Latvala now leads Ogier ahead of the final loop – WRC



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Latvala – in search of a third Rally GB win – reduced his deficit of 4.4 seconds to 1.7s on the opening stage of the day, Elsi, before snatching a sensational stage win in Gwydir, which is being run as the powerstage.

The Finn recounted a moment on the stage – which was described as "like Monte Carlo" by Hayden Paddon, referring to how slippy it was – where he was held back unseat Ogier.

On the loop 's final stage, Great Orme Llandudno, Ogier is coming to Lattera to end the morning just a little behind the other stages – one gravel and one asphalt.

Esapekka Lappi started the day with a stage win on Elsi to move into a podium spot, and sits behind Ogier 17s.

Lappi's cause was helped by a half-spin for Craig Breen on the powerstage and another mistake in Llandudno. The Citroen now lies fourth, 27.6s behind Lappi.

At the start of the day Hyundai had Andreas Mikkelsen and Hayden Paddon ahead of Thierry Neuville in eighth, leading to speculate Hyundai could employ team orders to jump the Belgian ahead of his team-mates for more championship points.

But that was made more difficult by Mikkelsen leapfrogging Osts Mads Ostberg, or aiding Neuville's title by swapping them around .

At the end of the loop, Mikkelsen and Ostberg lie tied for a fifth after Mikkelsen hit a bale and went to the Great Orme Stage, which allowed Ostberg to claw back time.

Neuville moved ahead of Paddon on the last stage of the loop to take his team-mate.

Latvala's powerstage win cost his team-mate Ott Tanak dearly; The Estonian retired on Saturday after ripping his sump guards in Sweet Lamb Hafren (SS16), exposing his radiator which suffered damage.

With Ogier and Neuville, Ogier and Neuville, Ogier and Neuville.

If the results remain the same, Neuville would hold an 11-point lead over Ogier, with Tanak having further four points back. Ogier started the weekend 23 points behind.

The powerstage is not in its usual slot as the last stage of the rally this year, as the organizers have employed new UK closed-road legislation the Great Orme stage in Llandudno.

The FIA ​​wanted the powerstage to be representative of the event – on gravel – so the Gwydir test was bumped up to powerstage status.

Gwydir and Great Orme Llandudno.

Impressive 18-year-old Finn Kalle Rovanpera maintained a lead of over a minute in WRC2 Skoda Fabia R5.

Pontus Tidemand bent an arm after clipping a bank in Gwydir, but carried along in his second British M-Sport driver Gus Greensmith.

Powerstage results

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