WRC: Wales Rally GB

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

Gil-galad said: ↑

With Ostberg ailing and with a little bit of luck, a podium for Kris is definitely not out of the question. :fingerscrossed:

Amazing comeback from their standing not more than 48 hours ago.
Click to expand...

How prophetic:

SS16: Ostberg fearing woe in Wales (wrc.com)

12 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS16, Sweet Lamb 2 (4.01 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œItâ€™s still tricky and thereâ€™s been plenty of drama before with the water splashes and the jumps. Itâ€™s tricky going down into the bottom section where you get lots of spectators. Even though itâ€™s four kilometres long you have to treat it with the same amount of respect as the other stages having just come from the longest stage of the rally. Itâ€™s easy to lose time on this stage if you are not on it.â€

How the action unfolded:
Mads Ostberg fears the engine problems that are holding him back on Wales Rally GB might cost him the final podium place on the world championship finale.

The Norwegian continues to lose time in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta. Speaking at the finish of the repeat of the Sweet Lamb stage, Ostberg said: â€œI just want to get through and Iâ€™ve been told by the team just to use high revs and no torque. I donâ€™t have a clue what the problem is but if we stop the car it will only restart on three cylinders. It seems to be a big problem and Iâ€™m not sure if we can fix that in service (this evening).â€

In the battle for first place, Fordâ€™s Jari-Matti Latvala has extended his advantage over Sebastien Loeb to 1.5s after going 0.2s faster than his Citroen rival through the run.

â€œItâ€™s much more slippery in the afternoon because itâ€™s been raining and itâ€™s taken the gravel off the top of the surface to leave a hard base, which is basically polished mud,â€ said the Finn.

Loeb said: â€œWe lose a lot of power after the water splash so for sure the time wonâ€™t be so good.â€

Key moment:
Latvala extends lead as engine problem worries Ostberg.
Click to expand...

Justa Jim · Nov 12, 2011

It does't get a y better then this.

Jim

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

Sordo finishes stage 17 with the 5th best time, Meeke the 7th. Meeke still classified 5th overall, now 45sec back of 4th H Solberg.

SS17: Loeb canâ€™t stop flying Latvala (wrc.com)

12 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS17, Myherin 2 (27.88 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œThis stage has a wind farm at the top so youâ€™re climbing up hill before it opens out at the top where itâ€™s really fast. Then you are back into the forest and itâ€™s like a ski run with a steep downhill section. The finish is fast and in the open. Itâ€™s another long stage and because youâ€™ve climbed up hill fog can be a threat.â€

How the action unfolded:
Sebastien Loeb says heâ€™s powerless to halt Jari-Matti Latvalaâ€™s progress on Wales Rally GB following the completion of Saturdayâ€™s final stage, Myherin.

Loeb started Saturday afternoonâ€™s loop of three stages 1.1s in front of Latvala but trails the Finn by 6.1s heading to the dayâ€™s final service halt in Builth Wells after Latvala went fastest on todayâ€™s three closing stages.

â€œItâ€™s going really well and tomorrow morning I need to wake up with a very clean head,â€ said factory Ford driver Latvala. â€œI have got a good confidence and Iâ€™m so hungry for the victory.â€

Citroen driver Loeb said: â€œI cannot do anything. Maybe heâ€™s much better than me or maybe we are cleaning a bit but I did the perfect stage. If you watch on the video you can find no mistake anywhere. We have to continue, anything is possible.â€

Mads Ostberg continues to be hampered by an engine glitch but maintains third place ahead of Henning Solberg. MINI WRC Teamâ€™s Kris Meeke has pulled clear of Matthew Wilson in the battle for fifth after Wilson reported an off-road moment near the stage start in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta.

Ott Tanak was late starting the stage and completed the run more than 50 seconds slower than Latvala in his privateer Fiesta.

Key moment:
Latvala edges clear in Wales with third win of the afternoon.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

Meeke hunting down fourth place. (minimotorsport.com)

12 November 2011

Kris Meeke is gradually climbing up the overall standings. His next goal: fourth place. Day three of the Rally GB is was also a good one for Dani, who made a successful comeback.

Special Stage 17: 45 seconds separate Kris from fourth place at the end of the third day. Kris will have to continue to produce consistently quick performances on the final day of the Rally GB if he is to move further up the standings. The prospects are good though. Kris effortlessly dismissed the technical problems he suffered this morning and consistently closed the gap on fourth-placed Henning Solberg after the lunch break. With another six stages scheduled for Sunday, Kris has plenty of opportunity to make up even more ground.

Dani's dreams of a top-ten or even a podium finish were well and truly shattered after Friday's retirement. Because he started under SupeRally rules, he had no choice but to accept a five-minute penalty for each special stage he missed on Friday, putting him well down the overall standings. However, Dani is never one to give up. The top times Dani set all Saturday are proof of his fighting spirit. Dani has been in the top six on every stage: definitely a successful comeback.

Anyone who has acquired a taste for the fourth and final day of the Rally GB can look forward to Sunday, as the MINI WRC Team looks to serve up another treat for its fans.

Special Stage 16: The short, four-kilometre "Sweet Lamb" stage is indeed sweet for Dani and Kris. The third fastest time sees Dani underline his intent to compete with the cars at the head of the field and to utilise the full potential of the MINI WRC, despite being well down the standings as a result of missing six stages on Friday. "The stage was very slippery, but I am happy with our performance," says Dani.

Kris finishes with the fifth fastest time, picking up a further two seconds on Henning Solberg, who is currently fourth overall. Is he enjoying hunting down the other drivers? "To be honest, I would rather be in front of everyone," says Kris with a cheeky wink. "But we are not at that stage yet."

Special Stage 15: "MINI like new leaving service! Not a major problem to fix," tweets Kris after the service break. And sure enough, Kris flies through the 32.14-kilometre special stage. The fourth fastest time for the stage sees him make up enough time on Matthew Wilson to move up another place in the overall standings. That is fifth overall now for Kris, and means he has already achieved the goal he set himself for Saturday on Friday evening.

Dani also posts a good time: 19:43.7 minutes, just 7.4 seconds behind Kris and sixth fastest on this stage.

Special Stage 14: Dani is back! He and co-driver Carlos del Barrio clock their third good stage time in a row. After "black Friday", when Dani and Carlos had to sit the afternoon out following an excursion into a Welsh ditch, they are in much higher spirits as they head off to the service break having set the fifth fastest time on the final stage of the morning.

Kris is looking forward to the service break more than most, however. He has been unable to call on the full power of his car, and has had to make the best of a poor situation over the morning's three stages. Despite this, Kris is by no means slow. "Incredible," says Kris. Indeed â€“ after the first three stages he has actually moved up two places in the overall standings and starts the afternoon in sixth place overall.

Special Stage 13: Having taken a cautious approach to the first stage of the day, Dani visibly grows in confidence over the course of the short thirteenth stage. Fourth place says it all. Dani might still be advised not to bother looking at his overall position (31st at the moment), but he is clearly enjoying himself out there.

Kris struggles through the next stage, as his engine's turbo is not giving him full power. Despite this he finishes ninth fastest and climbs to sixth place overall.

Special Stage 12: Day three opens with the longest special stage on the Rally Great Britain. The field starts the 32.14-kilometre stage in difficult conditions, with the surface still very damp after heavy rain on the previous day.

Kris is first out in MINI WRC number 52. After a great Friday afternoon, when he was very quick out on the course, Kris is now looking to move further up the overall standings. Starting in eighth place overall, Kris has to settle for ninth place on the first stage of the day, however. "There is something wrong with the engine," Kris reports.

