Today’s route covers two identical loops of three stages split by service back in Carlos Paz. In the opening two stages Latvala pushed hard but was unable to match the pace of Paddon who slashed the gap down to 6.7 seconds. A fastest time in the third test, however, stretched the Finn’s lead back out to 13.3 seconds. Ogier, second overnight, slipped back to third after the first stage, the Frenchman happy with his performance but struggling with the road cleaning. Andreas Mikkelsen, who has run on the safe side but at a comfortable pace, has also closed the gap to Ogier and is just 7.4 seconds further adrift in fourth.

Dani Sordo remains in fifth after a trouble-free run and Mads Ostberg is enjoying today’s stages, despite having a few problems with the gearshift early this morning. Henning Solberg has had a difficult morning after losing the power steering in the opening stage. He was forced to drive the longest stage of the event (SS11) as well as the following test before reaching service for vital repairs. Argentine Champion Marcos Ligato is eighth and Eric Camilli continues his cautious approach in the second Fiesta RS WRC. Thierry Neuville is tenth, after losing so much time yesterday.

In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari continues to lead and has nearly two minutes in hand to Peruvian Nicolas Fuchs, Didier Arias having lost over four minutes in the first stage and then retiring. Elfyn Evans re-joined today and the Welshman won two of the stages to hold sixth in the category. Michel Fabre continues his lonely run in the WRC 3 Championship as the only contender in this two-wheel drive series.