WRC Spain, Sepang MotoGP
Live Text
Sort by
WRC - Spain: Evans sets the benchmark for that stage with a time of 29m30.1s, and Meeke is 2m14.1s slower.
"First corner of the stage, there was a stone that I didn't see in the recce," the Citroen driver reveals - that will explain his puncture.
"First corner of the stage, there was a stone that I didn't see in the recce," the Citroen driver reveals - that will explain his puncture.
WRC - Spain: Evans will be the first man to reach the end of this monster stage, Meeke registering consistent time losses of around 2m14s through the splits relative to the Welshman - suggesting he may well have stopped to replace a punctured tyre.
Breaking news
MotoGP - Sepang: Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Marc Marquez will start tomorrow's MotoGP race from pole position after setting a blistering pace at Sepang, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo joining him on the front row.
Read all about it here:
Marquez flies to record Sepang pole
Read all about it here:
Marquez flies to record Sepang pole
Breaking news
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: Our report from the opening race of the Surfers double header is now ready for your viewing pleasure.
Earlier today, we also learnt that NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose will be returning to V8s slightly earlier than expected:
Ambrose to make early V8 return
Earlier today, we also learnt that NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose will be returning to V8s slightly earlier than expected:
Ambrose to make early V8 return
Beckham Peugeot
WRC - Spain: Also a bit miffed last night would have been the owner of a Peugeot 208, which had been parked outside M-Sport’s service park.
When Elfyn Evans’ Ford Fiesta RS WRC arrived back in Salou to be fixed and fettled for the asphalt, the Peugeot was in the way.
After a quick shout around the place garnered no response, the mechanics dealt with the problem quickly and efficiently with a couple of trolley jacks and a bit of muscle.
And they parked it better than the idiot who’d left it where he shouldn’t have.
WRC - Spain: Meeke is going again, but he's dropped behind Evans, implying a minimum time loss of two minutes.
WRC - Spain: While we've just heard that Kubica is at least going to attempt this stage, it's another blow for Meeke as the Ulsterman comes to a stop in SS8. We're waiting to discover why.
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Sepang: Moto2 qualifying just finished and it's all looking good for Tito Rabat.
He beat Marc VDS team-mate and title rival Mika Kallio to pole, with Sandro Cortese joining them on the front row ahead of Maverick Vinales.
Rabat is 41 points ahead of Kallio with only 50 left, so if the Spaniard finishes tomorrow's race, it's fairly likely he'll be champion.
He beat Marc VDS team-mate and title rival Mika Kallio to pole, with Sandro Cortese joining them on the front row ahead of Maverick Vinales.
Rabat is 41 points ahead of Kallio with only 50 left, so if the Spaniard finishes tomorrow's race, it's fairly likely he'll be champion.
WRC - Spain: Not content with merely being distracted as a reason for Neuville going off the road and missing out on the potential overnight leader status, DAVID EVANS joined forces with Ralio’s Emyr Penlan to get to the bottom of the Belgian’s story.
Turns out there was third pair of eyes in the car and that was what got Neuville so angry.
“It was a fly,” he said. “It was buzzing around and everywhere and I got distracted. I was angry.”
He was livid a minute or two later when he was stopped to change the puncture which followed him hitting a bank.
Turns out there was third pair of eyes in the car and that was what got Neuville so angry.
“It was a fly,” he said. “It was buzzing around and everywhere and I got distracted. I was angry.”
He was livid a minute or two later when he was stopped to change the puncture which followed him hitting a bank.
WRC-2 - Spain: Glancing at the state of affairs in the intermediate class, Nasser Al-Attiyah remains well in command, two minutes clear of nearest challenger Julien Maurin.
The Qatari driver's main battle is in fact the fight for 10th place overall - Ken Block is 10.5s behind in his WRC-spec Hoonigan Ford.
The Qatari driver's main battle is in fact the fight for 10th place overall - Ken Block is 10.5s behind in his WRC-spec Hoonigan Ford.
WRC - Spain: Just a few minutes now until we kick off the Escaladei stage, which, at 31 miles, is the longest of the rally.
