WRC Rally Catalunya
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By: Matt Beer
Summary
Status: Stopped
That's it for Rally Catalunya, find our extensive report below.
Check our print and online titles in the lead up to Wales Rally GB, the penultimate round of the championship later this month, for news and analysis.
Check our print and online titles in the lead up to Wales Rally GB, the penultimate round of the championship later this month, for news and analysis.
What an end to a dramatic event. Here's the powerstage and overall results:
SS19 powerstage
1 Sordo 8m07.8s (five points)
2 Meeke +3.5s (four points)
3 Ogier +4.2s (three points)
4 Tanak +4.8s (two points)
5 Hanninen +6.8s (one point)
6 Lefebvre +9.6s
End of rally
1 Meeke 3h01m21.1s
2 Ogier +28s
3 Tanak +33s
4 Hanninen +54.1s
5 Ostberg +2m26.2s
6 Lefebvre +2m43s
SS19 powerstage
1 Sordo 8m07.8s (five points)
2 Meeke +3.5s (four points)
3 Ogier +4.2s (three points)
4 Tanak +4.8s (two points)
5 Hanninen +6.8s (one point)
6 Lefebvre +9.6s
End of rally
1 Meeke 3h01m21.1s
2 Ogier +28s
3 Tanak +33s
4 Hanninen +54.1s
5 Ostberg +2m26.2s
6 Lefebvre +2m43s
"What can I say it's been an exceptional weekend," says Meeke. "It's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how you get back up again, and I've had to get up a few times in my career.
"It's a special moment. My wife doesn't travel to the events often. It makes me very proud.
"This team was missing some confidence. A bit of that has been my fault. We know the car is exceptional on Tarmac."
"It's a special moment. My wife doesn't travel to the events often. It makes me very proud.
"This team was missing some confidence. A bit of that has been my fault. We know the car is exceptional on Tarmac."
There's a star jump from the roof as the Norther Irishman redeems himself. Meeke's wife and children celebrate with him as does Citroen's Linda Jackson. The sigh of relief can be heard everywhere.
MEEKE WINS RALLY CATALUNYA.
That's the comeback of all comebacks given the struggle he's been through with crashes and an ill-performing Citroen. Neither have been present this weekend and that's a stunning win.
He's second on the powerstage, 28s ahead of Ogier overall.
That's the comeback of all comebacks given the struggle he's been through with crashes and an ill-performing Citroen. Neither have been present this weekend and that's a stunning win.
He's second on the powerstage, 28s ahead of Ogier overall.
"It feels great," says Ogier. "I think we've done a good job this weekend."
No doubt. A brilliant make-the-most-of-it performance from Ogier and he takes many points as a reward.
No doubt. A brilliant make-the-most-of-it performance from Ogier and he takes many points as a reward.
Ogier arrives, 4.2s slower than Sordo and second quickest. That guarantees him powerstage points, second in the order and an extended championship lead with second position overall.
At the split, Ogier is 0.3s quicker than Tanak.
The gap between them was 4.4s in Ogier's favour before this one started.
The gap between them was 4.4s in Ogier's favour before this one started.
"Obviously some good points for the team, I think almost the perfect weekend," says a diplomatic Tanak who will still be upset that he has a gravel gearbox in his car.
And here is Tanak. He's secured third overall with that time, 4.8s slower than Sordo.
We're just waiting for Ogier and Meeke now. Meeke is due into the stage in two minutes.
We're just waiting for Ogier and Meeke now. Meeke is due into the stage in two minutes.
Hanninen is the closest to Sordo so far but still, 6.8s slower than the Spaniard. The Finn is the only Toyota to finish after Lappi's crash today and Latvala's mechanical issues on Friday.
"I like to see that I can fight for these guys, for myself it's really important," says Hanninen. "It has been a big pleasure."
"I like to see that I can fight for these guys, for myself it's really important," says Hanninen. "It has been a big pleasure."
Ostberg tailed off in the second half of the stage and he's third quickest, 9.8s slower than Sordo.
"It's been a really good weekend," he says. "Our last rally was Finland. We had a good Friday, leading at one point, and we've progressed well on Tarmac."
