WRC Rally of Portugal
Live Text
Sort by
Crash
After losing time on the early splits, Ostberg has now stopped on the stage.
Meeke and team-mate Breen are the only drivers on Michelins carrying two spare tyres this afternoon. Interestingly Meeke intimates that's not a play-it-safe tactic, it's because that gives him enough choices to use all the compound combinations he wants during this loop.
He has three hards and three softs to play with for the rest of the day.
He has three hards and three softs to play with for the rest of the day.
Stopwatch
Meeke is in, third fastest, 5.1s off the stunning pace set by Paddon - but as that's 0.7s better than Latvala it thrusts Meeke into the lead of this wide-open rally.
Stopwatch
And speaking of stonkingly big time differences, Paddon really pulled it out in the final miles - he's fastest by 4.2s over Sordo at the stage finish.
That brings Paddon right back into the lead fight, 4.4s behind Latvala in first place.
That brings Paddon right back into the lead fight, 4.4s behind Latvala in first place.
Potential problems further back for Ostberg. On a stage where everyone's pace is all a few tenths apart in most places, Ostberg's just come through split two 16.3s off the pace.
Gosh this is all so close. Breen is in and fifth fastest, just 1.9s off pacesetter Sordo. That keeps Breen within 1.7s of rally leader Latvala.
Stopwatch
Paddon remains faster than anyone else by a second at split three. Remember he led for a bit this morning - thanks to a super-fast time on this very stage - and then his car cut out and he fell to sixth.
So far then, stage pace is 1 Sordo, 2 Tanak, 3 Latvala, 4 Evans, 5 Neuville, 6 Ogier.
Which gives us a current lead order of 1 Latvala, 2 Tanak, 3 Ogier, 4 Sordo, 5 Neuville, 6 Evans, but with the Citroens and Paddon yet to come.
Which gives us a current lead order of 1 Latvala, 2 Tanak, 3 Ogier, 4 Sordo, 5 Neuville, 6 Evans, but with the Citroens and Paddon yet to come.
Tanak says the first part of the stage was actually the weaker section for him, he lost a bit of ground going wide as he got his hard front tyres working.
Stopwatch
Paddon is flying on this stage as he did earlier - at split two he's quickest by 1.3s over team-mate Sordo, who's just popped in with the fastest stage time so far by 1.5s over Tanak.
The Hyundais' pace is going to make this lead pack even tighter!
The Hyundais' pace is going to make this lead pack even tighter!
Well after looking quicker than Latvala for most of that stage, Tanak only ends up outpacing him by a tenth of a second so the Toyota holds the lead for now.
Having gone all-softs with his tyre choice, Latvala says he managed the tyre wear through an "aggressive" section in the middle of the stage and then pushed harder.
Having gone all-softs with his tyre choice, Latvala says he managed the tyre wear through an "aggressive" section in the middle of the stage and then pushed harder.
Stopwatch
Latvala beats Ogier's time by 4.1s. But it's Tanak, Breen and Meeke that Latvala really has to watch and Tanak in particular looks rapid.
Quote
Ogier completes the stage in 15m45.5s.
"Not so bad. The car was moving a lot near the end of the stage," he says, sounding pretty chipper actually - much more so than in Argentina three weeks ago.
"Not so bad. The car was moving a lot near the end of the stage," he says, sounding pretty chipper actually - much more so than in Argentina three weeks ago.
Stopwatch
Good stuff from erstwhile leader Paddon, he's fastest at split one now by 0.6s over Tanak.
Stopwatch
Sordo is fastest of all at split two now, but he's a little way out of the lead fight. He's on course to comfortable repass team-mate Neuville, who took seventh off him at the end of the morning, though.
And despite the prediction that road-cleaning wouldn't be such a factor this afternoon, this doesn't look like much of a giggle for Ogier - so far everyone running after him is faster than him.
And despite the prediction that road-cleaning wouldn't be such a factor this afternoon, this doesn't look like much of a giggle for Ogier - so far everyone running after him is faster than him.
Stopwatch
At split two, Tanak is really cracking on. He's now fastest by 1.8s there, which puts him on course to take the lead from Latvala, subject to what Meeke and Breen do.
Stopwatch
Very strong stage from Latvala so far, he's now 2.3s up Ogier at split two, where Neuville is between them, 1.3s off Latvala.
But at split one, both Tanak and Sordo are faster than them - Tanak 0.6s ahead of Sordo and 1.3s ahead of Latvala there.
But at split one, both Tanak and Sordo are faster than them - Tanak 0.6s ahead of Sordo and 1.3s ahead of Latvala there.
David Evans
Neuville is next on the stage. This morning he began baffled, then got lairy.
He couldn't understand why he was a distant 12th on SS2, but soon realised his driving style was too precise for wide stages that he felt suit team-mate Paddon's more sideways approach better.
At service Neuville explained to Autosport how much more comfortable with the car moving around Paddon is, whereas he prefers aiming for perfection and hitting every apex.
Asked how he makes that transition to driving 'out of character', Neuville said "you just have to flick a switch and say 'now I've got to be sideways everywhere'".
