WRC Rally Mexico
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Ostberg is through and is 14.7s slower than the pacesetting Mikkelsen.
"I think I have retired here at least two times," quips a relieved Ostberg, who has had more luck on the reverse running of Ibarrilla. "Quite OK, quite tricky conditions."
"I think I have retired here at least two times," quips a relieved Ostberg, who has had more luck on the reverse running of Ibarrilla. "Quite OK, quite tricky conditions."
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Here's Mikkelsen: "It was a clean run - not perfect. It was very slippery. We did our best and I'm happy enough, a good start to the day. The car feels perfect, enjoyable to drive."
Tasty time from Latvala, who clocks the fastest first split of anyone - 3.6s quicker than Ogier.
Stopwatch
Paddon is up on Ogier through the second split.
Meanwhile, Mikkelsen comes through the stage finish 1.2s quicker than his team-mate
Meanwhile, Mikkelsen comes through the stage finish 1.2s quicker than his team-mate
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"It was a good stage for me," says Ogier. "Not a different story from yesterday, [but] I'm happy with my pace.
"With the grip I have it's no problem at all," he says of his tyre choices.
"With the grip I have it's no problem at all," he says of his tyre choices.
And Ogier has now completed the stage. 18m1.6s is the benchmark effort from the Volkswagen driver - though Mikkelsen is also up through the third split.
Ogier is now through the third split in a time of 15m7.5s.
Sordo, Tanak and Latvala are now on the stage as well - let's see what the latter ca do in particular.
Sordo, Tanak and Latvala are now on the stage as well - let's see what the latter ca do in particular.
Stopwatch
At the second split, Mikkelsen is 1.7s faster than Ogier.
A bit of tyre information for you...
Going bolder than yesterday, Ogier has chosen five softs for this morning's loop - while Mikkelsen has gone for six.
Latvala has gone a bit more conservative with his choices, opting for three hards and two softs.
Going bolder than yesterday, Ogier has chosen five softs for this morning's loop - while Mikkelsen has gone for six.
Latvala has gone a bit more conservative with his choices, opting for three hards and two softs.
A slower time for Ostberg, though, who has lost 4.3s through the first split. Paddon is also out on the stage.
Ogier has now come through split two in a time of 11m8s.
Ogier has now come through split two in a time of 11m8s.
Mikkelsen is slightly up on his team-mate at the first split as he goes 0.5s faster.
Stopwatch
Ogier's time through the first split is 3m38.8s. Mikkelsen is also on the stage now.
Here's a shot of the quick bit on the opening stage, courtesy of David Evans
Green flag
And we're off, as Ogier starts his run on SS11.
David Evans
SS11 Ibarrilla (18.88 miles)
Says its only run once, but actually it’s twice with the end lopped off. Today’s live TV stage, SS14, starts from Mesa de Reyes, same as Ibarilla, but finishes in the village of Agua Zarca half way through. Ibarrilla’s run the opposite way to last year, but still contains a mile and a bit of absolutely flat-chat, on the limit in top stuff in the middle. The organisers have built a jump close to this section as well, just to make it even more interesting.
Says its only run once, but actually it’s twice with the end lopped off. Today’s live TV stage, SS14, starts from Mesa de Reyes, same as Ibarilla, but finishes in the village of Agua Zarca half way through. Ibarrilla’s run the opposite way to last year, but still contains a mile and a bit of absolutely flat-chat, on the limit in top stuff in the middle. The organisers have built a jump close to this section as well, just to make it even more interesting.
Yesterday, we were lucky enough to have stage previews from Latvala - who navigated us from day start to finish as slickly as he was able to thread his Volkswagen Polo R WRC through the Mexican stages. Nothing from the Finn today, though - who of course has a rally lead to maintain.
But fear not - Rallies editor David Evans has an equally insightful guide to today's challenges, with a helping hand from WRC.com's Mark Wilford.
But fear not - Rallies editor David Evans has an equally insightful guide to today's challenges, with a helping hand from WRC.com's Mark Wilford.
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Around about ten minutes until we start today's action with the 19-mile Ibarrilla stage.
David Evans
Latvala drove sensibly yesterday. Talking to him at the end of El Chocolate, he had really taken his time and refused to get rattled. He told Autosport: “We really missed the split times in these long stages. It was difficult to know where is the pace: am I too slow? It felt very slow. But in the end, it was OK.”
Many expected Latvala to be more than a minute up by this stage, but he’s tried that before. He tried that last year. And crashed.
Not sure if Latvala’s a Take That fan, but he was quick to bring Gary Barlow to mind.
“Patience,” he said, “you need…” go on Jari-Matti, follow it with: “…a little patience…” J-ML disappointed for the first time in Mexico: “… you need to be patient.”
And today he needs to be patient again. There’s no need to rush this thing. The win’s sitting there waiting for him. Genuinely, from this position, the rally is Latvala’s to lose.
If Latvala’s has been a thinking man’s rally so far, Sebastien Ogier drove the day of a superhero yesterday. And he’ll do the same again today. He’s insisting he remains in a different rally to Latvala, with his only comparison to those immediately around him on the road: Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg. Despite running in worse conditions than those two, he’s pulverised them. Another big day from the Frenchman today and he could be in the ballpark for the monster push through the 50-miler tomorrow.
Many expected Latvala to be more than a minute up by this stage, but he’s tried that before. He tried that last year. And crashed.
Not sure if Latvala’s a Take That fan, but he was quick to bring Gary Barlow to mind.
“Patience,” he said, “you need…” go on Jari-Matti, follow it with: “…a little patience…” J-ML disappointed for the first time in Mexico: “… you need to be patient.”
