Wales Rally GB 2018
08h
The Power Stage is about to be contested. The drivers will compete over the 14,76km of Gwydir during its first pass.
08h
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) gained almost 3 seconds from Wales Rally GB leader Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport) in the 19th special, the 10,06km Elsi. The Finn was closest to his compatriot Esapekka Lappi with 1''6 behind, the latter having signed the scratch with a time of 7'17''1. Craig Breen (Citroën) gave up more than 5 seconds on the author of the reference. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) did not take any risks by opening the road by placing more than 9 seconds behind, just ahead of his teammate Andreas Mikkelsen who took 1”5 from his compatriot Mads Ostberg (Citroën).
Sébastien Ogier only has a lead of 1''7 over Jari-Matti Latvala before the Power Stage which, exceptionally, will not conclude the event. Esapekka Lappi remains in the match for victory with less than 6 seconds behind his teammate. Craig Breen, on the other hand, finds himself 7 seconds off the provisional podium. Mads Ostberg (Citroën) remains in the Top 5 for less than a second ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen who still leads the Hyundai trio.
08h
Ogier lost 2″7 to Latvala who returned to 1″7 from the lead of the race. “The conditions were complicated, I didn't want to make a mistake. »
08h
Latvala drops 1″6 to his teammate Lappi. The former VW driver remains a little less than 6 seconds ahead of his compatriot. “The stage was really slippery. I almost walked out at one point. A really tough ES. »
08h
Lappi took the provisional scratch with more than 9 seconds ahead of Mikkelsen. Breen follows more than 5s behind and finds himself 7s behind the Finn.
08h
Ostberg drops 1″5 to his compatriot Mikkelsen who came back to within a second of the Top 5. “We learned a lot of things this weekend. I had trouble finding the rhythm at first but it's okay now. »
08h
Mikkelsen ranks 6 tenths behind his teammate Neuville. The Norwegian is battling with his compatriot Ostberg for 5th place. “It's hard to see anything, it's too dark. »
08h
Paddon ranks 2″3 behind his teammate Neuville. The New Zealander temporarily remains in 7th place.
08h
Neuville sets a first time of 7'26″5. The Hyundai driver is in 8th place but the Belgian should benefit from the instructions to gain 2 positions. “It’s very slippery, that surprised me. My grades were a little too optimistic. I had to take my foot off the gas to avoid making a mistake. »
08h
Here is the starting order for the last stage:
Start list day 3 @WalesRallyGB #Neuville #Paddon #Mikkelsen OstbergBreenLappiLatvala OgierTanakEvans#WRC #HMSGOfficial
— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) 7th October, 2018
08h
Neuville set off in the 10,06km of Elsi, a new course contested on dry roads with fairly fast sections.
08h
The strategies vary again for this last step:
Ostberg, Breen, Tänak, Neuville and Mikkelsen start with 5 soft tires.
Lappi preferred 5 mediums.
Latvala, Ogier and Evans leave with 2 softs and 3 mediums.
Paddon preferred to take 4 soft and 1 medium.
08h
Tänak: “We still have chances for the title even if it becomes much more complicated. Our position on the road will not be the best for the Power Stage. »
08h
Tänak will be able to restart today to aim for points in the Power Stage and stay in the title race after dropping out yesterday while firmly in the lead of the race.
08h
The outcome of Wales Rally GB will be known this Sunday with the final stage to follow live with our live text.
This stage will be animated by the duel for victory between Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport) and Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota). The podium remains uncertain with Craig Breen (Citroën) in ambush less than 2 seconds behind Esapekka Lappi (Toyota).
Read also
