The Latvala-Ogier mano a mano continues

4″5 ahead for Jari-Matti Latvala this morning over his teammate at Volkswagen the World Champion Sébastien Ogier, at the start of the second stage, and 8″4 after the first loop this morning. The duel is well and truly taking shape and only Kris Meeke, author of the scratch in SS7 on his Citroën DS3, seems to be holding on to the pace of the two Polo R's. The Northern Irishman is 13″1 behind the leader Latvala who notably benefited of SS7 to take 3″2 from Ogier penalized by the sweeping phenomenon.

Behind, the morning stages caused several victims. Robert Kubica (Ford) made a mistake in SS5. The Pole will stay there for the day. A little more success for the Finn from Hyundai Juho Hänninen, rolled over in the sixth special and lost more than a minute in the process before losing more time in the following SS. Hänninen saw Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) take 4th place, but more than 26” from the podium and Kris Meeke.

Still at Hyundai, Thierry Neuville, went a little wide in the first SS of the day, and damaged the rear wing of his i20. Struggling in the fast sections, with a disrupted aerodynamic car, the Belgian was in 7th place before the afternoon loop.

En WRC-2, Jari Ketomaa (Ford) is still leader in the category ahead of Karl Kruuda (Ford). Ott Tänak (Ford) has scored several scratches but remains far from the podium where the Frenchman Sébastien Chardonnet (Citroën DS3 R5) is currently placed. Finally, note the abandonment of the Tricolore Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën DS3 R3) in Junior WRC, who made a mistake in SS6, and who broke a front triangle.

Le Rally of Finland will resume at 14:56 p.m., still live on AUTOhebdo.fr.