Hanninen and Tanak are into the stage now.
"It's been a really good weekend," he says. "Our last rally was Finland. We had a good Friday, leading at one point, and we've progressed well on Tarmac."
Hanninen and Tanak are into the stage now.
Lefebvre still has his problem, no flappy paddle gearbox and a hydraulic issue.
Further back in the stage, Ostberg is the closest person to Sordo yet in his privately-run Ford Fiesta WRC. He's 3.1s slower than Sordo at the first split.
Further back in the stage, Ostberg is the closest person to Sordo yet in his privately-run Ford Fiesta WRC. He's 3.1s slower than Sordo at the first split.
Lefebvre arrives and he's second quickest so far, 9.6s down on Sordo. That will secure Lefebvre sixth ahead of Evans.
Lefebvre breaks a long spell of red on the timing screens, but that's only because he's quicker than Mikkelsen. He's still 6.2s slower than Sordo at the first split.
Here's Elfyn Evans who should seal seventh overall, which would have seemed impossible earlier in the event. He's 18.7s slower than Sordo.
The DMACK tyres haven't suited this event from start to finish, and Evans will be happy to get home to Wales and regroup for Wales Rally GB where he should have a favourable starting spot.
The DMACK tyres haven't suited this event from start to finish, and Evans will be happy to get home to Wales and regroup for Wales Rally GB where he should have a favourable starting spot.
Suninen is 3.1s slower than Kopecky. But that should secure him the WRC2 win which we'll confirm when the other drivers are in. But it's extremely unlikely he'll be beaten.
"That's an awesome feeling for me," he says. "To get the first win on Tarmac to show I can be fast also on the tarmac."
"That's an awesome feeling for me," he says. "To get the first win on Tarmac to show I can be fast also on the tarmac."
Elfyn Evans and Stephane Lefebvre are back into the stage and mark the return to 2017-spec cars in the stage, following Kopecky and Suninen's R5s.
Speaking of Suninen, he's next into the stage now. He's 0.8s slower than Kopecky at the first split.
Kopecky, the WRC2 driver, is next in. He's 24.7s slower than Sordo, very respectable.
Kopecky has been quickest on most stages this weekend but lost over a minute in the dust of another driver on Friday, which cost him a chance at the class win which looks set to go to M-Sport's Teemu Suninen.
"I'm disappointed," says Kopecky. "I think the stewards made the wrong decision. The pace on Tarmac has been good. A big thanks to my co-driver and Skoda Motorsport team."
Kopecky has been quickest on most stages this weekend but lost over a minute in the dust of another driver on Friday, which cost him a chance at the class win which looks set to go to M-Sport's Teemu Suninen.
"I'm disappointed," says Kopecky. "I think the stewards made the wrong decision. The pace on Tarmac has been good. A big thanks to my co-driver and Skoda Motorsport team."
Al Qassimi arrives and he's 49.4s down on Sordo's benchmark.
"The car is improving," he says. "We need more mileage and we're happy with the progress."
"The car is improving," he says. "We need more mileage and we're happy with the progress."
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is next up in his Citroen C3 WRC, although he'll be off the pace of the more experienced Mikkelsen and Sordo.
Sordo says his Hyundai is performing well. All weekend the Hyundais have struggled with understeer.
"I pushed to the limit, I enjoyed it a lot," says Sordo. "The balance of the car is good now. I'm disappointed for the fans and spectators and for the team, especially the fans. I'm sorry."
"I pushed to the limit, I enjoyed it a lot," says Sordo. "The balance of the car is good now. I'm disappointed for the fans and spectators and for the team, especially the fans. I'm sorry."
Mikkelsen completes in 8m20.3s.
Followed not long after by Sordo, who is a rapid 12.5s quicker than Mikkelsen.
Followed not long after by Sordo, who is a rapid 12.5s quicker than Mikkelsen.
Sordo is a brilliant 7.1s up on Mikkelsen at the split and is a real contender for powerstage points here on his home rally, desperate to give back to the thousands of supporters here for him this weekend.
