WRC Tour of Corsica
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Ogier completes the stage and takes SIX SECONDS out of Neuville.
The lead gap is now 2.2s. Ogier is targeting Neuville.
"That's the plan of course," says Ogier. "I'm happy, it's better on the setup and I can trust the car more. I've never tried so many setups on a rally in my life. It's better than this morning."
The lead gap is now 2.2s. Ogier is targeting Neuville.
"That's the plan of course," says Ogier. "I'm happy, it's better on the setup and I can trust the car more. I've never tried so many setups on a rally in my life. It's better than this morning."
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Neuville had a spin in the stage. He did lose time progressively through the stage.
"I did quite well but I had a spin," he says. "After that I tried to do well. The car is moving a bit on the tyre."
"I did quite well but I had a spin," he says. "After that I tried to do well. The car is moving a bit on the tyre."
Stopwatch
Neuville is in and is second quickest, dropping one second to Latvala. But where's Ogier?
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Breen is looking forward to the next stage for obvious reasons.
"We drove that one blind last time so we'll see how it goes with notes," he says.
"We drove that one blind last time so we'll see how it goes with notes," he says.
Stopwatch
Breen is in and drops 0.7s to Sordo, but also drops fourth to Jari-Matti Latvala.
Latvala now trails a podium spot by 11.3s, with Sordo holding the spot.
Latvala now trails a podium spot by 11.3s, with Sordo holding the spot.
Stopwatch
Ogier is 6.9s up on Neuville at the final split. This is going to be close.
Neuville led the rally by 8.8s before this stage.
Neuville led the rally by 8.8s before this stage.
Stopwatch
Sordo is in and 10.2s slower than Latvala. Proving the strength of Latvala's time.
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Latvala is in and goes 16.3s quicker than Paddon, with lots of mud on the side of his car.
"Definitely better," says Latvala who looks set to compete for a stage win. "The stage was very demanding, The tyres are surviving well over the stage."
"Definitely better," says Latvala who looks set to compete for a stage win. "The stage was very demanding, The tyres are surviving well over the stage."
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Paddon completes in 32m37.2s.
"It didn't feel so bad," says Paddon. "I was surprised the time wasn't much better than this morning. You can feel the tyres overheating in the heat."
"It didn't feel so bad," says Paddon. "I was surprised the time wasn't much better than this morning. You can feel the tyres overheating in the heat."
Stopwatch
Another good split from Ogier. He's 5.5s up on Neuville at 33km. The lead margin was 8.8s at the start of the year. The fight for the rally lead is on.
Stopwatch
Craig Breen is fighting back. He's gone ahead of Sordo at the fourth split and is 6.9s down on Latvala. Starting the stage Breen was fourth and 10.8s ahead of Latvala. Game on.
Most drivers are through the second split now, and at that point in the stage the order is:
1 Ogier
2 Latvala
3 Neuville
4 Breen
5 Sordo
6 Tanak
1 Ogier
2 Latvala
3 Neuville
4 Breen
5 Sordo
6 Tanak
Stopwatch
At the third split, Latvala is now 5.3s up on Sordo, and going strong. H'ell be scaring Craig Breen before long with this pace. The gap between the two is just over 10s.
Stopwatch
OGIER ON A CHARGE!
His first split didn't appear but at the second, he's 1.7s up on Neuville. The gap to the leader (also Neuville) was 8.8s at the start of the stage.
His first split didn't appear but at the second, he's 1.7s up on Neuville. The gap to the leader (also Neuville) was 8.8s at the start of the stage.
Stopwatch
Caution: more Jari-Matti Latvala praise coming.
The Finn is 3.4s up on Sordo at the second split. Keep in mind that Sordo is third in the overall order now.
Latvala started this one 10.7s behind Craig Breen in fifth.
The Finn is 3.4s up on Sordo at the second split. Keep in mind that Sordo is third in the overall order now.
Latvala started this one 10.7s behind Craig Breen in fifth.
Stopwatch
Neuville has reached the first split, 2.3s slower than Latvala. The Finn's split time is looking pretty special at this point.
Stopwatch
That diff change may have worked as Latvala has gone quicker than the Sordo in the first split, too. He's also 2.4s quicker than Craig Breen at that point.
David Evans
Latvala is 3.4s up on Paddon at the first split.
DAVID EVANS earned his wages in service, as the Finn was another driver he managed to speak to.
It is suspected that Latvala is going to lock the 'diff for this afternoon. He couldn't get to the power for understeer this morning and was using the front tyres too much.
DAVID EVANS earned his wages in service, as the Finn was another driver he managed to speak to.
It is suspected that Latvala is going to lock the 'diff for this afternoon. He couldn't get to the power for understeer this morning and was using the front tyres too much.
David Evans
As our man opened the door to speak to Dani Sordo, he immediately showed remorse for Kris Meeke who retired out of the lead this morning.
"Maybe he [Meeke] used up all of his luck in Mexico and his luck ran out here. "He's such a nice guy and doesn’t deserve this."
Sordo is of course referring to Kris Meeke almost losing Rally Mexico after an off on the power stage.
"Maybe he [Meeke] used up all of his luck in Mexico and his luck ran out here. "He's such a nice guy and doesn’t deserve this."
Sordo is of course referring to Kris Meeke almost losing Rally Mexico after an off on the power stage.
David Evans
Lets start with Craig Breen. DAVID EVANS reports a new helmet is the order for the Irishman who lost the intercom on the startline of SS6. Co-driver Scott Martin was holding up fingers for the number of gear Breen was supposed to be in for the corner.
Breen confirmed he was amused at what Scott Martin was going to do for a square-right, having to use a hand to direct Breen while still holding onto his notepad!
Breen confirmed he was amused at what Scott Martin was going to do for a square-right, having to use a hand to direct Breen while still holding onto his notepad!
It's another long test, this one. We're going to bring you some updates from the service park courtesy of DAVID EVANS...
Our stage is underway, we have Paddon and Latvala into SS7.
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And the starting order:
Paddon
Latvala
Sordo
Breen
Neuville
Ogier
Tanak
Hanninen
Paddon
Latvala
Sordo
Breen
Neuville
Ogier
Tanak
Hanninen
Information
Hello and welcome back to Autosport Live's coverage of the Tour of Corsica.
Just under 10 minutes until we get underway. Here's the recently retired KRIS MEEKE to run you through what to expect from this test.
SS7 La Porta-Valle di Rostino 2 48.71km (30.26 miles)
"This one’s a typical Corsica stage, really twisty and narrow through a couple of villages.
"There’s a tricky section in the middle of the stage where we go in through a forest, it’s about six or seven kilometres where it’s so bumpy all the time; the surface changes from good grip to broken Tarmac.
"The rhythm is changing all the time in this stage, going from nadgery, tight, twisty into quicker stuff then slower again and there are undulations as well.
"We start on a technical uphill section and then come down through the villages to a hairpin in Barchetta. The stage is a little bit shorter than last year, we start five kilometres further in."
Just under 10 minutes until we get underway. Here's the recently retired KRIS MEEKE to run you through what to expect from this test.
SS7 La Porta-Valle di Rostino 2 48.71km (30.26 miles)
"This one’s a typical Corsica stage, really twisty and narrow through a couple of villages.
"There’s a tricky section in the middle of the stage where we go in through a forest, it’s about six or seven kilometres where it’s so bumpy all the time; the surface changes from good grip to broken Tarmac.
"The rhythm is changing all the time in this stage, going from nadgery, tight, twisty into quicker stuff then slower again and there are undulations as well.
"We start on a technical uphill section and then come down through the villages to a hairpin in Barchetta. The stage is a little bit shorter than last year, we start five kilometres further in."
Autosport
Here's your comprehensive report from Saturday morning's action at the Tour of Corsica. The lead battle got a whole lot closer. Rejoin us at 1315hrs GMT for this afternoon's action with some great battles ongoing.
David Evans
Thoughts from our man in Corsica on Kris Meeke's problem:
"Problem obviously came in the last section of the stage, he'd taken 1.2s out of Ogier and 0.5s out of Neuville at split one; 3.9 out of Ogier at split two while Neuville took 0.6s back.
"Somewhere in the final seven km (3.5 miles) Meeke lost 15s to Thierry and eight to Ogier."
"Problem obviously came in the last section of the stage, he'd taken 1.2s out of Ogier and 0.5s out of Neuville at split one; 3.9 out of Ogier at split two while Neuville took 0.6s back.
"Somewhere in the final seven km (3.5 miles) Meeke lost 15s to Thierry and eight to Ogier."
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Can we even recap that stage? We'll give it a go...
- Thierry Neuville overtook Sebastien Ogier in the order on pace, than obtained the lead as Kris Meeke retired with engine trouble.
- Dani Sordo moves onto the podium
- Craig Breen produces a spectacular time, eight seconds behind Sordo with no intercom
- Elfyn Evans crashes out, stuck off the road on a left-hander
- Andreas Mikkelsen extends WRC2 lead to over a minute, gap to Sarrazin rises from five to 19.9s
- Thierry Neuville overtook Sebastien Ogier in the order on pace, than obtained the lead as Kris Meeke retired with engine trouble.
- Dani Sordo moves onto the podium
- Craig Breen produces a spectacular time, eight seconds behind Sordo with no intercom
- Elfyn Evans crashes out, stuck off the road on a left-hander
- Andreas Mikkelsen extends WRC2 lead to over a minute, gap to Sarrazin rises from five to 19.9s
SS6
1 Neuville 11m13.1s
2 Sordo +2.2s
3 Hanninen +3.3s
4 Paddon +4.6s
5 Tanak +6.6s
6 Latvala +7.1s
Overall after SS6
1 Neuville 2h00m30.6s
2 Ogier +8.2s
3 Sordo +45.3s
4 Breen +56.1s
5 Latvala +1m06.8s
6 Paddon +21.4s
1 Neuville 11m13.1s
2 Sordo +2.2s
3 Hanninen +3.3s
4 Paddon +4.6s
5 Tanak +6.6s
6 Latvala +7.1s
Overall after SS6
1 Neuville 2h00m30.6s
2 Ogier +8.2s
3 Sordo +45.3s
4 Breen +56.1s
5 Latvala +1m06.8s
6 Paddon +21.4s
Crash
CONFIRMATION: RALLY LEADER KRIS MEEKE IS OUT OF THE TOUR OF CORSICA.
Information
We're still waiting on news for Kris Meeke. It looks like he's out of the rally but we're waiting for official confirmation.
Neuville took the stage win and could be the new rally leader.
Neuville took the stage win and could be the new rally leader.
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To recap, Meeke's lead has fallen to 1.5s as Neuville takes second.
BUT MORE DRAMA. The engine has let go and Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are pushing their car down the stage. There's not a mark on the car but it looks like the rally leader is out.
On this stage, Neuville took second from Ogier. The Belgium will obtain a net lead of the rally, 8.2s up on the Frenchman.
BUT MORE DRAMA. The engine has let go and Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle are pushing their car down the stage. There's not a mark on the car but it looks like the rally leader is out.
On this stage, Neuville took second from Ogier. The Belgium will obtain a net lead of the rally, 8.2s up on the Frenchman.
Crash
WOW! Meeke drops 15.5s to Neuville and there's smoke pouring out of the car. The lead margin is only 1.5s.
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Ogier's struggling although the springs don't seem to be the issue in this one.
"Obviously we're not fast enough," he says. "I don't know. I can't really explain it. I didn't have the feeling that it was so bad."
"Obviously we're not fast enough," he says. "I don't know. I can't really explain it. I didn't have the feeling that it was so bad."
Information
CHANGE FOR SECOND! Ogier loses 8.8s to Neuville. Ogier loses second.
Stopwatch
Neuville arrives and he's 2.2s quicker than Sordo. He's set to take second from Sebastien Ogier.
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Breen loses just over eight seconds to Sordo, but that's a win given the reason.
"That's the worst stage in the world to lose an intercom, I've driven the whole stage blind," he says. That's terrifying.
"That's the worst stage in the world to lose an intercom, I've driven the whole stage blind," he says. That's terrifying.
Stopwatch
Sordo goes 2.4s quicker than Paddon and he's the quickest at all splits so far. He was angry at the end of the last stage, this looks like a better one.
By: Matt Beer
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