Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia moves to top after the end of day 2 of Rally Finland 2013. Ogier was the fastest man in SS 11 Jukojarvi 2. Martin Prokop report for overheating problem: "There is no power in the engine, it is meant to be 95 and now it is 140 (degrees)."
Ogier continues with stage wins in SS 12 Palsankyla 2 while Neuville follow him.
Sordo comments: "It is more ruts, very difficult, you lose steering of the car and you go out on the corners."
Hirvonen: "I was off on 5th gear corner and started to roll... It is a miracle that we are here. We have 2 punctures and we have 2 spares."
Again new domination of Ogier in SS 13 Mokkipera 2. Second position in the stage for Kris Meeke / M. Marrakula. Neuville / Gilsoul lost almost 15 seconds in the stage due too front puncture.
In SS 14 Mads Ostberg drop to third position overall due too 25.8 seconds delay in the stage due too a problem with front left tyre and broken rim. Sebastien Ogier continue with new stage victory in SS 14 and SS 15 to finish the second day with a comfortable advantage.
Novikov: "Bad moment today, second stage, we lost a lot of time, but we are here, checking the pace notes for next year. The plan is just try to drive with a good rythmn."
Latvala: "I am pleased especially the morning was good. This afternoon was a bit difficult as the ruts were a bit narrow. It was difficult to drive on the narrow ruts, that is why I was losing more time. But no problems, no mistakes."
Neuville: "I did one puncture in the stage before so I had to do this stage with a puncture. Shame we got a puncture on the short stage, but ok that is rallying. I puncture not so much, but this time it happen."
Ostberg: "It was a really big shame on the one (stage) before this one, but punctures happen and we had it on the long stage and I do not know what I hit. Fortunately I did not destroy anything more, I had a really big impact. I know I have the speed to beat Thierry (Neuville) and we are going to try and do it."
Ogier: "Perfect afternoon, we managed to push a bit more and find amore speed. This morning I rallied my pace and push more this afternoon. We have done a good job."
Results after SS 15:
1. Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 1:38:34.7
2. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +38.1
3. Mads Ostberg / Jonas Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +39.0
4. Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1:01.4
5. Kris Meeke / Chris Patterson (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1:09.5
6. Jarkko Nikara / J. Kalliolepo (Mini John Cooper Works WRC) +2:18.6
There are 8 stages to run tomorrow (last day of the rally).
 

The Ford drivers Mads Ostberg / Jonas Andersson  are the rally leaders after 4 stages today. The drivers are in the service park at the moment. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul  lost the leaders position but continue at fourth position at +11.4 seconds by the leader Ostberg.
The day 2 started with SS 7 Jukojarvi 1 (21.90 km) where Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen  were at the top, as Ostberg / Andersson finished second at +0.4 seconds. Neuville / Gilsoul drop down 11.2 seconds in the stage. In this stage 12th position for Dani Sordo / C. Del Barrio as Sordo comments: "I am not confident with nothing, not notes not nothing. We try to find something. I look to go faster but the stage time not so good."
Ostberg: "The stage was good, my driving was not perfect but the time is quite ok. I tried to push more and more. At the end when I push maximum I could still push some more. It is quite slippery in a few places. It is getting some ruts and it was quite good for us, you get in the ruts and pray..."
After the problems yesterday Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila set the best time in SS 8 Palsankyla 1. The same time in the stage for Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia. In this stage Novikov / Minor crashes but continue after that with damages. You can see the video of crash on the web site of rallypulse.com.
Meeke / Patterson: "We have a broken windscreen, a broken front wheel because of Evgeny Novikov, could he not look behind him!!!"
In SS 9 Mokkipera 1 (13.74 km) Mads Ostberg moves to top with the stage victory. Hirvonen / Lehtinen finished the stage at second position. Neuville / Gilsoul lost 6.1 seconds in the stage to move to fourth position overall. In the stage Juho Hanninen / Tomi Tuominen damage the rear right wheel. Juho finished 12th in the stage.
The last stage 10 Lankamaa 1 before the service park Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia  finished first but not enough to take the overall lead by Ostberg.
Novikov comments after the end of the stage about the car damages: "Very hard, to see something it is very difficult, I just cannot see the road."
Ogier:  It is ok, but Mads looks even faster, but I am happy with this stage. It's my pace.
Results after SS 10:
1. Mads Ostberg / Jonas Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) 1:01:39.8
2. Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +0.8
3. Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +7.5
4. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +11.4
5. Kris Meeke / Chris Patterson (Citroen DS3 WRC) +57.1
6. A. Mikkelsen / M. Marrkula (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:03.0
There are 5 stages to run this afternoon.
 

The young Belgium driver is the rally leader after Day 1 in Rally Finland 2013. Neuville finished fifth in SS 5 Himos 2 at +3.1 seconds by Mads Ostberg in a heavy rain. Very surprising result is the second position of Jarkko Nikara (FIN) / J. Kalliolepo with Mini John Cooper Works WRC. Ogier / Ingrassia is fifth in the stage 5. In the last stage for Day 1 SSS 6 Killeri 1 (2.06 km) the fastest man is again Thierry Neuville as second position for Evgeny Novikov / Ilka Minor.
After the serious problems with the Polo suspension Jari-Matti Latvala retired by the rally. Latvala and Antilla received a 4.40 minutes penalty due too 28 minutes delay for the start.
Results after the end of Day 1:
1. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) 25:33.3
2. Sebastien Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +5.2
3. Mads Ostberg / Jonas Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +8.9
4. Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +13.8
5. Juho Hanninen / Tomi Tuominen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +17.0
6. Kris Meeke / Chris Patterson (Citroen DS3 WRC) +17.5
The rally continues tomorrow with 9 stages as the first one starts at 8:48 AM CET.
 

