is still the fastest at that point, Paddon is a second slower.
Quote
We should add, that was fastest time so far from Latvala.
"I think that's a reasonably good time," he says. "I'm happy for the afternoon. I think we are well in the fight for Saturday."
His front right is slick.
"I think that's a reasonably good time," he says. "I'm happy for the afternoon. I think we are well in the fight for Saturday."
His front right is slick.
Stopwatch
Latvala takes 0.6s out of Neuville, leaving him 1.6s behind the Belgian in the order. Where that will actually be in the order is yet to be decided!
Quote
Neuville may drop a bit of time in this one. He's 0.9s behind Hanninen in second and 2.2s ahead of Latvala. There's still potential for a lot of movement in the top 10.
"I have no tyres left," says Neuville. "I did the stage without tyres! We have a slow puncture as well. I had a clean run but it won't be the fastest time."
"I have no tyres left," says Neuville. "I did the stage without tyres! We have a slow puncture as well. I had a clean run but it won't be the fastest time."
Stopwatch
Rally leader Paddon enters the stage, Tanak is flying at split one and 3.3s up on Ogier.
Stopwatch
Latvala is 0.4s quicker than Neuville at the final split.
The latter completes, and actually drops 0.5s to Ogier. That could well be the first time today Ogier has beaten Neuville on a stage.
The latter completes, and actually drops 0.5s to Ogier. That could well be the first time today Ogier has beaten Neuville on a stage.
Quote
Not much information about that stage from Ogier. He's complaining about tomorrow instead.
"Tomorrow won't be much better as there won't be many cars in front of me," says Ogier. "That's the WRC."
"Tomorrow won't be much better as there won't be many cars in front of me," says Ogier. "That's the WRC."
Stopwatch
Ogier completes in a shade over nine minutes.
Stopwatch
No first split for Neuville, but we have his second. It's only 0.1s quicker than Ogier at that point.
By: Matt Beer
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