The live broadcast will resume shortly after 12 p.m. for the Power Stage of this Rally of Finland.

In the Junior WRC, Simone Tempestini continues her progress over Ole Christian Veiby by gaining 1″8 from the leader of the standings. The Norwegian has an 8″ lead over the Italian before the Power Stage.

Eighth provisional time in WRC-2 on this SS23, Quentin Gilbert (DS3 R5) could threaten Henning Solberg (Ford Fiesta R5) for sixth place overall in the Power Stage, due to the Norwegian's power steering problems. Gilbert has gained more than 20″ in this sector, and is at 42″ in the category ranking.

Congrats to @Craig_Breen for his 1st @OfficialWRC stage win. well done @CitroenRacing @AbuDhabiRacing1 #RallyFinland pic.twitter.com/JaTjIsYZcH

— Pascal Couasnon (@MiGroup_sport) July 31, 2016

By signing his first WRC scratch on the 6,83 km of Lempää 2, Craig Breen (DS3) retains third place overall against the Hyundai of Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon. The Irishman is ahead of Hayden Paddon by a tenth on this SS23 of the Rally of Finland and Jari-Matti Latvala (Volkswagen) by six tenths.

Neuville and Ogier (Volkswagen) follow in the standings of the special ahead of triple world champion Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen). Overall, Meeke will be 32″8 ahead of Latvala at the start of the Power Stage. Breen sees his lead increase to 7″9 over Neuville, who is ahead of Paddon by 1″2.

Mads Ostberg (Ford) and Andreas Mikkelsen (Volkswagen) are in sixth and seventh place ahead of the Skoda Fabia R5 of Esapekka Lappi, still leader in WRC-2 after SS23, won in the category by Pontus Tidemand (Skoda), who returns 3″8 behind Teemu Suninen (Skoda) in the fight for second place.

Pontus Tidemand (Skoda) took the provisional best time in 3'15"4, ahead of Teemu Suninen (Skoda) by 2"6. Behind Esapekka Lappi (Skoda) still overall leader in the category, Suninen maintains a 3″8 lead over Tidemand before the Power Stage. The Finn will try to contain the Swede and avoid a double for the official Fabia R5s.

The WRC-2 competitors arrive at the finish.

Kris Meeke sets the sixth time of this special no. 23 by setting a time of 3’13″5. The Briton leads Latvala by 32″8 before the Power Stage.

Third time for Latvala (Volkswagen) in 3’11”8, six tenths behind Breen.

“I’m not going to give up anything so easily. I worked my whole life to get here. Let's finish the job. » proclaims Breen.

Craig Breen performed well by taking the best provisional time with his Abu Dhabi Racing DS3, and preceded the two Hyundais of Paddon and Neuville by 0″1 and 1″3. 7″9 now separate Breen from Neuville for third place before the Power Stage. Paddon remains in ambush 9″1 from Breen.

Hayden Paddon sets the provisional best time in 3’11”3, 1”9 better than Ogier. The New Zealander comes back 1″2 from his teammate at Hyundai Neuville who finished in 3’12″5, second provisional time. “I hit a rock with the left front, and I think that took some air out of the tire. » explains Paddon, however.

“It seems like I have a problem with the rear, which is moving all over the place,” Ostberg said. The car is undriveable. Terrible. I have oversteer in right turns. »

4th fastest time for Mads Ostberg (Ford) in 3’15”8. The Norwegian from Team M-Sport should not be worried by his compatriot Mikkelsen in the standings, with 20″2 separating the two drivers before the Power Stage.

Andreas Mikkelsen (Volkswagen) fails 1″ behind Abbring in third provisional position in this SS23. “Only the Power Stage counts now. » admits the Norwegian.

Despite a very wide exit in the last corner, Kevin Abbring set the second provisional time behind Ogier, 1″2 behind the Frenchman. The Dutchman from Hyundai indicates that the grip was quite low.

3’31″6 for Khalid Al-Qassimi (DS3) who decided to “join the finish.” »

Valeriy Gorban (Mini) sets a time of 3’25″9

“The tires shouldn't be a problem this morning. I have to be at the limit everywhere, I'll try. » comments Sébastien Ogier at the finish of the ES. The Frenchman took the reference time in 3’13”2.

Marcos Ligato (DS3) finished this SS23 in 3'24"7, the Argentinian improved his time set earlier in the morning to 3'27"3.