Dani and Carlos are back in business having had to sit out half a day's action on Friday. They immediately set the sixth fastest time. "The car is running well, but the stage was difficult because the surface was very slippery," says Dani.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

Mud?

Paddy Hopkirk signing autographs

Justa Jim · Nov 12, 2011

Tomorrow could bring a lot of surprises. I hope they are good ones for Kris. :fingerscrossed:

Jim

Justa Jim · Nov 12, 2011

There is some really good stuff in the second one.

Saturday:

World Rally Championship - Video - Browse All - ~GB 2011:~Saturday 60~second Wrap

Friday:

World Rally Championship - Video - Browse All - GB 2011: Friday 60 second Wrap

Jim

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlSVEbqH6w]Day 3 Highlights - 2011 WRC Wales Rally GB - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4IeT3_SP0M]Leg 2 Highlights - 2011 WRC Wales Rally GB - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

SS18: Latvala edges clear of Loeb (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS18, Halfway 1 (27.88 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œThere are three kilometres at the start on Tarmac and one and a half of those was used last year. It joins the stage the same way as 2008 but in a reverse direction. It joins just before the section where Andreas Mikkelsen had his back crash a few years ago. If youâ€™re running at the head of the field you might need some additional lighting with you because itâ€™s going to be another early start. The fog at the top of the ranges is also notorious at this time of year, certainly one to think about.â€

How the action unfolded:
Jari-Matti Latvala has extended his lead of Wales Rally GB to seven and a half seconds after winning Sundayâ€™s first test, the mixed-surface 14.93-kilometre Halfway blast.

Driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Latvala said: â€œItâ€™s looking good. I think it was good to be running first on the road. There was one place where it was quite slippery and it made the heart beat faster.â€

Loeb was 1.4s slower than Latvala in his Citroen Total World Rally Team DS3 WRC. â€œEverything is okay but Jari-Matti is very fast,â€ said the French driver. â€œIâ€™m pushing very hard but there is nothing to do at the moment. The asphalt section was clean, no problem.â€

Mads Ostberg, who is third in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta on the World Rally Championship finale, said: â€œWeâ€™re working on securing the third position without any risks. We still have engine problems but we can definitely cope with it by turning down the power and not overusing it.â€

Kris Meeke continues to close the gap to fourth-placed Henning Solberg. â€œI want to catch Henning but I need to get it home,â€ said the MINI John Cooper Works WRC driver, who is now 35.1s behind the Norwegian. â€œAt least I know the grip is there.â€

Crews will now head to the 22.73-kilometre Crychan test, which gets underway at 08:06hrs local time.

Key moment:
Latvala extends lead on world championship finale.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

Drama in Wales as Loeb retires (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Sebastien Loeb has been involved in a road accident leaving stage 18, Halfway.

The Citroen ace and co-driver Daniel Elena, plus the occupants of the car, are all understood to be uninjured. However, Loebâ€™s DS3 WRC has been damaged to the point he is unable to continue to the next stage, Crychan.

A spokesperson for the Citroen Total World Rally Team: â€œThe other car was coming towards Seb and Dani on the wrong side of the road. Itâ€™s not possible to make repairs, they are out of the rally.â€

On hearing the news, Loebâ€™s team-mate Sebastien Ogier said: â€œItâ€™s a big shame for sure.â€

Citroen team members are now trying to get the car back to service in Builth Wells in order to carry out repairs to enable the Frenchman to reach the podium in Cardiff this afternoon where he will celebrate the eighth world title he clinched on Friday.

Loebâ€™s exit hands Jari-Matti Latvala a comfortable lead on the World Rally Championship finale. It also promotes Mads Ostberg and Henning Solberg into second and third places respectively.

