WRC Tour of Corsica
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Mikkelsen is giving it some as well. Evans however looks like he is going to fall further behind the leader, he is 7.9s down.
Stopwatch
Latvala once again is on a charge. He is quickest through the opening split.
Quote
I get the feeling Sordo is a fan of Corsica:
"It was a really good stage, some points are a little dirty and slippery. I think my time is good but I could have pushed a little more. For me Corsica is beautiful, it’s fantastic and it needs to be here every year."
"It was a really good stage, some points are a little dirty and slippery. I think my time is good but I could have pushed a little more. For me Corsica is beautiful, it’s fantastic and it needs to be here every year."
Crash
Abbring has retired
Stopwatch
Sordo goes quickest. 3.2s faster than Ogier. Fantastic effort from the Spaniard.
Quote
Tyre choice was always going to be crucial this morning and it seems that Ogier got it wrong.
"It was OK, but I think we have the wrong tyre choice with full soft. Conditions are drying a lot. For sure we'll attack on the powerstage."
"It was OK, but I think we have the wrong tyre choice with full soft. Conditions are drying a lot. For sure we'll attack on the powerstage."
Crash
Abbring has stopped on the stage.
Crikey. Sordo is 2.2s faster than Ogier at the moment.
Ostberg now 4.8s down on Paddon. He will lose sixth place at this rate.
Ostberg has had a poor opening split. He is 3.6s down on Paddon at the moment.
Stopwatch
Wow, Bouffier! He is currently fastest through the second split. Are conditions improving? A lot of quick times coming in.
Stopwatch
Sordo is now the fastest man through the third split.
Kubica is through. When asked what tyres he had on he replied "round ones, rally ones." Great stuff from Kubica, he's not lying to be fair to him.
Tanak, Sarrazin, Bouffier and Paddon are all into the stage.
Stopwatch
Sordo has quietly been banging in quick times. He is only 0.5s down on Ogier through the first split.
Stopwatch
Third splits are in and Ogier is still fastest. He is 14s up on Kubica.
News
We are also keeping one eye on the World Rallycross in Turkey. Sunday warm-up is already in the books and our man Hal Ridge has an update:
"Sunday morning warm-up done at the Istanbul Park and it's EKS driver Mattias Ekstrom who set the fastest time, five tenths up on overnight leader Timmy Hansen. Ekstrom set fastest time in yesterday morning's free practice and in heat two, but was unhappy with the grip levels in the first heat and was sixth fastest.
"Toomas Heikkinen set third quickest time this morning, 0.102s behind Hansen with Reinis Nitiss, Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson rounding out the top six. The top eight drivers covered by just over eight tenths of a second."
"Sunday morning warm-up done at the Istanbul Park and it's EKS driver Mattias Ekstrom who set the fastest time, five tenths up on overnight leader Timmy Hansen. Ekstrom set fastest time in yesterday morning's free practice and in heat two, but was unhappy with the grip levels in the first heat and was sixth fastest.
"Toomas Heikkinen set third quickest time this morning, 0.102s behind Hansen with Reinis Nitiss, Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson rounding out the top six. The top eight drivers covered by just over eight tenths of a second."
It's also worth keeping an eye on the battle for sixth between Osberg and Paddon. The gap is just 2.3s.
Some key battles to watch this morning. Obviously, we have Evans chasing his first WRC win but he will have to work hard to take the spoils away from Latvala. He will also be looking over his shoulder with Mikkelsen hot on his heels.
Stopwatch
But obviously, the World Rally champion is now fastest. Ogier is way down the order following his puncture on SS3.
Stopwatch
Neuville quicker than Kubica through the opening split. Kubica was fifth fastest through this morning's stage.
Information
And who better to take us through the 25.76 mile stage than Kevin Abbring's co-driver, Seb Marshall. Here is his SS8 stage guide:
SS8 Zerubia-Martini (25.76 miles)
The first part of this stage, the first three kilometres or something, I swear has never changed in the last 60 years or so. It’s incredibly narrow and bumpy. It’s all under the trees and so slimey, even when it’s dry. If you were to drive down it, you’d think: “This isn’t the stage, is it?” You pop out of there over a bridge and then you’ve got 20 kilometres of really nice flowing stage down the side of the valley – passing the memorial to Attilio Bettega. After that we start to climb again. It’s still quite quick, but the road gets narrower – it opens out a bit as the trees disappear when you go over the top of the col before as bumpy run down to the finish.
SS8 Zerubia-Martini (25.76 miles)
The first part of this stage, the first three kilometres or something, I swear has never changed in the last 60 years or so. It’s incredibly narrow and bumpy. It’s all under the trees and so slimey, even when it’s dry. If you were to drive down it, you’d think: “This isn’t the stage, is it?” You pop out of there over a bridge and then you’ve got 20 kilometres of really nice flowing stage down the side of the valley – passing the memorial to Attilio Bettega. After that we start to climb again. It’s still quite quick, but the road gets narrower – it opens out a bit as the trees disappear when you go over the top of the col before as bumpy run down to the finish.
