In the first stage for day 2 in WRC Rally Sardegna 2013 SS 9 Monte Olia 1, Mikko Hirvonen pushes to keep the second position by the attack of Thierry Neuville. Mikko was the fastest man in 19.27 km stage followed by Neuville at +5.4 seconds and Latvala at +5.8 seconds.
Mikko do not stand by the Neuville attacks as in SS 10 Terranova 1 (14.82 km) Mikko lost his position. Mikko car was stuck in a ditch 500 meters from the start. Mikko retired after the incident.
Neuville comment: Quite ok, I put some pressure on and now it works. Now we need to be careful, Jari-Matti is pushing.
Ogier:  He (Hirvonen) was stuck in the first hairpin. A good stage, not pushing too much. Good road position, for sure, I just want to finish.
In the next stage SS 11 Monti di Ala 1 (22.25 km) Jari-Matti Latvala moved to third position overall ahead Dani Sordo who lost the podium position. The both VW drivers was at the top in the stage.
Ogier comments:  For me it was ok, Mikko (Hirvonen) is missing... Without pushing I can be fast, that is good. Of course we just try to be as safe as possible, save the car, save the tyres...
Neuville:  It's quite ok, I am doing very careful now, trying to save the tyres as well. The problem is that we have no splits... It seems I have a good feeling with the car.
Sordo: We have a spin and I stop the engine and it was difficult to start the engine after. There is a lot lot of dust in the stage, in some part you cannot see anything.
Latvala:  I try to catch for the 3rd place, it is really tempting. I try to push for that, at the moment that is the best I can do.
In SS 14 Coiluna - Loelle 1 before the service break the fastest man is Latvala followed by Sebastien Ogier. The Polish driver M. Kosciuszko moves to 7th position in a perfect rally for him.
M. Kosciuszko: I think something happen to him (Evans) in there... We try to drive as fast as possible.
Sordo:  I don't have any splits, I am trying to drive maximum as possible. The car is moving a lot on the rear, difficult to drive. It's ok.
Latvala: No I cannot catch him (Neuville), no chance to catch him. I can't do it, it is too risky. Now I drive to control the situation, I want to stay 3rd.
Results after SS 12:
1. S. Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 2:32:41.3
2. T. Neuville (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +1:15.9
3. J. Latvala (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:51.4
4. D. Sordo (Citroen DS3 WRC) +2:12.2
5. A. Mikkelsen (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +2:32.1
6. M. Prokop (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +6:56.0
There are 4 stages to the end of Rally Sardegna 2013.