SS1/2: Ogier out as Latvala leads

There was high drama as Wales Rally GB, the deciding round of the 2011 World Rally Championship, got underway with two runs over the all-asphalt Great Orme stage.

Sebastien Ogier crashed approximately 1.6 kilometres into the first run of the 4.74-kilometre test, taking a wheel off his Citroen DS3 WRC. It is understood his damaged car will be transported back to the permanent service park in Builth Wells where his mechanics will attempt to carry out repairs to enable him to restart under SupeRally regulations on day two.

Although Ogier dropped out of contention for the world title when he retired on the previous round in Spain, he was planning to play a supporting role to team-mate and championship leader Sebastien Loeb.

Petter Solberg, running two places behind Ogier, was also in trouble on the stage, damaging the right-rear of his privateer Citroen when he clipped a kerb and took the tyre off the rim.

The Norwegian feared he’d damaged the bottom arm of his car’s rear suspension in the process and reported a bout of understeer on the second pass, which he still managed to complete in fourth position overall. The first 1.5 kilometres of the stage were held in dry conditions. However, the remainder of the test ran over damp and slippery roads, increasing the challenge for the crews.

Jari-Matti Latvala, in a factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC, was fastest on both runs and takes a lead of 0.9s over Loeb into the event’s first forest stage, the 15.77-kilometre Clocaenog test, which gets underway at 16:18hrs local time.

“It was a difficult start for me, really, really nasty,” said Latvala. “I saw big braking marks and then I saw Ogier’s car in the wall. I took this a little more steady and careful this time so the time was not so good, but we will carry on from here.”

Loeb is second overall, 3.0s clear of title rival Mikko Hirvonen. “I’m glad that’s behind us,” said Ford driver Hirvonen. “I took it steady, maybe even steadier than the last time. The real rally starts now.”

Meanwhile, Loeb said: “It was really tricky this stage with some damp patches. With the gravel tyre it was really slippery.”

MINI WRC Team drivers Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo are fifth and sixth respectively after two stages. Evgeny Novikov is seventh in his Team Abu Dhabi Fiesta. Mads Ostberg is eighth for the M-Sport Stobart team, with Volkswagen Motorsport’s Kevin Abbring impressing by holding ninth overall in his Super 2000-specification Skoda Fabia. Briton Matthew Wilson completes the top 10 in his Fiesta.

After SS1:

After SS2: