At the start of the new day with SS9 Stein & Wein 1 with a distance of 26.54 km Sebastien Ogier back at top with stage victory. Ogier currently is at 35th position. After the first stage today the difference between Latvala and Neuville is 7.4 seconds only.
Dani Sordo and his co-driver C. Del Barion finished with stage win in SS10 Peterberg 1 (9.23 km) as Latvala is second while Neuville finished fourth at +3.2 seconds by Latvala.
Neuville comments: It is difficult to follow Latvala, especially at this stage. I had a good run. I had a perfect run, I dont know what to do more.
In the last stage the service park before the famous SS11 Arena Panzerplatte 1 with a distance of 41.08 km Sebastien Ogier finished first follow by Dani Sordo at +6.2 and Latvala third at +8.0. Thierry Neuville lost another 4.2 second by Latvala.
The distance between the rally leader Latvala and Neuville after the service park is 14.8 seconds.
Latvala: One left hand corner, it was very very slippy, we went wide and hit hinkelstein, we were very very lucky.
Neuville: I am very pleased with my driving, tried to manage my tyres. At the end I tried to pull back some time on Jari-Matti, but not enough.
After the service park in SS12 Stein & Wein 2 everything has change. The rally leader Jari-Matti Latvala is out of the road. First Latvala has a problem with a open door of his co-driver M. Anttila after their first accident. After than follow a new accident with Latvala's VW Polo and another accident with Mads Ostberg / J. Andersson Ford Fiesta.
Neuville is the new rally leader. He says: On a left hander we could not see the corner, it was so slippery, I could not avoid. My engine is not pushing anymore. Many people will go out on this point. I see Latvala's brake disc on this corner, I tried to slow down as quick as I could.
Results after SS12:
1. T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) 2:38:17.6
2. D. Sordo / C. Barrio (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1.1
3. M. Hirvonen / J. Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1:14.4
4. M. Prokop / M. Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +5:51.6
There are two stages to run to the end of the day.