Wales Rally 2013: Daily Race Results, Reaction and Standings

Wales hosts the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship 2013 from November 14-17, with the country's beautiful, mountainous scenery and forests set to offer the ideal back drop for some first class rally racing.

Starting off from Conwy Quay, the focus quickly shifts to three night stages through Snowdonia, followed by an excursion into the North Wales countryside and up to an asphalt stage in the shadow of Chirk Castle.

The final day on Sunday features a power stage and two spectator stages before a climatic finale in Llandudno with the famous Great Orme asphalt stage.

Follow all the action with Bleacher Report, including daily race results, reaction and updated standings, by hitting the start button below.

Thursday, 14 November 

7 a.m., Free practice 
10:45 a.m., Qualifying stage, Llandegla
7:05 p.m., SS1, Gwydyr
7:38 p.m., SS2, Penmachno
8.42 p.m., SS3, Clocaenog 1 

Friday, 15 November 

9:37 a.m., SS4, Hafren 1
10:20 a.m., SS5, Sweet Lamb 1
10:37 a.m., SS6, Myherin 1
1:43 p.m., SS7, Hafren 2
2:26 p.m., SS8, Sweet Lamb 2
2:43 p.m., SS9, Myherin 2

Saturday, 16 November 

6 a.m., Service E, 15 min
8:29 a.m., SS10, Gartheiniog 1 
8:58 a.m., SS11, Dyfi 1 
10:33 a.m., SS12, Gartheiniog 2 
11:02 a.m., SS13, Dyfi 2 
12:45 p.m., SS14, Dyfnant 2 
2:22 p.m., SS15, Chirk Castle 1 
2:34 p.m., SS16, Chirk Castel 2 
3:45 p.m., Flexi Service F, 45 min

Sunday, 17 November 

8:56 a.m., SS17, Dyfnant 2
9:56 a.m., SS18, Penllyn
11:06 a.m., SS19, Clocaenog 2 (Power Stage)
12:03 p.m., SS20, Kinmel Park 1
12:11 p.m., SS21, Kinmel Park 2
1:01 p.m., SS22, Great Orme
1:11 p.m., Finish and podium

  

For more information, visit the official Wales Rally 2013 website.

Sebastien Ogier won the first two stages on Day 1 to grab an early lead in the standings, while second-placed Thierry Neuville claimed victory in the third. Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala was the closest contender to the top two, with his countryman Mikko Hirvonen and Norway's Mads Ostberg completing the top five.

Challenging conditions in North Wales made qualifying a slippery affair, and the eventual first day rally leader's decision to start second saw him benefit from a more settled course, giving him the perfect opportunity to build up his early lead.

Elsewhere in the field, former Formula 1 driver and World Rally debutant Robert Kubica sits in seventh, while Spaniard Sordo enters Day 2 all the way down in 46th position, having received a five-minute pre-start penalty.

SS1—Gwydr (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 4:43.1 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +1.3 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Thierry Neuville, +1.6 (Qatar World Rally Team)
4. Andreas Mikkelsen, +5.3 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)
5. Mikko Hirvonen, +7.0 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)

SS2—Penmachno (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 5:18.9 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +0.9 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Thierry Neuville, +2.0 (Qatar World Rally Team)
4. Mikko Hirvonen, +5.4 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
5. Mads Ostberg, +7.2 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS3—Clocaenog 1 (Top Five)

1. Thierry Neuville, 4:25.9 (Qatar World Rally Team)
2. Sebastien Ogier, +0.4 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +3.4 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Mikko Hirvonen, +4.2 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
5. Andreas Mikkelsen, +6.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)

Overall Standings after Day 1 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 14:28.3 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Thierry Neuville, +3.2 (Qatar World Rally Team)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +5.2 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Mikko Hirvonen, +16.2 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
5. Mads Ostberg, +24.7 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

Early leader Ogier maintained his good form to win four out of six stages on Day 2 and extend his overall advantage over second placed Latvala stretched to 20.1 seconds.

Latvala himself was able to win the sixth Myherin 1 stage while Sordo came back after a difficult first day to win the fifth Sweet Lamb 1 stage. The Spaniard is fighting hard to reduce the effects of his five second pre-race penalty.

