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Tanak takes 7.8s out of Meeke to further extend his hold on ninth as he goes quickest in SS10. He started the stage 19.4s behind his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.
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Meeke goes quickest so far by 3.8s. Remember he's over half a minute behind the flying Tanak.
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Evans explains his struggle.
"I still didn't feel comfortable, there's a lot of changing balance in the car from understeer to oversteer," he says. "We'll keep working on it."
"I still didn't feel comfortable, there's a lot of changing balance in the car from understeer to oversteer," he says. "We'll keep working on it."
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Evans completes and he's 6.3s slower than his team-mate Ogier. That means Ogier takes 11th from the Welshman.
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"There's no problem for us," says Ogier. He's asked what can he do today? "You tell me, what can I do."
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That doesn't last long though, as Ogier completes 35.1s quicker than Solberg and takes the rally lead...until the next car arrives at least.
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Henning Solberg completes the stage, he's quickest so far (ha) setting a 13m44.9s.
Watching these 2018 WRC cars onboard in Sweden is enough to give the most experienced driver vertigo. It's some spectacle.
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Speaking of Tanak, he's fastest at that first split, but by less than a second.
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Meeke is marginally fastest at the first split, but he's 30.2s behind Tanak in ninth, so it's unlikely he'll be claiming his place on this test.
Kris Meeke joins the stage.
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At the first split, Ogier has clawed back a bit of time on Elfyn Evans, but it's only 2.3s. Ogier started the stage 3.5s behind Evans in 11th.
We heard the drivers referring to more consistent grip and better conditions after SS9 this morning.
You can see from the road that there's less loose snow on top than yesterday, which allows the studs on the Michelin tyres these cars use can dig into the ice which gives properly awesome grip.
You can see from the road that there's less loose snow on top than yesterday, which allows the studs on the Michelin tyres these cars use can dig into the ice which gives properly awesome grip.
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Sebastien Ogier is also into the stage now.
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Here's the running order for this morning:
H Solberg
Ogier
Evans
Meeke
Tanak
Latvala
Lappi
Suninen
Ostberg
Breen
Paddon
Mikkelsen
Neuville
H Solberg
Ogier
Evans
Meeke
Tanak
Latvala
Lappi
Suninen
Ostberg
Breen
Paddon
Mikkelsen
Neuville
Green flag
SS10 is underway with Henning Solberg.
We're keeping an eye on Tom and Jerry in this stage. But which one is Tom and which one is Jerry.
Sorry, an explanation is probably necessary. On Thursday night Andreas Mikkelsen referred to his battle with Thierry Neuville, his close friend, by the way, since 2011 as "Tom and Jerry". Which one's which? Let us know what you think.
They start the stage separated by Spike...sorry.
They start the stage separated by 5.2s, with Neuville potentially suffering from hydraulic problems, the extent of which we're not sure.
Sorry, an explanation is probably necessary. On Thursday night Andreas Mikkelsen referred to his battle with Thierry Neuville, his close friend, by the way, since 2011 as "Tom and Jerry". Which one's which? Let us know what you think.
They start the stage separated by Spike...sorry.
They start the stage separated by 5.2s, with Neuville potentially suffering from hydraulic problems, the extent of which we're not sure.
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A fairytale Rally Sweden for Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta has been stymied slightly as his overnight lead has been reduced to third in the first stage of the morning.
Reigning champion Pontus Tidemand and up and coming WRC2 pretender Ole Christian Veiby (both in Skodas) have squeezed through.
Katsuta has been based in Finland for a number of years and has plenty of experience in the conditions, but not so much experience of the pace of WRC2. Certainly not at the sharp end. That makes this weekend's performance so far all the more special.
Reigning champion Pontus Tidemand and up and coming WRC2 pretender Ole Christian Veiby (both in Skodas) have squeezed through.
Katsuta has been based in Finland for a number of years and has plenty of experience in the conditions, but not so much experience of the pace of WRC2. Certainly not at the sharp end. That makes this weekend's performance so far all the more special.
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We're just over 10 minutes away from more WRC action. Here's historic rally leader Petter Solberg with a stage guide for you...
SS10/13 Hagfors 1 23.40km
"This is a stage of really different types. The first part is like a normal Rally Sweden stage, it’s nice and fast and flowing and the road is quite wide in places – you can get a nice rhythm here and everything works.
"And then you go to the arena section near the end which is actually on the ski slope. You have some hairpins in here and you have to be so precise.
"It’s quite tricky coming in here, there’s a rhythm change and you have to really precise – it’s almost like a slalom!"
SS10/13 Hagfors 1 23.40km
"This is a stage of really different types. The first part is like a normal Rally Sweden stage, it’s nice and fast and flowing and the road is quite wide in places – you can get a nice rhythm here and everything works.