Meeke, Evans and Paddon, all of whom had disastrous opening days, will open up the going.
Meeke, Evans and Paddon, all of whom had disastrous opening days, will open up the going.
Checkered flag
WRC - Spain - SS8 results:
Stage results:
1) Latvala 2m25.6s
2) Ogier +1.0s
3) Hivronen +1.6s
4) Mikkelsen +1.6s
5) Sordo +1.9s
6) Ostberg +3.4s
7) Meeke +3.8s
8) Neuville +3.8s
Overall standings:
1) Ogier 1hr31m30.6s
2) Latvala +35.6s
3) Mikkelsen +37.9s
4) Ostberg +39.6s
5) Hirvonen +42.0s
6) Sordo +1m25.8s
7) Kubica +1m51.5s
8) Prokop +2m22.6s
Main changes there are Mikkelsen taking third from Ostberg and Sordo moving ahead of a stricken Kubica.
Stage results:
1) Latvala 2m25.6s
2) Ogier +1.0s
3) Hivronen +1.6s
4) Mikkelsen +1.6s
5) Sordo +1.9s
6) Ostberg +3.4s
7) Meeke +3.8s
8) Neuville +3.8s
Overall standings:
1) Ogier 1hr31m30.6s
2) Latvala +35.6s
3) Mikkelsen +37.9s
4) Ostberg +39.6s
5) Hirvonen +42.0s
6) Sordo +1m25.8s
7) Kubica +1m51.5s
8) Prokop +2m22.6s
Main changes there are Mikkelsen taking third from Ostberg and Sordo moving ahead of a stricken Kubica.
WRC - Spain: Ogier drops a second to Latvala, going second fastest for the stage, but he'll still have a handy lead of 35.6s heading into the next stage.
Stopwatch
WRC - Spain: Latvala takes 1.6s out of Hirvonen and Mikkelsen to go quickest so far, making himself slightly more comfortable in second place.
"The car feels very good, I'm really happy. We have to try and put some pressure on Ogier."
"The car feels very good, I'm really happy. We have to try and put some pressure on Ogier."
WRC - Spain: Mikkelsen matches Hirvonen's time, moving up to third place overall as Ostberg only manages the fourth best time so far.
Just Latvala and Ogier to come through the opening test of the day among the lead runners.
Just Latvala and Ogier to come through the opening test of the day among the lead runners.
ERC
ERC - Valais: The European Rally Championship field has relocated to Martigny (home of the Saint Bernard dog) for the final eight stages of the Rally of Valais today.
Abbring restarts following his retirement yesterday but Mark Higgins is a non-starter following his "unusual transmission problem".
Esapekka Lappi holds a 23s lead over Kajetan Kajetanowicz, while Craig Breen has battled his way up to third after his tough Thursday.
Quote
WRC - Spain: Disaster for Kubica - he's dropped 43 seconds to Sordo on this stage.
"We had a differential failure before the start of the stage," the M-Sport Ford man confirms.
We wait to see whether he will attempt the next stage, or simply head back to service.
Hirvonen meanwhile goes fastest, three tenths up on Sordo.
"We had a differential failure before the start of the stage," the M-Sport Ford man confirms.
We wait to see whether he will attempt the next stage, or simply head back to service.
Hirvonen meanwhile goes fastest, three tenths up on Sordo.
Checkered flag
WTCC- Suzuka: Muller falls short by 0.075s in a thrilling Q3 shoot-out.
1 Lopez; 2 Muller; 3 Loeb; 4 Chilton; 5 Valente.
1 Lopez; 2 Muller; 3 Loeb; 4 Chilton; 5 Valente.
WRC - Spain: Dani Sordo takes the top spot for the stage with a time 1.9s faster than Meeke and Neuville.
Meanwhile, it sounds like Robert Kubica has a rear differential problem, so expect the Pole to drop some time on this one.
Meanwhile, it sounds like Robert Kubica has a rear differential problem, so expect the Pole to drop some time on this one.
WTCC - Suzuka: Only final Q3 runner Yvan Muller can deny Jose Maria Lopez pole positon at Suzuka.