Disaster stuck for Kubica and Hirvonen who both crashed in the first and second stages of the day respectively.

Bother drivers' cars flipped over as they slid off course, although neither Kubica or Hirvonen or their co-drivers were hurt in the drama.

SS4—Hafren 1 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 18:41.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Thierry Neuville, +9.7 (Qatar World Rally Team)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +12.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Mikko Hirvonen, +12.1 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
5. Evgeny Novikov, +18.3 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS5—Sweet Lamb 1 (Top Five)

1. Dani Sordo, 2:54.7 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
2. Sebastien Ogier, +1.2 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +2.1 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Evgeny Novikov, +2.4 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
5. Mikko Hirvonen, +2.8 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)

SS6—Myherin 1 (Top Five)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala, 18:16.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Sebastien Ogier, +4.6 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Mads Ostberg, +14.7 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
4. Evgeny Novikov, +15.2 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
5. Dani Sordo, +15.9 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)

SS7—Hafren 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 18:57.8 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +1.7 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Andreas Mikkelsen, +13.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)
4. Thierry Neuville, +13.8 (Qatar World Rally Team)
5. Evgeny Novikov, +14.1 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS8—Sweet Lamb 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 2:56.8 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Dani Sordo, +0.8 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
3. Evgeny Novikov, +1.8 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
4. Jari-Matti Latvala, +2.7 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
5. Mads Ostberg, +3.0 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS9—Myherin 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 18:27.6 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +2.2 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Thierry Neuville, +9.2 (Qatar World Rally Team)
4. Andreas Mikkelsen, +9.8 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)
5. Evgeny Novikov, +11.0 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

Overall Standings after Day 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 1:34:48.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +20.1 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Thierry Neuville, +1:02.6 (Qatar World Rally Team)
4. Mads Ostberg, +1:30.8 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
5. Evgeny Novikov, +1:34.5 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

Jari-Matti Latvala notched up three stage wins in a row on Day 3, while Sebastien Ogier continued his consistent driving to finish the day on top of the pile.

Ogier is 19.9 seconds ahead of Latvala, while Thierry Neuville put in some aggressive performances to jump up to third place overall.

Nevertheless, the most dramatic moment of the day came when Robert Kubica crashed out in the second stage amid a misunderstanding with his new co-driver, Michel Ferrara.

Kubica, who won the FIA WRC 2 championship a month ago, had just one pre-event test with Ferrara and told WRC.com that it was the pace notes that caused his undoing:

We hit [a] big rock but I think we just had a misunderstanding in the pace notes. In a place where I should be braking I was still flat, and by the time I saw the corner it was too late. I tried to recover, but the speed difference was too big. We had a sort of blackout in communication.

 

SS10—Gartheiniog 1 (Top Five)

1. Andreas Mikkelsen 8:46.5 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

2. Sebastien Ogier +1.2 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

3. Evgeny Novikov +2.3 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

4. Thierry Neuville +3.7 (Qatar World Rally Team)

5. Jari-Matti Latvala +4.3 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

SS11—Dyfi 1 (Top Five)

1. Andreas Mikkelsen 12:51.1 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

2. Sebastien Ogier +0.2 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

3. Thierry Neuville +1.3 (Qatar World Rally Team)

4. Jari-Matti Latvala +3.3 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

5. Mads Ostberg +4.3 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS12—Gartheiniog 2 (Top Five)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala 8:47.8 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

2. Sebastien Ogier +0.7 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

3. Andreas Mikkelsen +1.9 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

4. Thierry Neuville +6.1 (Qatar World Rally Team)

5. Mads Ostberg +6.6 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

 

SS13—Dyfi 2 (Top Five)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala 12:54.5 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

2. Sebastien Ogier +0.6 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

3. Thierry Neuville +1.6 (Qatar World Rally Team)

4. Andreas Mikkelsen +3.0 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

5. Mads Ostberg +4.1 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS14—Dyfnant 2 (Top Five)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala 12:21.1 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