He took that too far on this morning's middle stage and hurt his tyres. There's not really any set-up scope to help reach that compromise between his natural style and what this car needs on this rally, so Neuville's just trying to get on with it.
And it's worked well so far - he's up to seventh and still within 10s of the lead.
He couldn't understand why he was a distant 12th on SS2, but soon realised his driving style was too precise for wide stages that he felt suit team-mate Paddon's more sideways approach better.
At service Neuville explained to Autosport how much more comfortable with the car moving around Paddon is, whereas he prefers aiming for perfection and hitting every apex.
Asked how he makes that transition to driving 'out of character', Neuville said "you just have to flick a switch and say 'now I've got to be sideways everywhere'".
He took that too far on this morning's middle stage and hurt his tyres. There's not really any set-up scope to help reach that compromise between his natural style and what this car needs on this rally, so Neuville's just trying to get on with it.
And it's worked well so far - he's up to seventh and still within 10s of the lead.
Stopwatch
Strong start from Latvala, at split one he's 1.3s faster than Ogier.
Latvala is also under way. Possibly a slightly surprising leader this morning both on recent form and given his demeanour.
Green flag
Ogier is up and running to begin our afternoon/evening loop. He may be down in fifth but fifth right now = 4.8s off first.
Information
Here's Paddon's new co-driver Seb Marshall's guide to what's coming up:
SS5 Viana do Castelo (16.59 miles)
There's quite a few tempo changes in here, so the tone of voice is really important to emphasise the speed.
This is the only stage on Friday that includes some of the route in the same direction as last year. The first section of the stage is really quick before it joins last year's stage which runs for around three or four miles over the top past the windmills – this is a nice stretch.
After that there's a section that is quite wide and fast, but quite loose – expect this to cut up on the second run.
Then the character really changes and we're into the narrow, soft section before we turn onto a wider and faster, more flowing road – again this was used last year.
The final section goes downhill, it's not exactly hairpin after hairpin, but if you imagine a forest road descending the side of an escarpment, that's the end of this stage.
SS5 Viana do Castelo (16.59 miles)
There's quite a few tempo changes in here, so the tone of voice is really important to emphasise the speed.
This is the only stage on Friday that includes some of the route in the same direction as last year. The first section of the stage is really quick before it joins last year's stage which runs for around three or four miles over the top past the windmills – this is a nice stretch.
After that there's a section that is quite wide and fast, but quite loose – expect this to cut up on the second run.
Then the character really changes and we're into the narrow, soft section before we turn onto a wider and faster, more flowing road – again this was used last year.
The final section goes downhill, it's not exactly hairpin after hairpin, but if you imagine a forest road descending the side of an escarpment, that's the end of this stage.
David Evans
As Argentina and Portugal are 'paired' events, Ogier is carrying the same differential that he used last time out - when it was the only standout (non-tyre) difference between his car and the sister Fords of Evans and Tanak that were going much quicker.
But Ogier is in a much better frame of mind and more competitive this week. M-Sport has dialled the set-up around that new differential more, and it also found a broken damper in its investigations of why Ogier had been so far off the pace at times in Argentina.
Road-cleaning held Ogier back this morning. If that's less of an issue this afternoon, is he set to charge forward from fifth?
But Ogier is in a much better frame of mind and more competitive this week. M-Sport has dialled the set-up around that new differential more, and it also found a broken damper in its investigations of why Ogier had been so far off the pace at times in Argentina.
Road-cleaning held Ogier back this morning. If that's less of an issue this afternoon, is he set to charge forward from fifth?
Twitter
Information
This is how the WRC field stands as we prepare for the action to resume:
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +0.5s
3 Tanak +1.2s
4 Breen +1.4s
5 Ogier +4.8s
6 Paddon +10.2s
7 Neuville +10.3s
8 Sordo +10.7s
9 Ostberg +16.4s
10 Evans +18.3s
11 Lappi +26.8s
12 Hanninen +34.0s
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +0.5s
3 Tanak +1.2s
4 Breen +1.4s
5 Ogier +4.8s
6 Paddon +10.2s
7 Neuville +10.3s
8 Sordo +10.7s
9 Ostberg +16.4s
10 Evans +18.3s
11 Lappi +26.8s
12 Hanninen +34.0s
David Evans
An unusually varied tyre choice this afternoon, but that's not surprising. Pictures from the stages suggest the morning runs have taken a lot of the loose away and brought the surface down to the bedrock.
That's bad news for tyre wear, but drivers won't want to use more hards than they have too today given that temperatures are due to rise - also bad for tyre wear - over the weekend.
Here's what they've gone with for this loop:
MICHELIN RUNNERS
Ogier and Tanak: 2 hards, 3 softs
Neuville and Paddon: 3 softs, 2 hards
Sordo: 4 softs, 1 hard
Meeke: 3 hards, 3 softs
Breen: 2 hards, 4 softs
Latvala, Lappi, Hanninen: 5 softs
DMACK RUNNERS
Evans: 5 softs
Ostberg: 6 softs
Note it's just the Citroens and Ostberg taking two spares. That might be a legacy of Lefebvre's day turning to disaster as he took only one spare this morning and then damaged two tyres in one shunt. And for Ostberg in his first weekend after a very last-minute switch to DMACKs, a cautious strategy seems wise.
