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WRC Rally Italy
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Before Neuville even reaches the first split, Ogier is at the second split as the cars are separated by three minutes.
Neuville's time at split one is still yet to arrive. Latvala is into the stage.
Neuville's time at split one is still yet to arrive. Latvala is into the stage.
Next in to the first split is Thierry Neuville, who is stalking the opposition like Jaws this afternoon.
He's 0.9s behind second place Hanninen and 8.8s behind his team-mate and rally leader Hayden Paddon. It's all to play for.
He's 0.9s behind second place Hanninen and 8.8s behind his team-mate and rally leader Hayden Paddon. It's all to play for.
Ogier reaches split one. He's managed that in 2m55.7s.
Will that car have to be turned upside down overnight to let all the gravel out? Maybe M-Sport have a more technical process in mind...
Will that car have to be turned upside down overnight to let all the gravel out? Maybe M-Sport have a more technical process in mind...
The splits in this test are at 2.73 miles and 5.3 miles, the stage is 9.26 miles.
Green flag
Sebastien Ogier is into the stage. We've run out of road cleaning jokes. Apologies.
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David Evans
We've got less than 10 minutes before the next stage. Here's a stage guide from Jari-Matti Latvala and David Evans.
SS9 Tergu-Osilo (9.26 miles)
"This is the best stage in the loop for the rhythm," says Latvala. "The road in this stage is a bit wider and it’s easy to follow the line of the road.
"But, at the same time this one is a bit of a tyre killer. This road is the most abrasive of the loop and coming as the last one before we go back to service, it will be very hard to come through here if the tyres are already finished.
David Evans adds:
"Jari-Matti’s absolutely right about this stage flowing more than the others in the loop, but I had to jump in here to add a bit of context. Don’t go thinking this is a proper wide road, it’s nothing like the quick flowing stuff we get in places like Finland.
"This is a bit of a stage of two halves – the section before crossing the main the road is definitely more flowing, but after a 50-metre dash along the asphalt road (double-width, like an A-road at home) it gets a bit twistier.
"Another feature in here is the number of corners where braking is done off camber and on the loose, where science and technology will have to fight to stop gravity chucking the cars off the road.
"Like the other stages in Sardinia, this one has lots of straw bales being used to protect bridge parapets and ARMCO ends – this has tightened up a lot of the corners and narrowed down some bridge entries."
SS9 Tergu-Osilo (9.26 miles)
"This is the best stage in the loop for the rhythm," says Latvala. "The road in this stage is a bit wider and it’s easy to follow the line of the road.
"But, at the same time this one is a bit of a tyre killer. This road is the most abrasive of the loop and coming as the last one before we go back to service, it will be very hard to come through here if the tyres are already finished.
David Evans adds:
"Jari-Matti’s absolutely right about this stage flowing more than the others in the loop, but I had to jump in here to add a bit of context. Don’t go thinking this is a proper wide road, it’s nothing like the quick flowing stuff we get in places like Finland.
"This is a bit of a stage of two halves – the section before crossing the main the road is definitely more flowing, but after a 50-metre dash along the asphalt road (double-width, like an A-road at home) it gets a bit twistier.
"Another feature in here is the number of corners where braking is done off camber and on the loose, where science and technology will have to fight to stop gravity chucking the cars off the road.
"Like the other stages in Sardinia, this one has lots of straw bales being used to protect bridge parapets and ARMCO ends – this has tightened up a lot of the corners and narrowed down some bridge entries."
Information
A quick rundown from SS8:
- Hayden Paddon extends his lead over Juho Hanninen to 7.9s, BUT...
- ...Thierry Neuville is driving fantastically despite running second on the road. He has reduced the lead margin to 8.9s and took third on that last stage
- Jari-Matti Latvala moves up to fourth, only 2.2s behind Neuville and 11s off the lead
- Mads Ostberg drops from third to fifth and Ott Tanak from equal fourth with Neuville to sixth. However, even Tanak in sixth is only 14.1s off the lead. It's incredibly tight
- Seb Ogier is seventh with his only comment at stage end: "That was rough. It's quite boring". He's 42.1s off the lead but hasn't lost as much time this afternoon
- Hayden Paddon extends his lead over Juho Hanninen to 7.9s, BUT...