Loeb secured the 2011 world crown when title rival Mikko Hirvonen retired on Friday with engine damage. Had the Finn not hit trouble then Loebâ€™s retirement could have handed Hirvonen his first world championship accolade.
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Steve · Nov 13, 2011

SS19: Meeke closes on first podium (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS19, Crychan 1 (22.73 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œThis stage is running in an opposite direction to last year. Youâ€™ve got eight kilometres of Tarmac at the end of the stage and itâ€™s going to be right before the Power Stage when we do it for a second time. What people do about tyres and how they use them will be really interesting. Crychan and Halfway used to be the most northern stages we used on this event but now they are the most southern, which shows you how much this event has changed.â€

How the action unfolded:
Kris Meeke is 22.6s adrift of his maiden podium finish in the World Rally Championship as he continues to close the gap to third-placed Henning Solberg on Wales Rally GB.

Meeke, who was third quickest through the run in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC, was more than 10 seconds faster than Fiesta driver Solberg.

Jari-Matti Latvala was fastest through the stage, beating Sebastien Ogier by 9.9s, despite admitting heâ€™s backing off following Sebastien Loebâ€™s dramatic retirement heading to the Crychan test.

After losing a place to Ott Tanak on the previous stage, FERM Power Tools World Rally Teamâ€™s Dennis Kuipers has fallen behind Team Abu Dhabiâ€™s Evgeny Novikov.

Key moment:
Meeke closes on Henning Solberg in podium battle.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

If you've been keeping up you know that Loeb's retirement means the next guy in Meeke's sights (H. Solberg) is now 3rd! He's 21.3sec back from a podium position. :fingerscrossed:

SS20: Solberg vows to fight for podium (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS20, Monument 1 (4.36 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œItâ€™s run in an opposite direction to last year and itâ€™s also shorter by about half. The ground is really hard and itâ€™s not going to cut up. There are actually some cuts that are really bumpy but in general itâ€™s real compact and hard gravel. Itâ€™s fast and open and will be great for the Power Stage because itâ€™s representative of the event and the open section will be good for the cameras. Youâ€™ve also got a forest section where the fans can get to and get behind everyone. It will be a good climax to the rally and the championship.â€

How the action unfolded:
Henning Solberg says he will do all he can to maintain his grip on the final podium spot on Wales Rally GB, the closing round of the 2011 World Rally Championship season.

The Norwegian M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta driver is under mounting pressure from Kris Meeke in the battle for third place with the Briton closing the gap to 21.3s with three stages remaining.

â€œI try my best and we will see what we can do,â€ said Solberg, who was 1.3s slower than MINI driver Meeke through the stage. â€œA podium will be fantastic. I try.â€

Jari-Matti Latvala tops the overall standings by 3m19.5s in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC but had to give best to Citroenâ€™s Sebastien Ogier, who was quickest through the short test by 0.2s, despite reporting that he was â€œvalidating his pace notesâ€ when the stage is run for a second time this afternoon.

Evgeny Novikov has fallen behind Dennis Kuipers to eighth place after reporting an engine problem at the stage start on his Team Abu Dhabi Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Key moment:
Meeke continues to close on Solberg as engine woes slow Novikov.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

Meeke aims for historic podium (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Kris Meeke could become the first Briton since Richard Burns to finish on the podium on a round of the World Rally Championship, providing he can catch Henning Solberg for third place on Wales Rally GB.

Burns, the 2001 world champion, finished in third place on Rally Australia in September 2003, a handful of months before he was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a form of brain tumour, which would ultimately claim his life a two years later.

