Mikkelsen clings to lead by 1.7s as Ogier charges
More drama on Rally Sweden on Saturday morning as world champion attacks young VW teammate.
Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Floene, Volkswagen Polo WRC, Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Motorsport
Andreas Mikkelsen continues to lead Rally Sweden after the first loop of stages on Saturday morning, but his healthy lead has almost vanished after two mistakes.
Leader Mikkelsen showed the pressure straight away, making a mistake on the second stage of the day and briefly putting his Polo into a ditch.
Even worse, on Vargasen the 12.8km SS14 that includes the infamous Colin’s Crest leap, Mikkelsen spun and took time to rejoin: “I touched a bank, had a spin and it took time to turn around because it was so narrow. I was unlucky.”
Ogier quickly charged up to second from fourth this morning, as Thierry Neuville couldn’t match his pace and Citroen’s Mads Ostberg went off on SS11 and suffered a puncture, dropping him to fourth. “I slid wide and hit a bank,” he rued.
The third works VW of Jari-Matti Latvala, who lost 8 minutes yesterday, spun on Vargasen, losing another 48.2s to Ogier’s fastest time on the stage.
“We spun and got a little bit stuck on the snowbank,” he admitted.
Now the battle at the front is a straight fight between Mikkelsen and Ogier for the repeat loop of stages.
When asked if he can cling on, with such a slight 1.7s advantage, Mikkelsen admitted: "It will be tough this afternoon but I will give it everything."
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