That's bad news for tyre wear, but drivers won't want to use more hards than they have too today given that temperatures are due to rise - also bad for tyre wear - over the weekend.
Here's what they've gone with for this loop:
MICHELIN RUNNERS
Ogier and Tanak: 2 hards, 3 softs
Neuville and Paddon: 3 softs, 2 hards
Sordo: 4 softs, 1 hard
Meeke: 3 hards, 3 softs
Breen: 2 hards, 4 softs
Latvala, Lappi, Hanninen: 5 softs
DMACK RUNNERS
Evans: 5 softs
Ostberg: 6 softs
Note it's just the Citroens and Ostberg taking two spares. That might be a legacy of Lefebvre's day turning to disaster as he took only one spare this morning and then damaged two tyres in one shunt. And for Ostberg in his first weekend after a very last-minute switch to DMACKs, a cautious strategy seems wise.
Welcome back to Autosport Race Centre Live, where we've got three full-length stages and a double crack at a street track coming up as a Rally of Portugal in which the top four are just 1.4s apart is about to resume.
Autosport
Till then, here's the full round-up of the many, many things that have happened this morning: 
In a slightly odd itinerary, the drivers are now off to recce this evening's Braga street stage before service. So the competitive action won't resume for a little over three hours.
Information
SS4 summary:
* Latvala isn't happy with his pace or notes and his rally lead dwindles...
* ...as Meeke, Tanak and Breen ALL share the stage win and close on Latvala
* Ogier gets back up to fifth, Neuville to seventh
* Evans falls to 10th with a puncture
* Lefebvre tries to make it through the stage on three and a half wheels and enrages Lappi behind
* Latvala isn't happy with his pace or notes and his rally lead dwindles...
* ...as Meeke, Tanak and Breen ALL share the stage win and close on Latvala
* Ogier gets back up to fifth, Neuville to seventh
* Evans falls to 10th with a puncture
* Lefebvre tries to make it through the stage on three and a half wheels and enrages Lappi behind
Information
SS4 results:
Leading stage times:
1 Meeke 19m14.0s
= Tanak
= Breen
4 Ogier +1.2s
5 Neuville +2.0s
6 Sordo +3.7s
7 Latvala +4.5s
8 Paddon +7.4s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +0.5s
3 Tanak +1.2s
4 Breen +1.4s
5 Ogier +4.8s
6 Paddon +10.2s
7 Neuville +10.3s
8 Sordo +10.7s
9 Ostberg +16.4s
10 Evans +18.3s
Leading stage times:
1 Meeke 19m14.0s
= Tanak
= Breen
4 Ogier +1.2s
5 Neuville +2.0s
6 Sordo +3.7s
7 Latvala +4.5s
8 Paddon +7.4s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Latvala
2 Meeke +0.5s
3 Tanak +1.2s
4 Breen +1.4s
5 Ogier +4.8s
6 Paddon +10.2s
7 Neuville +10.3s
8 Sordo +10.7s
9 Ostberg +16.4s
10 Evans +18.3s
Lefebvre started that stage with a slow puncture as a result of his crash on the previous one, having damaged two tyres in his crash on SS3 and only brought one spare with him.
The former slow puncture is now a very comprehensive puncture and it's hard to see that car getting back to service.
The former slow puncture is now a very comprehensive puncture and it's hard to see that car getting back to service.
A very unhappy Lappi says he lost a lot of time in dust kicked off by Lefebvre delayed car. Lefebvre comes over to apologise, but Lappi isn't impressed.
Quote
Here's Ostberg: "I didn't feel so good, to be honest. Difficult feeling with the car. I felt the car was everywhere. It's the first rally with these tyres for me and I have no idea what happens after 5km. That's the longest I've done, on shakedown."
And Lappi is in too, and he's 11th on the stage and holds the same spot overall.
Lefebvre was due to be next man in but he's losing a lot of time in his Citroen after his roll on the previous stage, so it'll be Ostberg next.
After his near-miss with Lefebvre's crashed car on the last stage, Ostberg dropped from fourth to seventh. He's only ninth quickest on this one, which means he drops back to the same place overall.
After his near-miss with Lefebvre's crashed car on the last stage, Ostberg dropped from fourth to seventh. He's only ninth quickest on this one, which means he drops back to the same place overall.
Quote
"It is disappointing," says Hanninen. "I was not able to keep in the clean line. Too much sideways on the loose. That's not perfect. That's where the time is going."
Hanninen is only 10th fastest, slower even than the punctured Evans, and he has some damage to his Toyota's front aero.
Quote
Here's Meeke's verdict on that three-way shared stage win and closing on Latvala:
"Happy. A clean run. But everyone goes on about cleaning on this rally and there's no cleaning effect, I'm just struggling with the ruts. It's quite tricky to drive this far back."
"Happy. A clean run. But everyone goes on about cleaning on this rally and there's no cleaning effect, I'm just struggling with the ruts. It's quite tricky to drive this far back."
Ostberg is losing a bit on this stage too, at the final split he's 7.4s off the pace.
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
