WRC Rally Mexico
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No time yet for Ostberg through the first split, but Paddon further back down the road is 1.5s up on Ogier's benchmark.
Mikkelsen is faster again through the second split, and is now 3.4s up on Ogier.
Ogier now comes through the second split, in a time of 8m9.1s.
Mikkelsen has taken 1.9s out of his team-mate through that first split. Ostberg has also joined the action.
Stopwatch
Ogier's first split time is 3m38.3s.
Green flag
A minute later than planned, Ogier is on his way on SS15.
Here's a preview of Otates for the second time today, courtesy once more of DAVID EVANS.
SS15 Otates 2 (26.48 miles)
Day two’s long one. This stage has some stories to tell: it’s here that Sebastien Ogier had the gate shut on him – co-driver Julien Ingrassia had to hop out to open it. His Volkswagen team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen have both crashed here in the past. The stage starts with quite a narrow, technical section, but it fast and flowing for the most part.
SS15 Otates 2 (26.48 miles)
Day two’s long one. This stage has some stories to tell: it’s here that Sebastien Ogier had the gate shut on him – co-driver Julien Ingrassia had to hop out to open it. His Volkswagen team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen have both crashed here in the past. The stage starts with quite a narrow, technical section, but it fast and flowing for the most part.
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Great to see so many of the drivers wishing Neuville well on Twitter after he confirmed he was OK.
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We've employed the information icon... but there's no real information to bring you (sorry).
Well, that's not quite true. As Sordo had suggested, Mikkelsen does face the threat of a penalty. That's because the Norwegian is alleged to have checked his Polo R WRC into the service park in Leon a minute early.
We'll bring you any additional updates as and when we get them.
Well, that's not quite true. As Sordo had suggested, Mikkelsen does face the threat of a penalty. That's because the Norwegian is alleged to have checked his Polo R WRC into the service park in Leon a minute early.
We'll bring you any additional updates as and when we get them.
Less than minutes now until the start of SS15.
David Evans
There’s been much scratching of heads regarding tyre selection for this event. The locals take a much more straightforward approach: slicks.
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A quick check on WRC2, having earlier mentioned Suninen's 'near-unassailable' advantage.
He leads closest challenger Hubert Ptaszek by a whopping 14m5.3s, with third-place man Max Rendina - who we thought for a moment yesterday had set the fastest time on SS6 - a further three minutes back.
He leads closest challenger Hubert Ptaszek by a whopping 14m5.3s, with third-place man Max Rendina - who we thought for a moment yesterday had set the fastest time on SS6 - a further three minutes back.
Good to hear, Thierry.
Twitter
There's also a good chance to bring you another update on Neuville, who has spoken (via social media).
David Evans
Took a brave pill and risked life and liberty to bag the picture of a policeman with a machine gun.
And with a brief lull in action, here's another quick update from DAVID EVANS on an earlier situation.
Twitter
It's also where Ogier got locked out of the stage last year. A certain Rallies editor thought he'd make light of that when he encountered said gate earlier on...
Our attention now turns to SS15, a full re-run of the Otates stage the field took on this morning, and where Neuville went off.
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SS14 summary:
* Latvala again extends lead with fourth stage win in succession
*Fast time from Mikkelsen puts him on Sordo's tail for third
*Ogier completes Volkswagen 1-2-3 on stage
* Latvala again extends lead with fourth stage win in succession
*Fast time from Mikkelsen puts him on Sordo's tail for third
*Ogier completes Volkswagen 1-2-3 on stage
Leading times:
SS14 results:
1 Latvala 10m7.6s
2 Mikkelsen +2s
3 Ogier +5.6s
4 Paddon +11.6s
5 Sordo +12.4s
6 Ostberg +15.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 2h49m29.7s
2 Ogier +1m21.9s
3 Sordo +2m21.4s
4 Mikkelsen +2m25.9s
5 Ostberg +4m5.1s
6 Paddon +5m14.3s
7 Tanak +6m29.3s
8 Prokop +7m49.7s
SS14 results:
1 Latvala 10m7.6s
2 Mikkelsen +2s
3 Ogier +5.6s
4 Paddon +11.6s
5 Sordo +12.4s
6 Ostberg +15.3s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala 2h49m29.7s
2 Ogier +1m21.9s
3 Sordo +2m21.4s
4 Mikkelsen +2m25.9s
5 Ostberg +4m5.1s
6 Paddon +5m14.3s
7 Tanak +6m29.3s
8 Prokop +7m49.7s
Back to matters in Mexico, and we've just had our 11th runner through, as Teemu Suninen comes through in his Skoda Fabia R5.
