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WRC Rally Mexico
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Paddon is again marginally quicker than Ostberg, the pair losing a further 1.6s and 1.8s respectively to complete solid, if unspectacular days.
Paddon comes through the first run 0.3s quicker than Ostberg.
Next up will be Ostberg and Paddon, who are sixth and fifth respectively.
Stopwatch
Ogier gets the better of Mikkelsen this time, as he completes the stage in 1m38.1s.
A quick turn around for the pair and they're back for another run.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is the faster of the two on that first run, 0.3s faster than his team-mate.
Ogier is on his way, as too is Mikkelsen.
Information
With the final stages of the day not far away now, here's your final preview from Latvala, who heads into the superspecials with a 31.7s lead.
SS9/10 Super Special 3/4 (1.42 miles)
Every year we come to this stage and there is more and more asphalt put down – now it’s a little bit like a race circuit with, maybe 80 per cent Tarmac and quite a wide road in places. I don’t mind, I quite like it and it’s better for the fans because they are not getting covered in dust all of the time.
SS9/10 Super Special 3/4 (1.42 miles)
Every year we come to this stage and there is more and more asphalt put down – now it’s a little bit like a race circuit with, maybe 80 per cent Tarmac and quite a wide road in places. I don’t mind, I quite like it and it’s better for the fans because they are not getting covered in dust all of the time.
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"There was not a lot of option," says Ostberg of his afternoon tyre choices. "I could have used my soft one but it was better to be a little safe. I feel I'm driving well and pushing to the limit but the times are horrible."
Stopwatch
Ostberg is through, 10.3s slower than Ogier. Paddon looks as though he'll slot into second-fastest on this stage on current pace; he's 3.2s down through split two.
Ostberg will be next through while Paddon, Sordo and Tanak are also through the stage.
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"It just seems strange, the car is like a snake. It feels like something is wrong," says Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen is 4.8s slower through the second split, which becomes 9.1s by the finish.
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Ogier has an impact mark on his front-left wheel but has no complaints at the finish.
"I'm very happy so far, this afternoon was very good for me," says Ogier. "I'm on the limit, pushing as much as I can - so far it's a good rally.
"The second loop is a bit more enjoyable with a bit more grip."
"I'm very happy so far, this afternoon was very good for me," says Ogier. "I'm on the limit, pushing as much as I can - so far it's a good rally.
"The second loop is a bit more enjoyable with a bit more grip."
Stopwatch
And Ogier has completed the stage. 10m58.2s is his time.
Ogier has also come through the second split, as Mikkelsen comes through split one - 2.7s down on his team-mate so far.
Out on SS8, Ogier has come through the first split in a time of 5m35.4s.
Stopwatch
Fuchs is in and has lost 3m40.9s overall - and nearly two minutes to Suninen, who now has a commanding lead in WRC2.
Ogier is now on the stage. Attention is now on Las Minas, but any update on Fuchs will be with you as soon as he reaches the stage finish.
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With just a few seconds until the start of SS8, here's Latvala's preview:
SS/8 Las Minas 2 (9.54 miles)
The beginning is quite a slippery surface – there’s a lot of loose here. After the start, you go through a couple of villages, passing some houses, it’s a bit strange feeling when you go through these places at rally speed.
After that, it’s very technical until you come to the mid-point, then it’s wider and fast and flowing. But the risk here is that people will be cutting these corners and pulling the rocks to the centre of the road.
SS/8 Las Minas 2 (9.54 miles)
The beginning is quite a slippery surface – there’s a lot of loose here. After the start, you go through a couple of villages, passing some houses, it’s a bit strange feeling when you go through these places at rally speed.
After that, it’s very technical until you come to the mid-point, then it’s wider and fast and flowing. But the risk here is that people will be cutting these corners and pulling the rocks to the centre of the road.
David Evans
The story of the morning has been how Ogier and Mikkelsen made their soft tyres last. Latvala admitted his tyre choice had been influenced by his team-mates.
“I was going with four hard tyres,” the Finn told Autosport, “but when I saw Seb with the softs, I thought: “Hmm, that is a bit of a risk…” So I decided to take the two softs, just to limit the risk for myself losing time to him.”
With temperatures rising to 30 degrees this afternoon, the tyre choice is much more straightforward: four hards.