- ...Thierry Neuville is driving fantastically despite running second on the road. He has reduced the lead margin to 8.9s and took third on that last stage
- Jari-Matti Latvala moves up to fourth, only 2.2s behind Neuville and 11s off the lead
- Mads Ostberg drops from third to fifth and Ott Tanak from equal fourth with Neuville to sixth. However, even Tanak in sixth is only 14.1s off the lead. It's incredibly tight
- Seb Ogier is seventh with his only comment at stage end: "That was rough. It's quite boring". He's 42.1s off the lead but hasn't lost as much time this afternoon
Stopwatch
Lappi was fourth quickest in that stage, 14.4s behind Sordo. But it's another brilliant performance from the Finn as he had a broken damper from the last stage (which he won). Lappi has put the flying in flying Finn today.
SS8:
1 Sordo 11m38.5s
2 Latvala +8.2
3 Neuville +8.3
4 Tanak +13.6
5 Lappi +14.1
6 Ogier +14.4
Overall after SS8:
1 Paddon 1h22m01.2s
2 Hanninen +7.9s
3 Neuville +8.8s
4 Latvala +11s
5 Ostberg +13.1s
6 Tanak +14.1s
1 Sordo 11m38.5s
2 Latvala +8.2
3 Neuville +8.3
4 Tanak +13.6
5 Lappi +14.1
6 Ogier +14.4
Overall after SS8:
1 Paddon 1h22m01.2s
2 Hanninen +7.9s
3 Neuville +8.8s
4 Latvala +11s
5 Ostberg +13.1s
6 Tanak +14.1s
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Ostberg completes, he drops to fifth in the order behind Neuville and Latvala but remains ahead of Tanak. He's sixth quickest on the stage.
It's a cracking battle in the middle of the top 10.
"Did I?," says Ostberg when told he's lost time. "I'm trying. I'm struggling with the balance of the car. I tried something with the tyres and it didn't work out. We're not done with today yet."
It's a cracking battle in the middle of the top 10.
"Did I?," says Ostberg when told he's lost time. "I'm trying. I'm struggling with the balance of the car. I tried something with the tyres and it didn't work out. We're not done with today yet."
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Mikkelsen scores his sixth stall of the day on this stage.
"It's like last year [rough], the same stage," he says. "When it's narrow I'm really struggling to get a feeling for the car. I stalled again, I'm not very good at using the clutch!
"It's been good to be back. The new cars are really enjoyable. I can't wait to drive more.
"It's like last year [rough], the same stage," he says. "When it's narrow I'm really struggling to get a feeling for the car. I stalled again, I'm not very good at using the clutch!
"It's been good to be back. The new cars are really enjoyable. I can't wait to drive more.
Lappi's first split is well off Sordo's. He'll need a miracle for another stage win.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is in and his baptism of fire in the 2017 car continues as he's 32s slower than Sordo.
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Hanninen doesn't appear worried.
"Nothing is a problem," he says. "It was really rough. I was a bit nervous, that was a bit of a challenge."
"Nothing is a problem," he says. "It was really rough. I was a bit nervous, that was a bit of a challenge."
Stopwatch
Hanninen completes, He's now 7.9s behind Paddon now.
But, more importantly, NEUVILLE IS 0.9s OFF HANNINEN FOR SECOND.
This is an understated but brilliant drive by Neuville. He is second on the road after all.
But, more importantly, NEUVILLE IS 0.9s OFF HANNINEN FOR SECOND.
This is an understated but brilliant drive by Neuville. He is second on the road after all.
Stopwatch
As we say that, Ostberg's first split is 4.2s slower than Neuville, and Neuville started 2.1s behind him in the order. The Belgian should be on the podium here.
Stopwatch
Hanninen is 2.2s down on Paddon at the second split. So Paddon should be safe in the lead of the event.
However, there's also a bigger picture here.
At the start of this stage Neuville was 13.4s behind Hanninen.
The last split, Neuville was 4.8s up on Hanninen. Neuville is playing his way into a battle for second, and should take third from Ostberg on this stage.
However, there's also a bigger picture here.
At the start of this stage Neuville was 13.4s behind Hanninen.
The last split, Neuville was 4.8s up on Hanninen. Neuville is playing his way into a battle for second, and should take third from Ostberg on this stage.
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Lappi will struggle to match that and take his fourth fastest time.
That's some time from Sordo, he lost over seven minutes on the last stage!