He has a near-unassailable lead in WRC2 - although let's hope that hasn't put a curse on the Finn, who is also on course to score a point for a second rally in succession.
He has a near-unassailable lead in WRC2 - although let's hope that hasn't put a curse on the Finn, who is also on course to score a point for a second rally in succession.
Incidentally, if you have a minute spare why not take a look at this cracking piece from British Rally Championship correspondent and Motorsport News national rallying editor Jack Benyon on the revival of the championship: 
Yes, the British Rally Championship rebirth starts this weekend after a major revamp and has attracted plenty of attention ahead of its return.
Elfyn Evans currently leads on the Mid Wales Stages after SS1, ahead of Swedish ace Fredrik Ahlin.
Elfyn Evans currently leads on the Mid Wales Stages after SS1, ahead of Swedish ace Fredrik Ahlin.
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As a quick aside from the event in Mexico, there is another fairly significant Rally taking place a little closer to home (for some of us, at least).
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"It was very good for us, I had a great rhythm," says Latvala.
He's refusing to get carried away with his pace though: "It's good but we have to remember tomorrow is a long day."
He's refusing to get carried away with his pace though: "It's good but we have to remember tomorrow is a long day."
Latvala comes through, and shaves two seconds off Mikkelsen's previous benchmark.
Tanak is well down on the best, and ends the stage 26.7s down on Mikkelsen.
Latvala is 1.9s up on Ogier through the first split.
Stopwatch
Sordo is also in - and that time is quite significant.
He's lost 10.4s to Mikkelsen, meaning they're separated by just 4.5s now on the leaderboard.
"I did not like the stage. The balance is really really difficult," he says. "I didn't have a lot of confidence - we need to work a little bit with these tyres in these conditions."
Sordo reckons Mikkelsen has a one minute penalty.
He's lost 10.4s to Mikkelsen, meaning they're separated by just 4.5s now on the leaderboard.
"I did not like the stage. The balance is really really difficult," he says. "I didn't have a lot of confidence - we need to work a little bit with these tyres in these conditions."
Sordo reckons Mikkelsen has a one minute penalty.
Actually, that's not quite true as Paddon is in.
He's 9.6s slower than Mikkelsen, and says: "We lost a few seconds at the start - I dropped the clutch a little to quick.
"It's quite an enjoyable stage, the grip's quite good - I struggled to keep it in a line but it was good."
He's 9.6s slower than Mikkelsen, and says: "We lost a few seconds at the start - I dropped the clutch a little to quick.
"It's quite an enjoyable stage, the grip's quite good - I struggled to keep it in a line but it was good."
Next through will be the pair of Hyundai's. While not as severe as team-mate Neuville's problems, both Paddon and Sordo have had issues today.
Paddon smacked a wall on Otates, requiring a new toe arm, while Sordo has a broken fan, which is causing his i20 to overheat. Both are running fine on this stage though.
Paddon smacked a wall on Otates, requiring a new toe arm, while Sordo has a broken fan, which is causing his i20 to overheat. Both are running fine on this stage though.
Latvala is now onto the stage too.
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"That's a lot," says Mikkelsen when told of his gap to Mikkelsen. "I didn't have any problems, I did a good stage."
Ostberg is a fair bit slower than the Volkswagens here on a relatively short stage. He drops 13.3s to Mikkelsen by the finish.
By: Matt Beer
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