Jari-Matti Latvala has launched a concerted challenge in the closing stages of Coates Hire Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour.
Latvala has narrowed the gap to 8.7s following the morning’s three stages going into the lunchtime service.
He had a cracking run through the Shipmans stage where he gained a couple of seconds.
“It was a good run but two seconds isn’t massive when you want around four or five,” Latvala said.
“It’s the right direction and there’s a bit of pressure on him, so that’s good.”
A Volkswagen trifecta remains an almost certain chance with Andreas Mikkelsen third 48.2s behind the Polo duo but with a 90s-plus buffer over Kris Meeke (Citroen) who has fought back strongly following his heavy penalty for cutting yesterday.
M-Sport’s Mikko Hirvonen is 2.8s behind Meeke in his Fiesta RS.
Hyundai’s best remains Hayden Paddon who is zeroing in on Mads Ostberg who holds sixth in the other Citroen.
Neuville is eighth ahead of Evans and Kubica with Atkinson occupying 11th.
The leader in WRC2 is Yazeed Al Rajhi who took the lead from Nasser Al-Attiyah.
The afternoon sees a repeat of the morning stages, Shipmans, Bucca and Wedding Bells.
See below top 11 in WRC standings after SS17
|
1 |
S. OGIER |
2:28:52.1 |
|
|
2 |
J. LATVALA |
2:29:00.8 |
+8.7 |
|
3 |
A. MIKKELSEN |
2:29:40.3 |
+48.2 |
|
4 |
K. MEEKE |
2:30:24.7 |
1:32.6 |
|
5 |
M. HIRVONEN |
2:30:29.5 |
1:37.4 |
|
6 |
M. OSTBERG |
2:31:16.9 |
2:24.8 |
|
7 |
H. PADDON |
2:31:23.0 |
2:30.9 |
|
8 |
T. NEUVILLE |
2:33:03.8 |
4:11.7 |
|
9 |
E. EVANS |
2:33:24.8 |
+4:32.7 |
|
10 |
R. KUBICA |
2:34:43.8 |
5:51.7 |
|
11 |
C. ATKINSON |
2:37:13.9 |
8:21.8 |
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