"The car is working, everything was perfect," he says.
It was an intercooler pipe apparently causing Sordo's issues.
That's some time from Sordo, he lost over seven minutes on the last stage!
"The car is working, everything was perfect," he says.
It was an intercooler pipe apparently causing Sordo's issues.
Stopwatch
Sordo is comfortably quickest at the final split on this test.
It's a barnstroming time at the end of SS8. He's 8.2s fastest.
Maybe all his issues mean his tyres are in better condition, aiding his charge.
It's a barnstroming time at the end of SS8. He's 8.2s fastest.
Maybe all his issues mean his tyres are in better condition, aiding his charge.
Hanninen needs to take 4.6s out of Paddon to take the rally lead. Maybe the Finn is also minding those tyres.
Stopwatch
Hanninen's split is 0.1s slower than Paddon.
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Paddon is in and it seems that was just a conservative stage rather than having a serious damper problem.
"It didn't affect us so much in there," he says. "We're trying to save the tyres. The Rally won't be won or lost today. We're just managing everything to get back to service."
"It didn't affect us so much in there," he says. "We're trying to save the tyres. The Rally won't be won or lost today. We're just managing everything to get back to service."
Stopwatch
Sordo, who had turbo and/or intercooler issues before and after service appears to have fixed the car on the road section, he's one of the quickest at split one.
Stopwatch
Paddon is in, he loses 9.2s to Latvala.
We'll have to wait for Hanninen to see who will have the rally lead here.
We'll have to wait for Hanninen to see who will have the rally lead here.
So, the order will read Neuville, Latvala, Tanak, with Ostberg still to slot in. Ostberg currently heads that group in third but only started 2.1s ahead of Neuville.
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Here's Tanak. He's hit the front right.
His time is 5.4s slower than Latvala, meaning the latter will take a spot away from him.
"I don't have a good feeling at all," he says. When asked what specifically he's struggling with, he said: "driving".
That's the last thing you want to hear from a driver!
His time is 5.4s slower than Latvala, meaning the latter will take a spot away from him.
"I don't have a good feeling at all," he says. When asked what specifically he's struggling with, he said: "driving".
That's the last thing you want to hear from a driver!
Stopwatch
It doesn't look great for Paddon. He had a damper issue on the last stage, and he's 5.5s slower than Latvala at the final split.
Hanninen is 4.5s behind and starts the stage in just under a minute.
Hanninen is 4.5s behind and starts the stage in just under a minute.
Stopwatch
Latvala goes quicker but is only 0.1s fastest over Neuville.
That means whatever happens here, Latvala will remain 2.2s behind Neuville in the overall order.
The Finn has something loose on the bonnet distracting him. But he's happy enough.
That means whatever happens here, Latvala will remain 2.2s behind Neuville in the overall order.
The Finn has something loose on the bonnet distracting him. But he's happy enough.
Tanak is quicker than Neuville but slower than Latvala at the final split. Tanak is currently tied for fourth with Neuville for fourth, ahead of Latvala and behind Ostberg.
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Neuville is in and is 6.1s up on Ogier.
"Really slippy," says Neuville. "I tried to be smooth."
"Really slippy," says Neuville. "I tried to be smooth."
Stopwatch
It's all topsy turvy in this one. Latvala was behind at split one but is 2.9s up on Neuville at the final split. Latvala could jump from sixth to third on this stage!
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"No grip. That was boring."
That's all Ogier could muster before driving off.
That's all Ogier could muster before driving off.
Ogier is in, 11m52.9s is the time.
Stopwatch
Latvala is in, and he's 2.6s slower than Neuville.
Extremely interesting final split for Neuville. He's actually lost time between split one and two, although Neuville is still a net 2.2s up on Ogier.
Extremely interesting final split for Neuville. He's actually lost time between split one and two, although Neuville is still a net 2.2s up on Ogier.
Stopwatch
At the first split, just under three and a half miles, Thierry Neuville is 3.7s quicker than the Frenchman. Good pace.
There's still three minute gaps between the drivers, so expect a bit of time between split and drivers at stage end.
Neuville has also joined the stage now, ready to fight for third overall. He's 2.1s off Ostberg in third entering this stage.
Green flag
Right, here we go, Tula is underway. Seb the builder with his bulldozer of a Fiesta is out to sweep the stage once more.
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By: Matt Beer
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