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SS 14: Latvala leads the provisional overall classification

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20130310472R_LATVALA

New twist in the special stage 14 "Mulhouse", which ends up this rainy leg 3. Jari-Matti Latvala takes the lead in the provisional overall classification ahead of Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb. The top four gathered in just 5 seconds. Thus, the last six special stages tomorrow will guarantee a huge suspense. This day also marks the end of the Junior World Rally Championship with the consecration of the young swedish driver, Pontus Tidemand and his co-driver Ola Floene.

Stage 14: Mulhouse (4,65 km)                                                                          Weather: light rain for the first competitors than heavier after Ostberg. Road conditions: getting damp and then wet. 11. NEUVILLE/GILSOUL: « I am not happy after that right curve where I eventually lost all chances of a win. Last year I was flat out in that bend and I took it a bit more cautiously in the first loop this morning. I should have done the same for the second time but I wanted to improve my time and I was taken out of the curve where we eventually punctured. I must cope with a fifth place unless somebody in front of me retires.” 10. SORDO/DEL BARRIO: « It’s a great battle and it should remain unpredictable until the very end. We must stay in front in order to be first on the road for the final leg. This is just crazy but the battle is great; Those stages were difficult, fast and slippery. The last stage was difficult to manage after being in the mountains all day long.” 7. LATVALA/ANTTILA: « To my opinion it’s the greatest rally of the season! The suspense is incredible. We are four in a position to win in front of an amazing audience! It’s a fantastic moment… It was a great day for me even if I was a bit too cautious in some stages. I really felt it was important not to make any mistake.” 1. LOEB/ELENA: « It’s going to be great till the end! I had a good run in that last stage. I went on recce on it not like last year. I didn’t feel very confident with the car today but I am still in the battle for victory. I can’t feel disappointed.” 8. OGIER/INGRASSIA: « I am very happy and motivated again. I didn’t imagine it would be possible to be back in the battle for victory when we started this morning… As a matter of fact it started raining precisely when I was about to start the stage but it wasn’t really a problem. It’s not easy to end a leg with a super stage but it went OK.” 5. NOVIKOV/MINOR: «  I am happy with my day. The result is good considering my gear.” 9. MIKKELSEN/NAGLE: « It was not easy with the rain at the start of the stage.” 2. HIRVONEN/LEHTINEN: « I’m still trying to find out what is going wrong… I lose a lot of time on the fast portions maybe just because of me. I don’t feel confident with the car.” 4. OSTBERG/ANDERSSON: « I follow our plan. I am gaining some confidence and feel I can increase my pace. I will change some of the set-ups for tomorrow to be able to drive in a more aggressive way.” 21. PROKOP/ERNST: « It’s not easy because it’s raining now. The visibility is getting worse and worse.” 22. DUMAS/GIRAUDET: « I am getting closer to Kubica’s pace and it is a good motivation. I feel I must improve my pace notes if I want to drastically improve. The driving of the guys in front of us is remarkable!” 74. KUBICA/BARAN: « I calm down. The gap is enough for me not to take any risk and to consider a victory in WRC 2.” 121. BAUD/CHIOSO: “I am not crazy about that kind of stage. I usually don’t lose time over my rivals but it’s very different on this type of stage.” 75. EVANS/BARRITT: “ The grip was not good because of the rain.” 102. TIDEMAND/FLOENE: The Swedish driver is the new Junior World Championship after this 14th stage. The rounds are run over two days. “It’s fun for a Swedish driver to win the title on asphalt and it sounds good to be crowned in the country of the nine-time World Champion. It’s nice that it happens two days after the title awarded to the World Champion knowing that those two World Champions have also been Junior World Champion."

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