Mikkelsen reaches the first split as Dani Sordo enters the stage.
They're the only two Hyundai drivers capable of scoring any points after Neuville's retirement today. And with all three not scoring overall points, the powerstage is key in bagging some points for the South Korean firm in the manufacturers' standings, which M-Sport leads comfortably.
The Cumbrian outfit also sits pretty, set to score points for second and third with Ogier and Tanak.
They're the only two Hyundai drivers capable of scoring any points after Neuville's retirement today. And with all three not scoring overall points, the powerstage is key in bagging some points for the South Korean firm in the manufacturers' standings, which M-Sport leads comfortably.
The Cumbrian outfit also sits pretty, set to score points for second and third with Ogier and Tanak.
The Rally Catalunya decider is underway, with Andreas Mikkeslen into the stage.
If you're wondering what he's doing back there after leading overnight on Friday, he hit a rock yesterday spelling the end of his run in the top 10.
If you're wondering what he's doing back there after leading overnight on Friday, he hit a rock yesterday spelling the end of his run in the top 10.
Not long until the final stage of Rally Catlunya gets underway.
This is a repeat of SS16, Santa Marina, which is nine miles long.
It's a twisty test that starts on rough broken asphalt until it switches to smoother surface. It finishes at Coll de Fatxes.
This is a repeat of SS16, Santa Marina, which is nine miles long.
It's a twisty test that starts on rough broken asphalt until it switches to smoother surface. It finishes at Coll de Fatxes.
The powerstage gets underway at 1118hrs and here's the running order:
Mikkelsen
Sordo
Al Qassimi
Kopecky
Suninen
Evans
Lefebvre
Ostberg
Hanninen
Tanak
Ogier
Meeke
Mikkelsen
Sordo
Al Qassimi
Kopecky
Suninen
Evans
Lefebvre
Ostberg
Hanninen
Tanak
Ogier
Meeke
SS18
1 Meeke 10m19.5s
2 Sordo +0.2s
3 Ogier +1.1s
4 Tanak +3.2s
5 Hanninen +4.4s
6 Mikkelsen +7s
Overall after SS8
1 Meeke 2h53m09.8s
2 Ogier +27.3s
3 Tanak +31.7s
4 Hanninen +50.8s
5 Ostberg +2m19.9s
6 Lefebvre +2m36.9s
1 Meeke 10m19.5s
2 Sordo +0.2s
3 Ogier +1.1s
4 Tanak +3.2s
5 Hanninen +4.4s
6 Mikkelsen +7s
Overall after SS8
1 Meeke 2h53m09.8s
2 Ogier +27.3s
3 Tanak +31.7s
4 Hanninen +50.8s
5 Ostberg +2m19.9s
6 Lefebvre +2m36.9s
Sordo, who retired after hitting a rock yesterday, is back and second on this stage.
He's a favourite for powerstage points.
He's a favourite for powerstage points.
Wow, despite slower splits, Meeke goes quickest by 1.1s. His lead is up to 27.3s and he's absolutely untouchable so far today, fastest on every stage.
"We still didn't get our tyre choice right but we'll let that go," chuckles the rally leader.
When asked whether he'll push on the power stage, he says: "No, not at all. Points aren't our objective. We can certainly win rallies but we have to fill in the gaps."
"We still didn't get our tyre choice right but we'll let that go," chuckles the rally leader.
When asked whether he'll push on the power stage, he says: "No, not at all. Points aren't our objective. We can certainly win rallies but we have to fill in the gaps."
Here's Ogier. 2.1s quicker than Tanak and his gap is up to 4.4s going into the powerstage. That's a lot of time for Tanak to recover to a
"Try to keep the gap," says Ogier of the plan. "We can lose 4.3s. I want to stay ahead of him. A few more points would be good but I will not go for the full risk."
Could Tanak have saved tyres for a powerstage push? Unlikely. But we'll see.
"Try to keep the gap," says Ogier of the plan. "We can lose 4.3s. I want to stay ahead of him. A few more points would be good but I will not go for the full risk."
Could Tanak have saved tyres for a powerstage push? Unlikely. But we'll see.
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