Lopez trailed Loeb in the first two sectors, but recovered ground to edge out the WRC star by 0.151s.
Muller holds a 0.027s advantage over Lopez after the S1 split.
Lopez trailed Loeb in the first two sectors, but recovered ground to edge out the WRC star by 0.151s.
Muller holds a 0.027s advantage over Lopez after the S1 split.
WRC - Spain: We're already well under way for the second leg of the Rally of Spain, with Kris Meeke - back in action under Rally 2 rules after his double puncture yesterday - fastest so far through the 2.5 mile Tivissa test along with Thierry Neuville.
WTCC - Suzuka: Tom Chilton moves into provisional pole after setting a time of 2m06.321s, 0.382s quicker than Valente.
The Reigate driver was 0.780s up after sector two, but ran wide at the notorious 130R.
The Reigate driver was 0.780s up after sector two, but ran wide at the notorious 130R.
MotoGP - Sepang: Moto2 qualifying is now running, and unless something bizarre happens, we'll see Tito Rabat crowned as champion tomorrow.
It's closer in Moto3, and Jack Miller continued his fightback in their qualifying session a little earlier.
He took pole, while rival Alex Marquez - who has a 20-point lead with 50 available - crashed and starts fifth.
It's closer in Moto3, and Jack Miller continued his fightback in their qualifying session a little earlier.
He took pole, while rival Alex Marquez - who has a 20-point lead with 50 available - crashed and starts fifth.
Quote
MotoGP - Sepang: But while Lorenzo reckons he can beat Marquez tomorrow, our poleman is only looking at his Honda team-mate Pedrosa, who starts second.
"Tomorrow I expect a tough race, especially with Dani as he has a really good rhythm.
"Jorge will be there too, especially in the beginning, but I'm more worried about Dani because his rhythm is really, really fast.
"I will try to be with him at the end."
"Tomorrow I expect a tough race, especially with Dani as he has a really good rhythm.
"Jorge will be there too, especially in the beginning, but I'm more worried about Dani because his rhythm is really, really fast.
"I will try to be with him at the end."
WTCC - Suzuka: Valente cannot be accused of lack of effort after recording a time of 2m06.703s.
The Frenchman's Cruze was on two wheels through the S Curves, before suffering a nervous moment on the exit of Degner, where he spun in FP2.
The Frenchman's Cruze was on two wheels through the S Curves, before suffering a nervous moment on the exit of Degner, where he spun in FP2.
Quote
MotoGP - Sepang: Though he couldn't match the Hondas in qualifying, Jorge Lorenzo is bullish about his race chances.
"I'm really satisfied a lot with how the bike is working this weekend," he says. "Good braking, good corner speed, good acceleration, top speed not so bad, but we know that probably in qualifying we would struggle as we have more wheelspin on the exits.
"It seems Honda spins a bit less and that helps with new tyres.
"I think we have a good pace to try to win."
"I'm really satisfied a lot with how the bike is working this weekend," he says. "Good braking, good corner speed, good acceleration, top speed not so bad, but we know that probably in qualifying we would struggle as we have more wheelspin on the exits.
"It seems Honda spins a bit less and that helps with new tyres.
"I think we have a good pace to try to win."
Green flag
WTCC - Suzuka: The decisive Q3 session begins. Campos Chevrolet driver Hugo Valente takes to the track for his single-lap shoot-out attempt.
The Parisian faces competition from ROAL Chevy driver Chilton and, predictably, the three factory Citroens.
The Parisian faces competition from ROAL Chevy driver Chilton and, predictably, the three factory Citroens.
Quote
Marc Marquez
MotoGP - Sepang: Marquez's pole beats Casey Stoner's record for the most in a single season as our record-munching world champion starts first for the 13th time in 2014.
It's a slight surprise to Marquez, who was a bit off the pace earlier in the weekend as he experimented with set-ups.
"I'm really happy with the pole position because this weekend, especially on Friday, we were trying small things for the future," he says.
"We saw this morning we were still not able to find the best set-up, but in free practice four - on the second bike after I crashed - I felt really good and so consistent.
