WRC: Ogier maintains Rally GB advantage

Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier maintained his WRC Wales Rally GB lead on the first three stages of Saturday morning.

World champion Ogier started the morning with a 37.3-second advantage over the Ford Fiesta of Ott Tanak, despite reporting transmission issues toward the end of Friday's first day of running.

Starting Saturday morning with no such worries, Ogier was second fastest on the morning's first stage to Tanak before recording a sixth stage win of the rally on SS10 Dyfi in his Polo R.

Ogier then lost a couple of seconds on the Gartheiniog stage after he was forced to slow down to drive through smoke from a flare, but still ended the morning 36.3s clear at the head of the rally.

Tanak remains a comfortable second, having claimed a third stage win to start the day in his DMACK-shod Fiesta.

Thierry Neuville increased his margin of comfort over Hyundai teammate Hayden Paddon in the fight for third with two fast runs on SS9 and SS11.

The two i20s started the morning separated by 3.8s and while the pair canceled each other out over the first two stages, before Neuville claimed his second stage win of the rally on SS11 Gartheiniog to move 7.3s clear of Paddon.

Citroen driver Kris Meeke struggled in less-than-ideal conditions further down the running order, and dropped away from the leading Hyundais and the fight for the final podium spot.

Meeke ended the morning 22.7s behind Paddon, in fifth.

The third Hyundai i20 of Dani Sordo occupies an even lonelier sixth, one minute behind Meeke and with 30s in hand over the M-Sport Ford Fiesta of Mads Ostberg.

Norwegian Ostberg is being caught by the recovering Jari-Matti Latvala, the Finn having suffered a driveshaft failure two stages from the end of Friday afternoon's running.

LEADING POSITIONS AFTER SS11:

Originally on Autosport.com