WRC Catalunya, Motegi MotoGP, DTM finale
By: Matt Beer
Summary
Status: Stopped
Well, well, well - that was tense. As Wittmann heads up to be crowned, he and Mortara share a respectful embrace on the podium.
That's where we're going to leave things for this weekend, as Wittmann becomes the fourth driver to seal a title this weekend! Thanks for your company this weekend, we hope you've enjoyed our coverage - from Rally Catalunya to MotoGP in Motegi.
We'll be back next weekend for coverage of the United States Grand Prix as well as MotoGP from Phillip Island. Do be sure to join us again then.
That's where we're going to leave things for this weekend, as Wittmann becomes the fourth driver to seal a title this weekend! Thanks for your company this weekend, we hope you've enjoyed our coverage - from Rally Catalunya to MotoGP in Motegi.
We'll be back next weekend for coverage of the United States Grand Prix as well as MotoGP from Phillip Island. Do be sure to join us again then.
Kevin Eriksson takes his Joker and holds off Solberg to the flag for an incredible victory. Bakkerud is third, Hansen fourth and Mattias Ekstrom fifth - but it's enough for the Swede to become the 2016 FIA World Rallycross champion on Audi's home turf. What an incredible story.
Back at the front, Mortara has checked out. He's 4.3s clear in the lead.
Scheider has now been given a penalty for his clash with Farfus.
Scheider has now been given a penalty for his clash with Farfus.
Back in the pack, Scheider tags Augusto Farfus into a spin as they squabble for 11th. Very much a case of 'six of one', there, as Scheider's move was clumsy but Farfus had left the door open.
Nightmare for Kristoffersson, he's suffered a left-rear puncture and drops to the back after completing his Joker.
He may have got the lead, by Mortara hasn't yet been able to break the DRS tow. He ends the 10th lap 0.9s clear of Wittmann.
For a while during Saturday’s first race it looked as though championship leader Marco Wittmann might have the title all but wrapped up, but a brilliant late charge to third by Audi driver Edoardo Mortara means that the championship will be decided in this afternoon’s second race, the final event of the 2016 campaign.
Hello, and welcome back to Autosport Race Centre Live for dedicated coverage of the DTM’s crucial season finale at the Hockenheim.
Before we leave for the afternoon, Ogier wasn't the only competitor to wrap up a title on Rally Catalunya this weekend. Congratulations to Welshman Osian Pryce, who has just captured the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy.
Ogier's time on the Power Stage was 7m57.4s, which puts him second to Latvala - the Finn's third stage win of the day - and gives him an extra two points on a day he will remember for very long time. Sordo takes the extra point for third on the stage.
It's official, Sebastien Ogier is a four-time WRC champion. He's done it in style too, notching up his 37th career win, finishing 15.6s ahead of Dani Sordo.
Stroll takes another win - his 14th of the season and the first time he's taken a hat-trick of wins on a weekend. Eriksson is second while Hughes takes the final podium spot.
Mads Ostberg brings the M-Sport Ford home fifth. He's been exploring different driving techniques this weekend to try and extract more speed on tarmac, with mixed results. Expect more from the Norwegian in the muddy forests of Wales.
Another failed attempt has brought Sims right onto Hughes' tail and now gives Sette Camara a bit of breathing space. Ahead of this battle are Stroll, Eriksson and Cassidy.
Hughes has a look at Sette Camara at the hairpin this time round, and he almost careers into the back of the Motopark car.
Further up the order, Hughes is really starting to put some pressure on Sette Camara for fourth, which is allowing series returnee Sims to close on the pair.
It's a miserable end to the season for George Russell as the third-placed driver in the championship finishes his year in the pits.
Three minute gaps between the drivers on this final stage of the day and of the rally. Camili, Latvala and Breen are the first drivers into the stage. Remember, there's only one split on Duesaigües, so we may have to wait a little before the pecking order becomes clear.
Stroll's advantage is now 1.3 seconds and now he's got the lead he looks a strong bet for the victory.
There's already been more drama in this race than the whole of race two yesterday. The current order is Stroll leading from Eriksson, Cassidy, Sette Camara and Hughes, while Sims completes the top six.
The Power Stage is live, with Eric Camili the first man on the road. But one man who won't be taking it on is Martin Prokop, who shed a wheel on his Fiesta on SS17 and is out of the rally.
It's all change on lap two as Stroll grabs the lead from Eriksson and further back Sette Camara jumps the squabbling Hughes and Cassidy at the hairpin for third.
Eriksson makes a great start but then almost lost the lead to the fast-starting Lance Stroll as he ran wide at the hairpin. Hughes dropped to third, while Ilott had two off-track moments and has lost a handful of places.
Sensible drive from Neuville in SS18. He's slightly slower than Paddon, but still has 12.8s in hand over his team-mate. "I know I have to manage now - not take too many risks in the Power Stage," he said. "I just want the 15 points."
Sebastian Ogier now into the stage. Even with the title all but confirmed, he's not backing off and clocks the quickest time of anybody through the first split.
Camili is the first man through the stage, setting a benchmark time of 11m02.1s. He's struggling with more gearbox problems for the Ford.
Meanwhile, the Larbre Corvette has been wheeled back into the garage. It had been running third in the GTE-Am class, which is currently being led by Mathias Lauda's Aston Martin, with Francois Perrodo second in the older shape Ferrari 458.
Latvala again blitzles Camilli's time for a second stage in a row though with an end time of 8m00.4s.
Kamui Kobayashi is now back at the wheel of the #6 Toyota, completing the full rotation of drivers. The Japanese set the fastest single lap in qualifying, but would only start fourth once the average of his and Stephane Sarrazin's times were tallied. Can he put the pressure on the #8 Audi of Loic Duval?
Camilli comes through at the end of the stage in a time of 8m15.5s. Latvala, Gorban, Al Qassimi and Breen are now all on the stage.
Camilli will soon be starting the second stage of the loop. Before he does so, here's a quick stage guide from Seb Marshall, co-driver for Kevin Abbring (who with Meeke's demise is now up to seventh):
SS17 Duesaigees 7.51 miles
This one’s quite like Corsica, with corner, corner, corner all the time. When we were on the recce I quite enjoyed this one because it felt like the event we’d just come from and we were so used to it. It’s uphill and relentless corners, popping you out at the famous Riudecanyes round about where we have to do a donut around it. By then we will obviously have come through the place where Sebastien Ogier crashed last year – I think everybody will have that one marked now. The final donut around the roundabout is quite good fun, by then I’ve already called “over the finish” so I can sit back and enjoy that one!
SS17 Duesaigees 7.51 miles
This one’s quite like Corsica, with corner, corner, corner all the time. When we were on the recce I quite enjoyed this one because it felt like the event we’d just come from and we were so used to it. It’s uphill and relentless corners, popping you out at the famous Riudecanyes round about where we have to do a donut around it. By then we will obviously have come through the place where Sebastien Ogier crashed last year – I think everybody will have that one marked now. The final donut around the roundabout is quite good fun, by then I’ve already called “over the finish” so I can sit back and enjoy that one!
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