WRC Rally Mexico
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That puts his lead up to 1m36.3s.
Stopwatch
Latvala is in and goes fastest of all, in a time of 3m57.3s.
Tanak is through, while Latvala has now started the stage.
Sordo is home and slowest of the four drivers to have set a time so far, 1.8s down on Ogier's pace.
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"It's been a heck of a rally, there's not many stages where we haven't had a problem. We're content with our pace and we'll keep on going at it," says Paddon.
Paddon is next through, and matches Ogier's time.
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"I'm driving absolutely as fast as I can. I'm quite pleased," says Ostberg, who continues to reiterate his view.
Ostberg is 1.7s down on Ogier's time at the stage end.
Ostberg is now on his way.
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"It's not easy being first just because you have to clean the road; you also have to avoid all the animals!" says Ogier.
"I want to finish the rally smoothly. The car was great, we were struggling a bit but I think that was because the grip was so bad - we've done a good job considering what we've been driving on."
"I want to finish the rally smoothly. The car was great, we were struggling a bit but I think that was because the grip was so bad - we've done a good job considering what we've been driving on."
Stopwatch
Ogier is through in a time of 3m59.5s.
A bit of a gap obviously for now before Ostberg starts his assault on the course, with Mikkelsen out of contention.
Green flag
Ogier is up and running - it shouldn't be much more than four minutes before we get our first stage time.
David Evans
SS16 El Brinco 2 (4.44 miles)
It’s straight out of Otates and straight into El Brinco, with just over a mile of road section between them. El Brinco’s more of the same, with some really quick stretches littered with fairly harsh compressions. The finish has moved further back and into the stage by half a mile, ending close to the now very famous EL Brinco jump. It’s a monster!
It’s straight out of Otates and straight into El Brinco, with just over a mile of road section between them. El Brinco’s more of the same, with some really quick stretches littered with fairly harsh compressions. The finish has moved further back and into the stage by half a mile, ending close to the now very famous EL Brinco jump. It’s a monster!
And from one soundbite from DAVID EVANS, to another (featuring assistance from WRC.com's Mark Wilford). Here's a guide to SS16...
David Evans
I'm willing to try a great many things in the name of research, but this is a step too far. I have absolutely no idea what's in any of these. People seem to be enjoying them though. Good for them...
Stopwatch
It appears the gun has been jumped once again. Sorry this time goes to Benito Guerra, who goes sixth-quickest on the stage.
He compares his adventure on the stage to 'driving a scalextric' - regarding the lack of grip out there.
He compares his adventure on the stage to 'driving a scalextric' - regarding the lack of grip out there.
Just over five minutes until SS16 - El Brinco - which is where we'll be leaving our live coverage for the evening.
Leading times:
SS15 results:
1 Latvala 29m17.8s
2 Ogier +12.2s
3 Sordo +16.2s
4 Paddon +25s
5 Ostberg +37.3s
6 Tanak +1m39.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 3h18m47.5s
2 Ogier +1m34.1s
3 Sordo +2m37.6s
4 Ostberg 4m42.4s
5 Paddon +5m39.3s
6 Tanak 7m39.8s
7 Prokop +9m9.3s
8 Bertelli +10m4.6s
SS15 results:
1 Latvala 29m17.8s
2 Ogier +12.2s
3 Sordo +16.2s
4 Paddon +25s
5 Ostberg +37.3s
6 Tanak +1m39.9s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 3h18m47.5s
2 Ogier +1m34.1s
3 Sordo +2m37.6s
4 Ostberg 4m42.4s
5 Paddon +5m39.3s
6 Tanak 7m39.8s
7 Prokop +9m9.3s
8 Bertelli +10m4.6s
Prokop is in, so we'll take a quick check on stage times and the updated leaderboard after Mikkelsen's demise once the next man - Bertelli - comes through.
Stopwatch
In all the confusion over Mikkelsen's plight, we haven't checked in on Latvala.
He's faring just fine, though, and comes through the finish now, 12.2s faster than Ogier.
He's faring just fine, though, and comes through the finish now, 12.2s faster than Ogier.
Sordo is second fastest so far on Otates, 4s down on Ogier - and now in a fairly safe third place overall.
He too didn't see Mikkelsen out there.
He too didn't see Mikkelsen out there.
Twitter
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"It was difficult, having to mange a lot of temperature," says Paddon. "I lost the gearshift so had to go manual. In the fast bits it was OK but in the slow twisty corners it was a bit hard. We lost all rhythm."
Paddon is in, 12.8s slower than Ogier.
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"I had a really good run. I think I have to be," says Ostberg when asked if he's happy with his time. "I've done one of the best days I've don in the long time. I cannot do more."
The M-Sport driver says he didn't see Mikkelsen.
The M-Sport driver says he didn't see Mikkelsen.
Stopwatch
Ostberg - who is the next man through following Mikkelsen's issue - comes through the finish 25.1s slower than Ogier.
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Those reports would appear to be founded - Mikkelsen has at least had a problem as he should have come through the finish by now.
Reports are also in that Mikkelsen has stopped. We're yet to see a fifth split from him.
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"Very difficult," is how he analyses that stage. "Much more so than this morning. I don't know if I have a problem but its undriveable, I had zero grip at the rear.
"The lines are really bad - it's never been so bad this weekend."
"The lines are really bad - it's never been so bad this weekend."
Stopwatch
Ogier has also come through the final split, and now the finish. His stage time is 29m30s - that's around half a minute quicker than he managed this morning.
Mikkelsen is now 7.4s up on Ogier through the fourth split. Paddon and Sordo have lost time now, but Latvala - as you might expect - is flying further back.
Photos of Neuville's abandoned Hyundai are circulating quite freely on social media now. Quite a hefty hit - and no surprise he required a trip to the doctor.
Ogier now through split number four in 21m7.5s.
Both Hyundais - Paddon and Sordo - are also up on Ogier at the respective second and first splits.
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen is 5.8s quicker at the same split.
Ogier is now through the third split, just under the 16-minute barrier.
David Evans
No update on whether or not Mikkelsen has a penalty yet, but our newshound DAVID EVANS has unearthed the quirky story behind why he might soon be disciplined:
"It's understood that Mikkelsen's co-driver knocked the ignition switch in the car at the control. The car was in gear and lurched forward into the control. Onlookers said it was actually quite a lucky situation, given that nobody was behind the wheel at the time!"
"It's understood that Mikkelsen's co-driver knocked the ignition switch in the car at the control. The car was in gear and lurched forward into the control. Onlookers said it was actually quite a lucky situation, given that nobody was behind the wheel at the time!"
By: Matt Beer
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