"I found the same lines and feeling as in the winter test."
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: After that amendment, here are the top 10 finishers:
1) Van Gisbergen/Webb
2) Whincup/Dumbrell
3) Slade/D'Alberto
4) Winterbottom/Owen
5) Caruso/Fiore
6) Mostert/Morris
7) McLaughlin/Premat
8) Pye/Walsh
9) Ingall/Blanchard
10 Tander/Luff
1) Van Gisbergen/Webb
2) Whincup/Dumbrell
3) Slade/D'Alberto
4) Winterbottom/Owen
5) Caruso/Fiore
6) Mostert/Morris
7) McLaughlin/Premat
8) Pye/Walsh
9) Ingall/Blanchard
10 Tander/Luff
WTCC -- Suzuka: Loeb does it, and moves up to third. Tarquini takes the reversed-grid race two pole position for qualifying 10th.
Checkered flag
WTCC - Suzuka The chequered flag is out and Loeb is on a last ditch attempt to make Q3...
WTCC - Suzuka: Michelisz, who suffered a moment at Turn 1, and Loeb are the only two drivers not to have set a lap.
The top-five, and therefore the provisional Q3 drivers, are Muller, Lopez, Chilton, Valente and Morbidelli.
The top-five, and therefore the provisional Q3 drivers, are Muller, Lopez, Chilton, Valente and Morbidelli.
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: Winterbottom has been moved down to fourth by race control, as he nudged Slade at the final corner before nosing ahead along the start/finish straight.
A popular decision with the crowd, and 'Frosty' seems to have taken the decision relatively well.
A popular decision with the crowd, and 'Frosty' seems to have taken the decision relatively well.
WTCC - Suzuka: Sebastien Loeb set a purple sector in S1, only to run wiide at 130R when he came upon a slower Civic WTCC.
The rally ace abandoned the lap. Loeb's Citroen team-mates Muller and Lopez are first and second, ahead of the impressive Chilton.
The rally ace abandoned the lap. Loeb's Citroen team-mates Muller and Lopez are first and second, ahead of the impressive Chilton.
Checkered flag
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: No such dramas for Shane van Gisbergen though, who takes the opening Gold Coast win by 2.2s from Whincup.
In a photo finish for third, Winterbottom just pips Slade in the drag to the line to deny Holden a clean sweep of the podium.
In a photo finish for third, Winterbottom just pips Slade in the drag to the line to deny Holden a clean sweep of the podium.
Green flag
Suzuka - WTCC: The second segment of qualifying is green.
The surviving runners to make Q2 are Muller, Lopez, Chilton, Loeb, Tarquini, Morbidelli, Coronel, Borkovic, Monteiro, Valente, Michelisz and Bennani.
The surviving runners to make Q2 are Muller, Lopez, Chilton, Loeb, Tarquini, Morbidelli, Coronel, Borkovic, Monteiro, Valente, Michelisz and Bennani.
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: It's the penultimate lap, and Slade, struggling for fuel, has been rapidly reeled in by Winterbottom and Caruso in the fight for the final podium place.
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Sepang - Q2 result:
1 Marquez
2 Pedrosa
3 Lorenzo
4 Bradl
5 Dovizioso
6 Rossi
7 A Espargaro
8 Crutchlow
9 Smith
10 Bautista
11 Aoyama
(12 P Espargaro)
1 Marquez
2 Pedrosa
3 Lorenzo
4 Bradl
5 Dovizioso
6 Rossi
7 A Espargaro
8 Crutchlow
9 Smith
10 Bautista
11 Aoyama
(12 P Espargaro)
Checkered flag
WTCC - Suzuka: Rob Huff and James Thompson have appeared to have missed the cut for Lada, taking 13th and 14th positions.
V8 Supercars - Surfers Paradise: Six laps left and van Gisbergen is now 3.9s clear of a fading Whincup.
Slade is on his own in third, with Winterbottom fending off Caruso in the battle for fourth.
Slade is on his own in third, with Winterbottom fending off Caruso in the battle for fourth.
By: Matt Beer, Jamie Klein, Peter Mills, David Evans
Published:
Lap:
