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WRC Rally Sweden 2019
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He's on his way again. But that happened all of a few corners into the stage.
Crash
Bertelli has planted his Fiesta into a snowbank.
This Likenas test starts the way Torsby (almost) ends, in a twisty arena section. A good view for the fans but a bit of a slow start before the crews hit the longer, sweeping sections further into this test
Latvala, who won the first pass of this stage earlier, sets off.
Timo Rautiainen also hopped back in the co-driver's seat for Gronholm's return this weekend. Unlike Gronholm, it wasn't his first rally in years, having been Valtteri Bottas' co-driver on the Arctic Lapland Rally last month. Who knows, maybe we'll see Timo again, even if Marcus hangs up his helmet permanently after this weekend.
2000 and 2002 champion Gronholm has insisted that this really will be his last time on a WRC event. So we'll enjoy his last two stages. And his stage end interviews!
Information
Courtesy of 2003 world champion Petter Solberg, a reminder of what to expect from this Likenas test.
SS18 Likenas (13.16 miles)
Completely the same as last year, this one starts with a run through a rallycross track. After that there’s a section where it’s really twisty, really technical. It’s easy to lose time in this place by pushing too hard; you push too hard into one corner, then the next and then suddenly you’re over-driving everywhere and losing just a tenth or so by not being so clean. After this the road is really fast again and actually quite like some of the stages in Norway.
SS18 Likenas (13.16 miles)
Completely the same as last year, this one starts with a run through a rallycross track. After that there’s a section where it’s really twisty, really technical. It’s easy to lose time in this place by pushing too hard; you push too hard into one corner, then the next and then suddenly you’re over-driving everywhere and losing just a tenth or so by not being so clean. After this the road is really fast again and actually quite like some of the stages in Norway.
Marcus Gronholm will be first car out once again, departing in a couple of minutes' time.
Those first onto Likenas this morning were fastest, with Latvala and Ogier first and second and Mikkelsen really struggling. That balance might be redressed somewhat now there's been 57 cars through the stage and the surface won't be quite as pristine anymore.
Welcome back to our live coverage of Rally Sweden. There's two stages left today, first of which is a rerun of the Likenas test from earlier this morning.
The entire field needs to finish going through Likenas, including all the non-WRC2 R5 entrants, the JWRC entries and the local privateers, before the WRC crews can head in for their second attempt.
That means it's almost another another hour until the next stage begins, so we'll take a break and be back with more action 08:45am GMT (09:45am local time). See you in a bit.
That means it's almost another another hour until the next stage begins, so we'll take a break and be back with more action 08:45am GMT (09:45am local time). See you in a bit.
Huttunen is still set for 10th overall but his gap to Veiby has now increased to 15.9s. He'll need a bit of a miracle if he wants that WRC2 win, though.
We left WRC2 last night expecting a battle royale to the finish. Ole Christian Veiby has put the brakes on that somewhat by beating Jari Huttunen by 3.9s on Likenas.
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And now the overall classification. Lappi up to second, Neuville third and Mikkelsen down to fourth.
Overall classification after SS17 Likenas 1
1. Tanak 2h30m47.7s
2. Lappi +53.4s
3. Neuville +55.9s
4. Mikkelsen +1m00.2s
5. Evans +1m09.0s
6. Meeke +1m37.2s
7. Loeb +1m43.8s
8. Tidemand +3m17.3s
9. Veiby +5m47.3s
Overall classification after SS17 Likenas 1
1. Tanak 2h30m47.7s
2. Lappi +53.4s
3. Neuville +55.9s
4. Mikkelsen +1m00.2s
5. Evans +1m09.0s
6. Meeke +1m37.2s
7. Loeb +1m43.8s
8. Tidemand +3m17.3s
9. Veiby +5m47.3s
Information
So, the best times from the first pass of Likenas:
SS17 Likenas 1 stage results
1. Latvala 11m06.3s
2. Ogier +0.2s
3. Lappi +8.6s
4. Neuville +8.8s
5. Tanak +9.7s
6. Evans +10.0s
7. Meeke +10.4s
8. Suninen +14.9s
9. Loeb +15.4s
9. Mikkelsen +15.4s
SS17 Likenas 1 stage results
1. Latvala 11m06.3s
2. Ogier +0.2s
3. Lappi +8.6s
4. Neuville +8.8s
5. Tanak +9.7s
6. Evans +10.0s
7. Meeke +10.4s
8. Suninen +14.9s
9. Loeb +15.4s
9. Mikkelsen +15.4s
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Tanak has been known to surprise by going for maximum power stage points while also leading a rally. Will he take that kind of risk later today?