And today he needs to be patient again. There’s no need to rush this thing. The win’s sitting there waiting for him. Genuinely, from this position, the rally is Latvala’s to lose.
If Latvala’s has been a thinking man’s rally so far, Sebastien Ogier drove the day of a superhero yesterday. And he’ll do the same again today. He’s insisting he remains in a different rally to Latvala, with his only comparison to those immediately around him on the road: Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg. Despite running in worse conditions than those two, he’s pulverised them. Another big day from the Frenchman today and he could be in the ballpark for the monster push through the 50-miler tomorrow.
Information
By the end of yesterday's stage, we'd lost a quarter of the 28 cars that had started the day - but we should be back up to a near-full contingent today, with the return of Thierry Neuville - who started Friday second on the leaderboard - after his crash on El Chocolate, as well as Mexican Benito Guerra, who retired from eighth a stage later.
It’s a Volkswagen that leads the way as we prepare for the first of today’s stages – but on current form, perhaps not the one you might have expected.
Without a point to his name this season, it’s Jari-Matti Latvala who leads the way from team-mate Sebastien Ogier – who conversely is yet to drop a point in 2016.
Keen to make a point, the Finn took the lead on yesterday’s opening stage, the tough El Chocolate, and has gradually nurtured his advantage to one of just over half a minute over Ogier.
If you missed any of the action yesterday, here’s our evening report to bring you up to speed ahead of SS12, Ibarrilla, in about 20 minutes’ time:
Without a point to his name this season, it’s Jari-Matti Latvala who leads the way from team-mate Sebastien Ogier – who conversely is yet to drop a point in 2016.
Keen to make a point, the Finn took the lead on yesterday’s opening stage, the tough El Chocolate, and has gradually nurtured his advantage to one of just over half a minute over Ogier.
If you missed any of the action yesterday, here’s our evening report to bring you up to speed ahead of SS12, Ibarrilla, in about 20 minutes’ time:
David Evans
Yesterday’s stages were based around Guanajuato and Silao, south-east of Leon, but today’s roads are all much closer to rally town. And they’re all used in all manner of different directions. All of today’s stages are used in the 50-mile test tomorrow, but in the opposite direction for the most part.
There are a further nine stages of action today – totalling 95 miles – but after a fairly late finish last night, we’re going to clock off a little early, before this evening’s double run on the superspecials, which we saw for the first time last night.
That’s still a healthy seven stages for you – so plenty of bang for your (free) buck on the longest day of round three of the WRC season.
That’s still a healthy seven stages for you – so plenty of bang for your (free) buck on the longest day of round three of the WRC season.
Hello, and welcome back to Race Centre Live for coverage of the second full day of Rally Mexico.
That's all, folks!
Thanks for joining Race Centre Live for coverage of today's Rally Mexico action. It might be a slow burner so far, but with Latvala out in front and Ogier just over half a minute behind there's still plenty to unfold over the remaining 150 miles.
RCL returns at 1430 GMT tomorrow for a further nine stages - be sure to join us once more.
Thanks for joining Race Centre Live for coverage of today's Rally Mexico action. It might be a slow burner so far, but with Latvala out in front and Ogier just over half a minute behind there's still plenty to unfold over the remaining 150 miles.
RCL returns at 1430 GMT tomorrow for a further nine stages - be sure to join us once more.
With only a few cars left to complete the final two stages, here's our report from this evening's loop as Jari-Matti Latvala edged further away from his team-mate Sebastien Ogier: 
Before RCL is wrapped up for the night, there's time to bring you slightly more pleasant news about Fuchs.
The erstwhile WRC2 leader has endured a wretched afternoon, but has safely negotiated the two superspecials in respectable times to leave him 12th on the leaderboard overnight.
The erstwhile WRC2 leader has endured a wretched afternoon, but has safely negotiated the two superspecials in respectable times to leave him 12th on the leaderboard overnight.
Suninen completes his Friday running and remains within striking distance of the WRC pack. The Finn scored an impressive point last time out in Sweden, and is on course to do so again here.
Suninen and Ptaszek don't look as though they'll challenge the WRC cars on either superspecial run - although at 3.2s down, the former did outpace the (admittedly ailing) Fiesta of Camilli.
Stopwatch
Not quite the same pace from Bertelli there, which leaves him 15 seconds behind Prokop - who was the faster of the two on that SS10 run - overnight.
Just as he did this morning, Bertelli looks as though he will end the evening loop in good form as he goes fourth-fastest on SS9.
Just Bertelli and Prokop left to run from the WRC contingent, before Ptaszek and Suninen tackles the superspecial.
Stopwatch
Sordo rounds off a fine day in his Hyndai i20 by matching Ogier's time, while Latvala is 0.4s slower than his team-mate - leaving him with a 32.1s advantage overnight.
Just this last run of the superspecial and we should have our frontrunners set for the night.
Stopwatch
By a whisker, Latval edges Sordo through SS9 - which also hands the Finn the fastest time on the stage.
In fact, Tanak and Camilli were scheduled to run third. Sordo and Latvala are now on the first run.
Next up should be Sordo and Latvala.
Not quite the same headline time for Tanak on the second run, but he does slot into third in the stage classification for now with a 1m39.3s on that second run.
Stopwatch
Tanak goes fastest of all on SS9! That's the first time he's stood out today - but a decent time there. Camilli completes the stage 5.7s slower than the Estonian.
Camilli and Tanak are the pair on track at the moment, with Sordo and Latvala having been skipped.
By: Matt Beer
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