2. Mads Ostberg +1.0 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

3. Andreas Mikkelsen +6.4 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

4. Sebastien Ogier +7.9 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

5. Thierry Neuville +1.6 (Qatar World Rally Team)

SS15—Chirk Castle 1 (Top Five)

1. Dani Sordo 1:31.3 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)

2. Andreas Mikkelsen +0.3 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

3. Thierry Neuville +0.4 (Qatar World Rally Team)

4. Sebastien Ogier +1.1 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

5. Mads Ostberg +1.0 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

SS16—Chirk Castel 2 (Top Five)

1. Thierry Neuville 1:34.2 (Qatar World Rally Team)

2. Andreas Mikkelsen +0.3 (Volkswagen Motorsport II)

3. Dani Sordo +1.1 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)

4. Mads Ostberg +1.2 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

5. Sebastien Ogier +1.4 (Volkswagen Motorsport)

Sebastien Ogier clinched the Wales Rally with two more stage wins on the fourth and final day in North Wales.

The win rounds off an exceptional debut season for the Frenchman whose tally of FIA World Rally Championship wins now rises to nine for this campaign.

His Volkswagon teammate Jari-Matti Latvala finished second following a strong showing across the weekend.

Latvala won the final stage of the rally, which took place on a track around Llandudno's Great Orme, although it wasn't enough to make up the time difference. The Qatar World Rally Team's Thierry Neuville came third overall.

Having finished 11th in his previous visit to Wales, Ogier told the official World Rally Championship site WRC.com of his delight at winning on his return:

I’m so happy, and big thanks to the team once again - the car was perfect. I came here knowing this rally was not the best for me in the past, and even with that we managed to win a battle with a team-mate who feels at home here. It was another great victory for us and the end of a perfect season. It’s going to be a hard challenge to do better next year.

Rounding out the top five, Mads Ostberg came fourth behind Neuville while Andreas Mikkelsen ended the rally in fifth.

The two Norwegians traded places on Sunday, with Mikkelsen spinning out in the first and third stages of the day to hand Ostberg his position.

There was a home win in the WRC 2 category as Welshman Elfyn Evans claimed victory for the host nation. 

SS17—Dyfnant 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 12:22.8 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Mads Ostberg, +0.4 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +0.6 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Thierry Neuville, +2.3 (Qatar World Rally Team)
5. Andreas Mikkelsen, +8.9 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)

SS18—Penllyn (Top Five)

1. Mads Ostberg, 7:15.1 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
2. Andreas Mikkelsen, +0.7 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, +1.6 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Evgeny Novikov, +1.9 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
5. Sebastien Ogier, +3.0 (Volkswagon Motorsport)

SS19—Clocaenog 2 Power Stage (Top Five)

1. Thierry Neuville, 4:18.0 (Qatar World Rally Team)
2. Evgeny Novikov, +0.5 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
3. Mads Ostberg, +0.5 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
4. Sebastien Ogier, +1.1 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
5. Jari-Matti Latvala, +7.6 (Volkswagon Motorsport)

SS20—Kinmel Park 1 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 1:33.2 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +0.3 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Evgeny Novikov, +1.7 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
4. Dani Sordo, +2.0 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
5. Andreas Mikkelsen, +2.4 (Volkswagon Motorsport II)

SS21—Kinmel Park 2 (Top Five)

1. Evgeny Novikov, 1:32.9 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
2. Dani Sordo, +2.3 (Citroen Total World Rally Team)
3. Mads Ostberg, +3.5 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
4. Eyvind Brynildsen, +4.3 (DMACK-Autotek)
5. Martin Prokop, +4.8 (Jipocar Czech National Team)

SS22—Great Orme (Top Five)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala, 2:38.5 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Evgeny Novikov, +3.6 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
3. Sebastien Ogier, +5.4 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
4. Thierry Neuville, +6.1 (Qatar World Rally Team)
5. Mads Ostberg, +6.4 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)

Overall Standings after Day 2 (Top Five)

1. Sebastien Ogier, 3:03:36.7 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, +21.8 (Volkswagon Motorsport)
3. Thierry Neuville, +1:24.5 (Qatar World Rally Team)
4. Mads Ostberg, +1:48.2 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)
5. Evgeny Novikov, +2:03.4 (Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team)