After the service park the driver repeat the last 4 stages. In the first one SS 13 Monte Olia 2, Jari-Matti Latvala sets the fastest time 0.2 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen and 2.1 seconds by Thierry Neuville. In the stage M. Kosciuszko losts the 7th position by Elfyn Evans. Robert Kubica moves to 10th position.
In SS 14 Andreas Mikkelsen retired when try to battle for the fourth position with Dani Sordo. The attack finished with a broken suspension for Mikkelsen. The stage was won by Ogier followed by Neuville at +1.0 seconds.
In SS 15 Monti di Ala 2 (22.25 km) a stage before the end is a Power Stage. The Power Stage results are the follow:
1. S. Ogier 13:03.6     
2. T. Neuville +1.0
3. J. Latvala +4.5
Ogier after the Power Stage:  “It was good for us, I’m happy with that. I was watching the splits from Thierry and he was quite fast, so we had to drive fast to catch him.”
Neuville:  “I was happy early on when I saw I was up on Jari’s time, but he got some back so I had to push on again.”
Latvala:  “From the look of the split times it was always going to be tight. I felt I was improving throughout the stage, and I made no mistakes, but for sure he’s doing well.”
In the last stage SS 16 Latvala is the fastest man followed by Neuville.
Overall Results:
1. S. Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 3:22:57.9
2. T. Neuville (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +1:16.8
3. J. Latvala (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:48.0
4. D. Sordo (Citroen DS3 WRC) +3:19.2
5. M. Prokop (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +8:34.1
6. E. Evans (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +11:51.8
7. M. Kosciuszko (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +11:52.7
8. M. Ostberg (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +13:21.5
 

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.
 

Thierry Neuville was 1.4 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier in Castelsardo 2. Neuville is fifth overall.
Latvala comments:  It is quite equal. We had a very hard impact at the front right near the start of the stage and quite a long time I thought something break... I took it quite steady for a while after that before I push on again.
Neuville:  I made some changes on the car, especially the new brakes, I did not lock the brakes in this one. I had a clean run and obviously not so bad.
Amazing second stage victory for Neuville in SS 5 Tergu - Osilo 2. Sebastien Ogier was 0.2 seconds slower, third is Latvala at +1.4 seconds. With this fastest time Neuville moved to fourth overall ahead Dani Sordo.
Neuville after SS 5: It was a good time, I feel very comfortable with the car and with grip. Just fine and I think the engineers have done a good job with the settings. We had a very clean run.
In the longest stage of 31.08 SS 6 Monte Lerno 2 Sebastien Ogier is the fastest one followed by Latvala at +4.3 and Neuville +8.4 seconds. Mads Ostberg lost almost 21 seconds as move one position down while Neuville move to third overall.
Osberg: We had a spin and lost maybe 10 seconds or something on the second to last split.
Neuville:  It's going pretty well, I lose the tyre right into the tarmac section and I had to slow down at the end. I took it carefully in some places.
Ogier:  We have done a good stage, good drive. My natural driving style, I try to be more safe with steering, more progressive.
After the service break in SS 7 Gallura 1 Latvala set the fastest time ahead the second Sebastien Ogier who lost 10.9 seconds in 13.55 km stage.Latvala is at seventh position overall.
Latvala: I came here 2003 and this is exactly the stage that was used that time, I love those stages... Now we have still chance.
Ogier: It was ok, it is much more rough than the other so I was much more safe.
Sordo: It was good, nice stage but difficult and very different. The first part is really difficult narrow with crests and twisty. Very tricky.
Neuville: Quite ok. I took care about the car, it is quite rough, a lot of stones. It was a problem (dust) and I am sure it will be a problem in the night.
The last stage for Day 1 SS 8 Gallura 2 is a disaster for Mads Ostberg who rolled in the stage. Latvala wins the stage followed by Neuville at +5.3 seconds.
Ogier: Really good day, but it is only half of the rally, we have to continue the job tomorrow. Two rally now I have not win, so I want to win again. For sure for us no risk, just finish the day.
Neuville: It was a good day, everything went well except the spin this morning. My car was incredible today and hope we can continue like this tomorrow. I got now three 3rd places and a 2nd place would be nice...
Sordo: To be honest I thought it would be really bad, now we have good lights and we see a lot, it was really nice. We are still there maybe fighting for the podium tomorrow, so we must keep going.
Results after the end of Day 1 SS 8:
1. S. Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 1:40:47.3
2. M. Hirvonen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +46.6
3. T. Neuville (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +49.7
4. D. Sordo (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1:19.4
5. J. Latvala (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:44.0
6. A. Mikkelsen (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:55.4
For tomorrow the last rally day there are 8 stages to run.
 

A wonderful start for Sebastien Ogier in Rally Sardegna 2013. In SS1 Monte Lerno 1 (31.08km) Sebastien Ogier is the fastest one with 5.3 seconds advantage to Mikko Hirvonen. Third position in the stage is Evgeny Novikov at +8.5 seconds. Latvala lost almost two minutes in the first stage due too a puncture.