â€œWe keep taking time out of Henning and maybe we could have taken a bit more on Crychan had we not been too cautious on the Tarmac sections,â€ said Northern Irishman Meeke, who trails Solberg by 21.3s. â€œWe keep trying and we will see what happens. As weâ€™ve seen with Sebastien [Loeb] you never know what can happen in this game.â€

Meekeâ€™s co-driver said: â€œHe will push absolutely to the maximum. Kris is driving exceptionally well today, really good.â€

Burns was also the last Briton to finish on the podium on Rally GB, a feat he achieved when he finished third on the event in 2001 to secure the world title alongside co-driver Robert Reid.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

SS21: Latvala aims to keep concentrating (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS21, Halfway 2 (27.88 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œThere are three kilometres at the start on Tarmac and one and a half of those was used last year. It joins the stage the same way as 2008 but in a reverse direction. It joins just before the section where Andreas Mikkelsen had his back crash a few years ago. If youâ€™re running at the head of the field you might need some additional lighting with you because itâ€™s going to be another early start. The fog at the top of the ranges is also notorious at this time of year, certainly one to think about.â€

How the action unfolded:
Jari-Matti Latvala says maintaining his concentration until the finish in Cardiff this afternoon will be the biggest challenge he will face on the final two stages of Wales Rally GB.

Latvala extended his comfortable advantage over Mads Ostberg to 3m25.9s on the repeat of the Halfway test.

â€œWeâ€™ve got two more stages and itâ€™s not easy when you are not in the fight,â€ said Latvala, who has yet to win in the WRC this season. â€œYou need to keep the concentration but the car is going well. The target is to hold this position and get to the finish.â€

Kris Meeke has narrowed the gap to third-placed Henning Solberg to 13.3s following another strong run in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Key moment:
Latvala extends lead on world championship finale.
Click to expand...

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

Holy crap this is a nail-biter for MINI fans! Sordo came 3rd (he's up to 22nd place overall) and Meeke 4th on this stage. Kris is 1.8sec off the podium with only the Power Stage to go!!!

SS22: Ogier fastest as Meeke closes on third (wrc.com)

13 Nov 11

Wrc.com stage summary

Stage data: SS22, Crychan 2 (22.73 kilometres)

Stage description:
By M-Sport Stobart

Ford Rally Team co-driver Scott Martin: â€œThis stage is running in an opposite direction to last year. Youâ€™ve got eight kilometres of Tarmac at the end of the stage and itâ€™s going to be right before the Power Stage when we do it for a second time. What people do about tyres and how they use them will be really interesting. Crychan and Halfway used to be the most northern stages we used on this event but now they are the most southern, which shows you how much this event has changed.â€

How the action unfolded:
Kris Meeke has set up a thrilling fight for the last podium spot on the final stage of Wales Rally GB by slashing Henning Solbergâ€™s advantage to a slender 1.8s on the 22.73-kilometre Crychan stage.

The MINI WRC Team ace has been on sensational form on day four of the World Rally Championship qualifier, which he began by trailing the M-Sport Stobart driver by 45.0s, and set the third fastest time through the eventâ€™s penultimate stage.

However, with just a 4.36-kilometre test - the Power Stage - remaining Meeke will have to be at his attacking best if he is to beat Solberg for third place.

Sebastien Ogier was fastest through the stage in his Citroen DS3 WRC, 4.2s quicker than rally leader Jari-Matti Latvala, whose lead over fellow Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver Mads Ostberg is now 3m41.0s.

The Power Stage, the repeat of the 4.36-kilometre Monument test, gets underway at 12:11hrs local time and will be shown live on television around the world.

Key moment:
Meeke slashes Solbergâ€™s advantage in podium fight.
Click to expand...

Crashton · Nov 13, 2011

Hope Kris can pull another power stage win or at least pull a couple of seconds. :fingerscrossed:

Justa Jim · Nov 13, 2011

This is one heck of a rally. As Steve said, a real nail bitter.

Jim

minimark · Nov 13, 2011

Good stuff indeed, fingers crossed!!!

Steve · Nov 13, 2011

Yup, but the Power Stage was too short for Meeke to take another 1.8sec from Solberg. He spun and lost some time and will finish 7.2sec back in 4th.

He needed 1.8sec and I'm guessing since he knew he only beat Solberg by 1.3sec the first time they ran this stage earlier today he figured he needed to push extra hard...a little too hard.

Still, an absolutely FANTASTIC run!

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