"Pretty sure not for the win [of the power stage]. If you see the fight ahead of us, we're definitely not keen to take this kind of risk."
Sensible.
"Pretty sure not for the win [of the power stage]. If you see the fight ahead of us, we're definitely not keen to take this kind of risk."
Sensible.
Ott Tanak is fifth fastest with an 11m16.0s. His lead is down to 53.4s. From 54.5s last night. He'll be more than happy with that.
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Mikkelsen is reflective at stage end after losing his podium position.
"I had a very clean stage, to be honest. I tried not to use too much snowbank as I don't get much speed out, so I tried to be very clean. Maybe I could push it more, I don't know," he says.
"It's hard to do a lot more, I feel. Maybe three seconds. I would like a car which is a bit more reactive, so I could go a bit more in these [corner] combinations."
"I had a very clean stage, to be honest. I tried not to use too much snowbank as I don't get much speed out, so I tried to be very clean. Maybe I could push it more, I don't know," he says.
"It's hard to do a lot more, I feel. Maybe three seconds. I would like a car which is a bit more reactive, so I could go a bit more in these [corner] combinations."
Stopwatch
Mikkelsen finishes 6.8s down on Lappi and 6.6s down on Neuville. He drops from second to fourth. Oh dear.
Mikkelsen is 7.3s down on Lappi at the third split. This is not a good run.
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Lappi also gets an updates on the splits at stage end.
"OK, I don't care."
You sure about that, Esapekka? You'll like this next bit of news...
"OK, I don't care."
You sure about that, Esapekka? You'll like this next bit of news...
Quote
"Quite clean stage, few small mistakes but otherwise really clean driving and no risks. It's good to be on the same pace."
Stopwatch
Lappi and Neuville are now separated by 2.5s with two stages left. But which positions will they be in? We need Mikkelsen to finish.
Lappi loses a little bit relative to Neuville in the final split, only 0.2s up after having over a second in hand around the midway point.
Quote
"I can't do more. I was quite fast. I had a very good stage, on the edge with the car of what is possible to do. We'll see."
Lappi is still faster on the splits so far. He might have to settle for third at best if this keeps up. And assuming he catches Mikkelsen.
Lappi is still faster on the splits so far. He might have to settle for third at best if this keeps up. And assuming he catches Mikkelsen.
Neuville has finished 1.2s ahead of Evans, so no threat to his fourth position. His eyes will be fixed on Mikkelsen and Lappi ahead.
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Evans has finished the stage.
"It was OK. Pushed pretty hard, let's see what the time's like."
It's an 11m16.3s. 0.4s faster than Meeke so keeps those behind him in the overall under control. Though Neuville ahead of him is faster on the splits.
"It was OK. Pushed pretty hard, let's see what the time's like."
It's an 11m16.3s. 0.4s faster than Meeke so keeps those behind him in the overall under control. Though Neuville ahead of him is faster on the splits.
Stopwatch
Our second place contenders have all gone through the first split now.
Lappi is on track to make second place his own, 2.3s up on Mikkelsen. Neuville is closing on his team-mate too, 1.5s up on the same split.
Lappi is on track to make second place his own, 2.3s up on Mikkelsen. Neuville is closing on his team-mate too, 1.5s up on the same split.
Meeke points out that he'll score the same number of points for Toyota whether he finishes ahead of or behind Loeb, as the Frenchman is the third Hyundai out of three. But he still wants to beat him anyway, of course.
Stopwatch
Meeke goes third fastest and gains five seconds over Loeb. His advantage over the nine-time champ is up to 6.6s.
Quote
"It's trying to find a good compromise between too much and not enough, that's what I'm struggling with in the beginning," says Loeb.
Loeb sets an 11m21.7s, 0.5s slower than Suninen.
At the third split, that gap increases to 2.6s. Meeke might keep sixth place after all at this rate.
Loeb is 2.1s down on Meeke at the second split.
Suninen is back after his broken rollcage was fixed by M-Sport last night. He's 4.1s faster than team-mate Tidemand here.
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"It's a really nice stage, a bit looser than I expected, but I really enjoyed it, unbelievable."
Tidemand should get an eighth place out of this in the end, at least.
Tidemand should get an eighth place out of this in the end, at least.
Tidemand arrives at stage end, 19s down on Latvala's benchmark. And only 3s faster than Gronholm.
Stopwatch
Meeke is 0.5s up on Loeb at the first split. That pair are separated by 1.6s heading into this stage.
Janne Tuohino is only 6.9s faster than Bertelli here, so the Italian can be happy with his run.
Lorenzo Bertelli finishes the stage. He looks a bit tired. But it's a stage with no big mistakes, which is a positive.
By: Matt Beer
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