WRC Tour of Corsica
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Sarrazin is in and he has had a difficult stage. He is third slowest and that means he drops to ninth overall.
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Bouffier was happy with his run but has fell further back from Paddon overall. "This stage is amazing it's beautiful. I thought there was too much oversteer but the times are quite good so it's nice."
Bouffier is in.
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Abbring is understandably a bit upset. "I'm a little bit disappointed. We were so conservative on the car, we could have been a little bit more aggressive."
As expected, Abbring has fell behind Meeke overall by 6.5s.
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Despite finishing the stage 30.3s slower than Latvala, Tanak was happy with his effort. Here is what he had to say.
"This was the best stage so far. We had a good feeling again and we’re doing the best we can."
"This was the best stage so far. We had a good feeling again and we’re doing the best we can."
Abbring is having a tough stage so far and it looks like he will lose more ground to Mikkelsen. He may even fall behind Meeke.
Latvala does have to make it back to service with a gearbox problem though, so watch this space.
Evans finished the stage 12.4s slower than Latvala, which means the Finn now leads by 2s.
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Elfyn Evans: "I felt the car was moving a lot and maybe not as good a rhythm as yesterday. We're still here though that's the main thing. It's all still to play for and we have to do the utmost we can and go from there."
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Evans loses the overall lead to Latvala.
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Meeke is through. He was happy with conditions.
"90 per cent of the stage was perfect grip, 10 per cent was damp. I was happy with my rhythm. I couldn't have done much more."
"90 per cent of the stage was perfect grip, 10 per cent was damp. I was happy with my rhythm. I couldn't have done much more."
Mikkelsen finished third, Ostberg was 28.6s off the pace, which Ostberg doesn't quite understand.
"It was ok, finally a proper tarmac stage with good conditions. I thought I did a good stage but I lost a lot of time so a little frustrating. I am happy with my stage but not with my time."
"It was ok, finally a proper tarmac stage with good conditions. I thought I did a good stage but I lost a lot of time so a little frustrating. I am happy with my stage but not with my time."
Mikkelsen is in as is Ostberg.
So, can Evans capitalise on Latvala's struggles? Through the fourth split he is still 5s down.
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BIG drama for Latvala. His times dropped off towards the end of the stage and here's why.
"It was ok but we had a problem with the gear box. I struggled with downshifting. I had to use the manual gear lever. We got through thats the main thing, now we need to get to service and change the box."
"It was ok but we had a problem with the gear box. I struggled with downshifting. I had to use the manual gear lever. We got through thats the main thing, now we need to get to service and change the box."
Neuville came through by the way, complaining of understeer.
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Here is Ogier. He is quickest, 8.7s faster than Latvala.
"It's a very nice stage. Much more complicated like Catalunya."
"It's a very nice stage. Much more complicated like Catalunya."
Welcome back Sebastien Ogier. The champion is now quickest after the final split.
Evans is third quickest through the third split. He is only 2.2s behind Mikkelsen but crucially 5.6s away from Latvala, who is trying to snatch the lead away.
Meeke is once again going faster than team-mate Ostberg. If he keeps this up he could jump ahead of Abbring in the overall standings.
Latvala is belting through here. Another split and another fastest time.
Through the second split Evans is 3.9s down.
Seems as though Latvala is trying to tease us. It's all dry at the stage end.
Latvala has his wipers on. Could be some late stage drama here.
Evans is 2.5s slower than Latvala through the opening split. At this rate the Welshman will lose his overall lead!
Here comes Meeke. He is 4.1s off Latvala's pace but ahead of his team-mate.
Ostberg is currently the slowest man through, 9.5s slower than Latvala with a long way to go in the stage.
Mikkelsen is a further 0.8s back on Ogier. Mikkelsen will be trying his best to cement third place, Abbring will have other ideas though.
Stopwatch
At the second split Latvala is 1.6s up on Ogier. He is gunning for the lead at the moment.
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First splits are in and Latvala is fastest at the moment.
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With clouds looming in the air, tyre choice is key as David Evans explains.
"Classic tyre question... sunny in service, but the stage is in those clouds. Everybody's gone out with four hards on the car with varying options of a hard or soft in the boot."
"Classic tyre question... sunny in service, but the stage is in those clouds. Everybody's gone out with four hards on the car with varying options of a hard or soft in the boot."
Some dark clouds in the air again in Corsica. Better get the McRae brolly out.
Green flag
SS6 is go. Neuville is into the 30.1 mile monster.
Here is the overall order before we get going:
1 Evans 1h14m00.2s
2 Latvala +1.7s
3 Mikkelsen +27.8s
4 Abbring +29.1s
5 Meeke +43s
6 Ostberg +47.5s
7 Sarrazin +1m07.5s
8 Paddon +1m14.3s
9 Bouffier +1m14.6s
10 Tanak +1m34s
1 Evans 1h14m00.2s
2 Latvala +1.7s
3 Mikkelsen +27.8s
4 Abbring +29.1s
5 Meeke +43s
6 Ostberg +47.5s
7 Sarrazin +1m07.5s
8 Paddon +1m14.3s
9 Bouffier +1m14.6s
10 Tanak +1m34s
Information
There is an eight minute delay to the start of the stage.
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David Evans: "No rain overnight here (or at least there wasn’t outside Autosport’s hotel in Corte) and not many clouds around this morning either. Chilly though, only eight degrees on hitting the streets."
In stark contrast to that gloomy backdrop, David Evans took this photo outside his hotel this morning. What a difference a day makes.
By: Matt Beer
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