Green flag
We are go for SS8 in Corsica. Robert Kubica is the first man into the stage.
Information
First things first, here's a quick recap of this morning's opening stage:
. Jari-Matti Latvala extended his lead to 17.6s over Elfyn Evans
. Latvala's Volkswagen team-mate Mikkelsen is also closing in on the Welshman. The gap is down to 20.7s.
. Hayden Paddon closes the gap to Mads Ostberg to just 2.3s.
. Dani Sordo leapfrogs Ott Tanak and Stephane Sarrazin into ninth.
. Jari-Matti Latvala extended his lead to 17.6s over Elfyn Evans
. Latvala's Volkswagen team-mate Mikkelsen is also closing in on the Welshman. The gap is down to 20.7s.
. Hayden Paddon closes the gap to Mads Ostberg to just 2.3s.
. Dani Sordo leapfrogs Ott Tanak and Stephane Sarrazin into ninth.
Good morning! Welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's coverage of the World Rally Championship from Corsica. Go put the kettle on and get ready for what is sure to be an exciting finale to a pretty crazy few days.
We have two stages to bring you tomorrow. SS8 and Sunday's Power Stage. AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's coverage will start at 7:50am, where we will recap Sunday's opening stage before SS8 gets underway. See you all bright and early tomorrow!
It will be interesting to see if Evans can respond tomorrow or if Latvala, with a new gearbox, will be bale to extend his slim lead.
News
"Finally! Tunnocks Teacakes arrive in M-Sport. And in seconds, the good news turns to bad."
In the meantime why don't we all take a moment to have a chuckle at David Evans who missed out on some Tunnocks Teacakes at M-Sport today.
If you are currently enjoying a delicious treat - be it chocolate or otherwise - feel free to send David a picture of what you have on Twitter, I'm sure he will appreciate the sympathy.
If you are currently enjoying a delicious treat - be it chocolate or otherwise - feel free to send David a picture of what you have on Twitter, I'm sure he will appreciate the sympathy.
So, another crazy stage in Corsica. Our SS6 report will follow shortly so stay tuned.
News
Latvala has made it back to service. He will change his gearbox before parc ferme.
Overall standings after SS6:
1 Latvala 1h42m24.8s
2 Evans +2s
3 Mikkelsen +30.8s
4 Meeke +53.6s
5 Abbring +1m00.1s
6 Ostberg +1m05.7s
7 Paddon +1m25.5s
8 Bouffier +1m37.2s
9 Sarrazin +1m51.6s
10 Tanak +1m53.9s
1 Latvala 1h42m24.8s
2 Evans +2s
3 Mikkelsen +30.8s
4 Meeke +53.6s
5 Abbring +1m00.1s
6 Ostberg +1m05.7s
7 Paddon +1m25.5s
8 Bouffier +1m37.2s
9 Sarrazin +1m51.6s
10 Tanak +1m53.9s
Checkered flag
SS6 results:
1 Ogier 28m14.2s
2 Latvala +8.7s
3 Evans +12.4s
4 Mikkelsen +13.4s
5 Sordo +18.8s
6 Meeke +21s
1 Ogier 28m14.2s
2 Latvala +8.7s
3 Evans +12.4s
4 Mikkelsen +13.4s
5 Sordo +18.8s
6 Meeke +21s
Just to stay with WRC2, Julien Maurin has continued his domination in Corsica. He completed the stage 16.8s faster than Esapekka Lappi, who he now leads by 19s overall.
Breen has completed the stage but he has confirmed he clipped a rock.
Crash
Into WRC2 and Craig Breen has a puncture.
News
Quick bit of World Rallycross news from Turkey here by the way, from our man Hal Ridge.
"Timmy Hansen set the fastest time in the first heat of World Rallycross in Turkey.
"The former circuit racer continued his recent run of first day World RX form and was one of only two drivers to set a lap time under the one minute mark in the first heat. The other was Reinis Nitiss, who wound up second with championship leader Petter Solberg third. Andreas Bakkerud set the fourth fastest time with a race win while Swede's Johan Kristoffersson and Mattias Ekstrom completed the top six.
"Liam Doran chased team mate Solberg throughout the first heat and was 10th quickest, but was excluded afterwards for a post-race scruitneering infringement. Former WRC driver Manfred Stohl was slowed by steering troubles."
"Timmy Hansen set the fastest time in the first heat of World Rallycross in Turkey.
"The former circuit racer continued his recent run of first day World RX form and was one of only two drivers to set a lap time under the one minute mark in the first heat. The other was Reinis Nitiss, who wound up second with championship leader Petter Solberg third. Andreas Bakkerud set the fourth fastest time with a race win while Swede's Johan Kristoffersson and Mattias Ekstrom completed the top six.
"Liam Doran chased team mate Solberg throughout the first heat and was 10th quickest, but was excluded afterwards for a post-race scruitneering infringement. Former WRC driver Manfred Stohl was slowed by steering troubles."
Quote
That poor run could have something to do with the damage Sarrazin picked up. "I bent my steering wheel at a chicane."
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Lap:
