Rally - Ogier leads GB

Neuville has slipped to 3rd

There’s been a dramatic start to Rally Wales GB this morning with Robert Kubica cowping the Citroen DS3 out of the rally on the first stage of the morning, and he was followed by Mikko Hirvonen who also rolled his DS3 on SS6.

But way out in front is Sébastien Ogier, more than 10 seconds quicker over the opening 20 mile Hafren test, with Neuville just losing out after sliding wide at a hairpin.

Mads Østberg and Evgeny Novikov are fourth and fifth in their Fiestas, with the Polo R of Andreas Mikkelsen rounding off the top six.
 

Kubica is out

It looks as though Elfyn Evans is still in the hunt for WRC2 honours and might even be inside the top ten places overall, but times are still coming through after a delay following Kubica’s incident. 

However, it looks as though Robert Barrable is out. The Fiesta has a gearbox problem.

Leaderboard after 6 (of 22) stages:
 1. Sébastien OGIER, Volkswagen Motorsport,  14m 28.3s
2. Jari-Matti LATVALA, Volkswagen Motorsport,  +5.2s
3. Thierry NEUVILLE,  Qatar World Rally Team, +3.2s
4. Mads ØSTBERG, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team,  +24.7s
5. Evgeny NOVIKOV, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team, +37.5s
6. Andreas MIKKELSEN,  Volkswagen Motorsport II,  +27.8s

The front runners in the 3 day National event which started late this morning have completed their three stages for the day with Euan Thorburn in the lead by over 2 and a half minutes from Barry Groundwater who is just over a second clear of Melvyn Evans in the Subaru.

Paul Davey is fourth and Paul Benn is fifth ahead of John Morrison. So three Scottish crews in the top six is pretty good going. Here’s hoping!

Leaderboard after 3 (of 12) stages:
1, Euan Thorburn, Ford Focus WRC, 43m 33.0s
2, Barry Groundwater, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9, 46m 15.0s
3, Melvyn Evans, Subaru Impreza, 46m 16.6s
4, Paul Davy, Subaru Impreza, 46m 36.8s
5, Paul Benn, Ford Focus WRC, 46m 52.0s
6, John Morrison, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9, 47m 16.3s