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General

WRC Rally Mexico

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Stopwatch
Lappi is next in and he's 4.6s down on the benchmark. He's lost time with engine trouble and his own inexperience of the event this morning.
Stopwatch
Latvala is in and quickest by 1.3s. What engine problem?
Stopwatch
Ogier is next, he's 0.1s slower than Neuville. So Neuville beats Ogier for the first time today.
The timing screens have decided tit will be better for us to find out at the end of the stage who's quickest, like a surprise. Like Christmas.
Stopwatch
Neuville has completed the stage in 9m43.4s.
We're missing a few splits already on this short test, but we'll update when we can.
Information
And, just for reference, the running order once again:  Neuville
Ogier
Latvala
Lappi
Tanak
Mikkelsen
Meeke
Evans
Suninen
Sordo
Loeb
Information
SS3:1 Sordo
2 Evans +11.1
3 Meeke +13.3
4 Loeb +14.6
5 Tanak +15.2
6 Mikkelsen +15.6
7 Ogier +19.6
8 Neuville +22.1
9 Suninen +28.9
10 Latvala +35.6 Overall after SS3:1 Sordo
2 Meeke +9.5
3 Evans +15.2
4 Loeb +16.3
5 Tanak +18.3
6 Ogier +20.9
7 Mikkelsen +24.5
8 Neuville +33.5
9 Suninen +40.7
10 Latvala +44.9
11 Lappi +1.06.1
Green flag
Ogier and Neuville are both definitely into SS4. It's rapid fire here in Mexico and Autosport Live can't think or type quick enough.
David Evans
SS4 is underway, we'll give you a rundown of SS3 and the order in a minute. First, here's Paul Nagle, Kris Meeke's co-driver, on SS4 which is live.  SS4/8 Ortega (10.70 miles)
"This is the last part of El Chocolate from last year. "Like the last part of SS3/7, this stage is about big, high speed stuff from the start, apart from a watersplash not far from the start – we don’t expect too much water in there, there hasn’t been a lot of rain. "The last part gets a bit technical, the road goes under the trees and gets a bit more narrow."
Quote
The nine-time champ Loeb arrives and he's a very respectable fourth quickest, 14.6s slower than Sordo but only 1.3s slower than his team-mate Meeke.  That puts him 1.1s off Evans for a podium spot.  "It was OK," he says. "It was very slippery. It's not an easy stage."
Loeb's moving. Sorry to scare you like that. Looks like there was some timing issues there.
Quote
"I tried to drive well and push a bit. I'm happy," says Sordo. Nice work.
No time for Loeb at the fourth split. Hold your breath.
Stopwatch
SORDO IS FASTEST BY A BRILLIANT 11.1s.  That puts him into the LEAD OF THE RALLY by 9.5s
Stopwatch
Suninen arrives and he's seventh quickest. Decent run.  Sordo is 9.5s up on Evans at the penultimate split. Will that count for anything at the stage end?
Information
Autosport Live wants to throw the splits out of the window here as they don't seem to mean so much at the end!
Quote
That gives Evans second overall, 5.7s behind Meeke. A British one-two.  "Tough, that's for sure, it's so slippery," says Evans with a smile. "We need to get some air through the car, but it's OK."
Stopwatch
Hello Elfyn Evans.  The Welshman goes quickest by 2.2s.  Those who have been quiet on the splits are finishing strong on this, the longest stage of the rally. Maybe a bit of tyre saving going on mid-stage.
Quote
"The hards are on the front and the balance is a bit tricky, but it's OK," says Meeke. You're damn right it's OK Kris, you're quickest. And not in a car park. Yet.
Stopwatch
An unbelievable final sector gives rally leader Kris Meeke the stage lead, 1.9s up on Tanak.
With his times here, it's very likely Sordo will take the lead.
Quote
"That was really tricky," says Mikkelsen. "The rear was everywhere. Not the best feeling. We're just doing the best we can."
Stopwatch
Despite his multitude of split wins, Mikkelsen is slower than Tanak by 0.4s. Still, good time!
Stopwatch
Loeb is 5.9s down on pacesetter Sordo at the second split. So either Loeb is saving tyres, or he's struggling for a bit of pace here.
Quote
"Slow, slippy, and tricky," says Tanak. The million dollar question now, are you suffering from overheating Ott? "I don't know," he says before driving off. 
Stopwatch
When asked if his engine overheating, Lappi just smirks and nods. Looks like Toyota are set for a repeat of last year. However, Tanak's car appears to be fine so far.  FINE, to the extent that he's quickest on this stage, 4.4s up on Ogier. 
Stopwatch
Loeb is 2.9s down on Sordo at that first split, but this is a long stage so don't red too much into that just yet.
Stopwatch
Lappi is even slower than Latvala, and already 40+s down on the lead now.
Stopwatch
Finally someone beats Mikkelsen in a split. It's his team-mate Sordo, who is one second quickest at split one. Impressive pace from the returning Spaniard.
Quote
Latvala explains: "We have a problem with the engine definitely. Engine temperature is going too high. "We can control it by reducing the power. We don't have performance, we just have to get it through." The team had similar problems on this event last year.
Stopwatch
Latvala completes, a staggering 16s slower than Ogier.
Stopwatch
No one is as quick as Mikkelsen at any of the three splits he's completed, so keep an eye on the Norwegian who is 12.7s off the lead before this stage started.
Quote
"It was not easy obviously but we tried our best," says Ogier. He's distracted, bored or just plain quiet there.
Stopwatch
Ogier completes, and he's 2.5s up on Neuville at stage end. Much closer than the 10s between the two on the last stage.
Quote
"I tried my best, I had a much better stage than the first one," says Neuville at stage end. "I struggled with the balance of the car. We are not on good settings for this kind of condition."
Stopwatch
At split three, Ogier and Tanak are both slower than Thierry Neuville. Ogier by 0.7s and Latvala by 6.3s. It's interesting up front.
Stopwatch
Normality is restored as the next person after Tanak goes faster; it's Hyundai man Andreas Mikkelsen and he's 0.6s quicker than the Estonian.
Stopwatch
Ahh, some refreshing lime green on the timing screen which indicates someone has gone fast.  It's Tanak, and he's gone 1.1s quicker than Ogier at the first split. Times are very close together in this one so far.
Information
Here's a reminder of what the running order looks like in this stage. Tanak is the latest car to start the test. Neuville
Ogier
Latvala
Lappi
Tanak
Mikkelsen
Meeke
Evans
Suninen
Sordo
Loeb

By: Matt Beer

Published: