Rally GB leaderboard after SS3: Sebastien Ogier is the surprise leader from Mads Ostberg as the rally is hit by treacherous conditions

Posted by Scott Coursey 5 December, 2008

LOEB-Shwd-3 Wales Rally GB Shakedown 2008 photographs and video of Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo

Image: ©willyweyens-rallyworld

Sebastien Ogier sensationally leads Wales Rally GB 2008 after SS3. This is Ogier's first event in a world rally car and despite benefitting from his road position it is still a very impressive performance in the treacherous conditions.

Ogier spoke to wrc.com about his dream start:

It’s a dream start - I’m very surprised. The first stage was very slippery. Even though I had the chance to see the lines on the road it was crazy!

This car is very impressive and I had a good feeling with it from the very first kilometre. For the moment everything is perfect.”

Mads Ostberg is another surprise in second place in his Subaru and is only 2.3s behind Ogier. In third place overall lies Jarri-Matti Latvala in the Ford Focus WRC while PG Andersson is fourth for Suzuki and then we have World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb (pictured above) in fifth.

Subaru drivers Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg are sixth and seventh respectively. Mikko Hirvonen is down in 11th place afer a cautious start in the Ford Focus 32s off the lead. Valentino Rossi, meanwhile, is 33rd o/a in his Focus and finding the icy roads extremely difficult.

Valentino Rossi commented on the conditions:

The condition is unbelievable. I have fun here, although it is so difficult. Without ice it is better for sure, but I can enjoy even these conditions."

Mitsubishi driver Guy Wilks leads the PWRC with Patrik Flodin is second in his URT Subaru ahead of third place man Andreas Aigner who drives a Mitsubishi. Championship leader Juho Hanninen suffered differential problems and lost two minutes.

BRC title leader Mark Higgins crashed out on Myherin and is reported to have suffered heavy damage to his Subaru. it isn't clear if he will be able to start tomorrow for round 2 of the BRC qualifier. Higgins rival Guy Wilks leads both the BRC as well as the PWRC category and is an impressive 15th o/a.

Special Stage 4 Hafren has now been cancelled due to the conditions after SS1 was canned this morning. The cancellations are due to the control tyre the teams use not being adapted for extreme conditions. The route for day one had already been shortened by the organisers last night.

Videos featuring an interview with Valentino Rossi and Henning Solberg's Shakedown crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdegOpMnS_g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntNjD8jFBW0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UmDQqOytVY

Results after SS3 Wales Rally GB 2008

1. 17 Sébastien OGIER / Julien INGRASSIA 13:55.0 0.0 0.0 A8
2. 18 Mads ØSTBERG / Ole Kristian UNNERUD 13:57.3 +2.3 +2.3 A8
3. 4 Jari-Matti LATVALA / Miikka ANTTILA 13:58.9 +1.6 +3.9 A8
4. 12 Per-Gunnar ANDERSSON / Jonas ANDERSSON 14:01.7 +2.8 +6.7 A8
5. 1 Sébastien LOEB / Daniel ELENA 14:03.1 +1.4 +8.1 A8
6. 6 Chris ATKINSON / Stephane PREVOT 14:05.5 +2.4 +10.5 A8
7. 5 Petter SOLBERG / Philip MILLS 14:06.0 +0.5 +11.0 A8
8. 11 Toni GARDEMEISTER / Tomi TUOMINEN 14:07.8 +1.8 +12.8 A8
9. 2 Dani SORDO / Marc MARTI 14:08.6 +0.8 +13.6 A8
10. 7 François DUVAL / Denis GIRAUDET 14:10.0 +1.4 +15.0 A8
11. 3 Mikko HIRVONEN / Jarmo LEHTINEN 14:27.7 +17.7 +32.7 A8
12. 14 Henning SOLBERG / Cato MENKERUD 14:28.5 +0.8 +33.5 A8
13. 8 Matthew WILSON / Scott MARTIN 14:36.0 +7.5 +41.0 A8
14. 20 Barry CLARK / Paul NAGLE 14:41.4 +5.4 +46.4 A8
15. 60 Guy WILKS / Phil PUGH 14:48.4 +7.0 +53.4 N4