Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

WRC Rally GB: Volkswagen's Ogier gets lead back from Meeke

Sebastien Ogier briefly lost the Rally GB lead to Kris Meeke on Saturday afternoon after slowing for Thierry Neuville's crashed Hyundai, but was restored to first place by the organisers

World Rally champion Ogier had been cruising into an ever-larger lead through the morning, before having to stop his Volkswagen on the Dyfnant stage when the road was blocked by Neuville's rolled i20.

The Belgian had won the first two stages of the day having rejoined under Rally2 following his Friday wheel loss - which Hyundai put down to sheared studs rather than a crash - but will not get a third chance to continue as his accident caused rollcage damage.

Although Ogier's delay allowed Meeke into the lead, it was always likely to be temporary while the stewards decided how much time to give back to the VW driver to make up for the enforced delay behind Neuville.

In any case, Ogier closed to within 2.1 seconds of Meeke's provisional first place by winning the following Aberhirnant stage.

With 31s returned to his Dyfnant time soon afterwards, Ogier headed for service 30.5s ahead of Meeke.

Andreas Mikkelsen remains on course for third in the other remaining VW, driving cautiously for a while due to some damper damage.

The second Citroen of Mads Ostberg tumbled from fourth to eighth when he lost nearly two minutes with a trip off the road on Dyfnant.

That elevated Ott Tanak - who was fastest of all on the short asphalt Chirk Castle stage - to fourth in the leading M-Sport Ford.

Tanak has Dani Sordo, delayed a little by gearshift problems, only 9.8s behind him.

Hayden Paddon is just ahead of Elfyn Evans in sixth, but was fortunate to be able to continue after a head-on crash with Martin Prokop on the road section after Aberhirnant.

Both had taken a wrong turning and were trying to get back on course when they met.

While Prokop's Ford was sidelined with a broken radiator, Paddon continued with only cosmetic damage and more concerned about an ongoing transmission issue.

Further back, Robert Kubica dropped out of the points once again when a differential problem left his Ford in rear-wheel-drive only. Lorenzo Bertelli consequently moved past him for 10th.

The rally returns to Dyfnant and Aberhirnant for two further stages after dark later on Saturday.

Autosport Race Centre Live's Rally GB coverage resumes for the night stages from 6.15pm UK time

LEADING POSITIONS AFTER SS13:

-

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article WRC Rally GB: Sebastien Ogier pulls away from Kris Meeke
Next article WRC Rally GB: VW's Sebastien Ogier completes night stages in lead

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe