At the end of Day 3 of Wales Rally GB, Its still Volkswagens Sebastien Ogier who still holds the lead.

Photo: D.Darrall

The Opening Gartheiniog Stage, was won by Volkwagens young driver Andreas Mikkelsen who set good pace through the 14km stage. But drama hit on the following stage Dyfi, when Robert Kubica once again crashed out of the rally, and was also joined by Qatar M-Sports Evgeny Novikov, who also crashed out of the rally. Both were ok.

After refuel, the drivers then went back out to repeat the two stages, and Volkswagens, Jari Matti Latvala was really setting the pace. The finn found his confidence, and pushed hard, winning three stage in a row.

on SS13 Latvala was 7.9sec quicker than his Volkswagen Polo R team-mate. At the end of the stage he said: “Sometimes you really get a big kick when you do a good stage. Ogier has been really quick but he is also human and he cannot do a perfect run in every stage.”

Ogier wasn’t worried about his team mates pace though, as he still held the lead of nearly 20 seconds going into the final two runs of the 2km chirk Castle. “Yes, we lost a bit of time but it’s not a big drama. We can afford to lose a bit. There was nothing particular wrong, I was just too slow and too careful,”

Photo:D.Darrall

Sordo was fastest through the first run of the spectator stage around Chirk Castle, and on the 2nd pass to end the day, Neuville went fastest.

Results after Day 3

1. Ogier leads
2. Latvala +20.3
3. Neuville + 1:14.4
4. Mikkelsen + 1:34.4
5. Ostberg +1:41.7
6. Prokop +6:42.1
7. Sordo +7:45.5
8. Evans +9:20.5
9. Ketomaa +10:20.3
10. Higgins +10:25.0