“I was going with four hard tyres,” the Finn told Autosport, “but when I saw Seb with the softs, I thought: “Hmm, that is a bit of a risk…” So I decided to take the two softs, just to limit the risk for myself losing time to him.”
With temperatures rising to 30 degrees this afternoon, the tyre choice is much more straightforward: four hards.
Here's a bit more on tyre choices earlier in the day, and why hards have been the way forward this afternoon...
Sticking with WRC2, there also appears to be a problem for current leader Nicolas Fuchs. He's still running on the stage, but at the fourth split is more than a minute slower than his nearest - and now only - challenger, Teemu Suninen.
Information
SS7 Summary
* Latvala again goes quickest on El Chocolate to extend lead to 31.2s
* First man on the road Ogier stays second overall
* Camilli hits more trouble and loses first and second gears
* WRC2 contender Kremer hits trouble
* Latvala again goes quickest on El Chocolate to extend lead to 31.2s
* First man on the road Ogier stays second overall
* Camilli hits more trouble and loses first and second gears
* WRC2 contender Kremer hits trouble
SS8 should be underway at this point, but given the earlier delay the start has been pushed back to 1613 local time - so in just under ten minutes.
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Leading times:
SS7 results:
1 Latvala 38m16.3s
2 Ogier +10s
3 Paddon +32.9s
4 Sordo +38.1s
5 Ostberg +42.6s
6 Mikkelsen 52.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 1h33m44.7s
2 Ogier +31.2s
3 Sordo +1m11.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m36.2s
5 Paddon +2m9.2s
6 Ostberg +2m21.5s
7 Tanak +3m27.3s
8 Prokop +4m20.1s
SS7 results:
1 Latvala 38m16.3s
2 Ogier +10s
3 Paddon +32.9s
4 Sordo +38.1s
5 Ostberg +42.6s
6 Mikkelsen 52.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 1h33m44.7s
2 Ogier +31.2s
3 Sordo +1m11.5s
4 Mikkelsen +1m36.2s
5 Paddon +2m9.2s
6 Ostberg +2m21.5s
7 Tanak +3m27.3s
8 Prokop +4m20.1s
Information
WRC2 contender Armin Kremer appears to have stopped on stage, as does fellow class competitor Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.
Prokop and Bertelli will be the final two WRC runners to come in - and in fact the former comes home now, 1m50.6s down on Latvala.
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"We have not possible to downshift, and first and second gears have gone," says Camilli. "I hope it's possible to finish the day. We need to stay positive."
Camilli has lost a lot more time on El Chocolate once again. It's not as much as earlier on, but 2m43.9s is what he's lost to the leader.
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"It's a bit difficult in the afternoon; the advantage is not as big," he says. "I'm pleased with that time - we have to be patient. We don't have to take it all at once.
"There was a clean line but I have to say at this stage it's funny because the grip levels are changing. There are no rocks on the road."
"There was a clean line but I have to say at this stage it's funny because the grip levels are changing. There are no rocks on the road."
Stopwatch
Latvala completes the stage, and is 10s quicker than Ogier.
Tanak confirms he had a spin.
Tanak comes through just over a minute down on Ogier.
"I've never driven in slippery conditions like this," says Sordo. He sounded quite animated - and disappointed - and had an issue with the throttle.
Latvala has now come through the fourth split, and is up by 9.4s.
Stopwatch
We haven't seen any more splits from Latvala, who should be around two-thirds of the way through the stage.
Sordo is in, and after that early promise on the stage he comes through 28.1s slower than Ogier.
Sordo is in, and after that early promise on the stage he comes through 28.1s slower than Ogier.
Paddon is now quicker than Mikkelsen, 22.9s down on Ogier.
"I think the grip is much better, there's clean lines - if you're off them it's very slippery so you just have to keep it smooth," he says.
"I think the grip is much better, there's clean lines - if you're off them it's very slippery so you just have to keep it smooth," he says.
Ostberg is through and faster than Mikkelsen - but 32.6s slower than Ogier still.
"I can definitely feel that the tyres are working now. This is the right choice and I think we did a very good stage - I'm happy."
"I can definitely feel that the tyres are working now. This is the right choice and I think we did a very good stage - I'm happy."
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"First, I overbraked a bit in a junction and had to turn around," says Mikkelsen. "It was trying to snake everywhere, maybe a problem with the differential."
By: Matt Beer
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