"And then you go to the arena section near the end which is actually on the ski slope. You have some hairpins in here and you have to be so precise.
"It’s quite tricky coming in here, there’s a rhythm change and you have to really precise – it’s almost like a slalom!"
David Evans
UPDATE: David Evans has spoken to sources within the Hyundai team about Neuville's 'problem'.
"Hyundai is in communication with Thierry at the moment. They cannot confirm a problem with the paddle shift - he is reportedly using it on the road section right now."
"Hyundai is in communication with Thierry at the moment. They cannot confirm a problem with the paddle shift - he is reportedly using it on the road section right now."
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Odd issue for Neuville as on the road section he appears to be using the paddleshift again. He said at stage end, "no problem" so perhaps it's not as worse as first feared.
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SS9
1 Tanak
2 Breen +4s
3 Latvala +4.6s
4 Lappi +7.1s
5 Neuville +7.8s
6 Mikkelsen +8.1s
After SS9 overall
1 Neuville
2 Mikkelsen +5.2s
3 Breen +8.8s
4 Paddon +14.1s
5 Ostberg +17.2s
6 Lappi +37.8s
1 Tanak
2 Breen +4s
3 Latvala +4.6s
4 Lappi +7.1s
5 Neuville +7.8s
6 Mikkelsen +8.1s
After SS9 overall
1 Neuville
2 Mikkelsen +5.2s
3 Breen +8.8s
4 Paddon +14.1s
5 Ostberg +17.2s
6 Lappi +37.8s
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There's a liaison section of just under an hour to get to the next stage, so Neuville will have time to look at the problem, but also a long distance to go on that problem.
Stay tuned for updates!
Stay tuned for updates!
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What's the problem?
"It [the stage] was OK. I have to go."
"It [the stage] was OK. I have to go."
Crash
Neuville is quicker, he's extended his lead to 5.2s.
But DRAMA! Worryingly his paddle shift appears to be broken which points to hydraulic issues.
But DRAMA! Worryingly his paddle shift appears to be broken which points to hydraulic issues.
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"It was a clean stage, no problems," says Mikkelsen. "It's a long day and we have to keep the concentration high."
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Mikkelsen can only manage fifth quickest, and he holds second over Breen by 3.6s now.
We await Neuville, who led by 4.9s starting the stage.
We await Neuville, who led by 4.9s starting the stage.
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"Fair play they've done a good stage, I've been a bit too conservative," says Paddon. "I know where I'm at we can try harder on the next one. I can certainly push a lot more."
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Paddon is in, 9.8s slower than Tanak overall, and he loses third to Breen!
Looking at the split, Breen is going to do some serious damage to Paddon's hold on third. Paddon was only 0.5s ahead of Breen heading into the stage...
Brilliant time from Breen as he is just 4s slower than Tanak, and pulls away ahead of Ostberg to the tune of 8.4s.
"There's a really awesome feeling in the car," says Breen. "I know it's a bit too slow in places, but we'll keep plugging away."
"There's a really awesome feeling in the car," says Breen. "I know it's a bit too slow in places, but we'll keep plugging away."
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New Citroen boy Mads Ostberg is next in and he's 11.8s down on the pacesetter Tanak. He's less than a second behind Craig Breen in fourth, and he's next on the road.
"I didn't manage to have a good rhythm," says Ostberg. "The Car feels really it nice the problem was with me."
"I didn't manage to have a good rhythm," says Ostberg. "The Car feels really it nice the problem was with me."
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Indeed, Lappi now holds what should be sixth when everyone is through by 5.8s.
"We had problems," says Suninen. "Maybe with the driver."
How typically Finnish of him.
"We had problems," says Suninen. "Maybe with the driver."
How typically Finnish of him.
Pictures show Suninen sawing at the wheel in what looks like a rear-wheel-drive Fiesta in typical Rally Sweden fashion. But the splits show he may be losing a spot to Lappi.
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Esapekka is next up in his quest to recover from falling out of the lead battle after going off the road yesterday.
He's 7.1s slower than his team-mate Tanak on this stage. He started the stage 8.9s slower than Teemu Suninen who is further down the running order.
He's 7.1s slower than his team-mate Tanak on this stage. He started the stage 8.9s slower than Teemu Suninen who is further down the running order.
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That early split must have been erroneous for Latvala as he's only 4.6s slower than Tanak, so stays ahead of him by 18.2s overall.
"It's definitely better than yesterday, there's a lot of grip," says Latvala. "Lets see the times."
"It's definitely better than yesterday, there's a lot of grip," says Latvala. "Lets see the times."
By: Matt Beer
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