Jari-Matti Latvala has extended his lead in Neste Oil Rally Finland after setting some blistering times during the second full day of competition in the eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The Finn now holds a 13.2 second advantage over team-mate Sébastien Ogier with two stages remaining. Behind the Volkswagens, Kris Meeke had maintained third throughout the day but went off the road this afternoon, gifting the position to team-mate Mads Østberg.

Today’s route covered 131.04 competitive kilometres over two identical loops of four stages and the battle between Latvala and Ogier was intense from the outset, the rivals trading fastest times stage by stage. Heading the running order, the damper conditions suited Ogier this morning, helping him to chip away at Latvala’s lead. This afternoon the fight continued but when Ogier hit a rock, suspected a puncture and backed off, Latvala really began to cement his lead. This, coupled with a storming time in the following stage doubled his advantage and the rivals have just 28.26 competitive kilometres remaining to fight for the victory. Meeke had been setting a great pace and was heading for a solid third position until going off the road on stage 16. The Citroën driver hit a tree, damaging a wheel and the suspension and was instantly forced into retirement. Team-mate Østberg was the beneficiary and while the Norwegian didn’t enjoy a great morning, he is in a comfortable podium position for Citroën.

Thierry Neuville heads the assault for Hyundai, the Belgian fourth despite an on-going engine problem this afternoon. He is comfortably ahead of Ott Tanak who has enjoyed a far more competitive day following his problems yesterday. The Estonian has fought his way back up the leaderboard from 10th and overhauled Juho Hänninen in the final stage to take fifth overnight by 1.9 seconds. Behind sixth-placed Hänninen, Martin Prokop is seventh, the Czech driver opening the day with two scary moments; an off-road excursion in the first stage and then another near miss and an overshoot in the following stage. Esapekka Lappi continues to run well in the Skoda Fabia R5, the Finn up to eighth and topping the FIA WRC 2 Championship standings. Team-mate Pontus Tidemand, in the same machinery, is ninth and Lorenzo Bertelli rounds off the top 10. Dani Sordo endured a difficult afternoon, the Spaniard stuck in a ditch for five minutes and he was forced to complete the day with damaged bodywork which then hampered his fight back. Rally 2 returnee Robert Kubica had been running well, but the Pole then rolled metres from the end of the final stage.

In the FIA Junior WRC and FIA WRC 3 Championships, Quentin Gilbert continues to lead in his DS3 R3T.

Neste Oil Rally Finland – Unofficial Results after Section 5