Sebastien Loeb's successor Sebastien Ogier has taken double wins in the Super Special stages at completion of day two of Coates Hire Rally Australia.
The Volkswagen driver has blown out his lead to 45.9s following the 1.6km SS16 at the Brelsford Park complex in the heart of Coffs Harbour.
A little over 100km across six stages tomorrow stands between Ogier and the World Rally Championship crown with three rounds remaining. It would seem only a cruel twist of fate would intervene as second-placed Mikko Hirvonen (Citroen) has no answer to the pace of Ogier.
Ford driver Thierry Neuville is 1:11.4s back in third place overall heading into the final day when Ogier is now an unbackable favourite to supply VW with its first WRC drivers crown.
Standings after SS16
1 | S. OGIER | 2:14:53.9 | 0.0 |
2 | M. HIRVONEN | 2:15:39.8 | +45.9 |
3 | T. NEUVILLE | 2:16:05.3 | +1:11.4 |
4 | J. LATVALA | 2:16:41.5 | +1:47.6 |
5 | A. MIKKELSEN | 2:17:04.7 | +2:10.8 |
6 | M. OSTBERG | 2:17:07.3 | +2:13.3 |
7 | E. NOVIKOV | 2:21:30.5 | +6:36.6 |
8 | N. QUINN | 2:24:04.7 | +9:10.8 |
9 | K. AL QASSIMI | 2:25:16.9 | 10:23.0 |
10 | A. AL-KUWARI | 2:26:54.0 | 12:00.1 |
VIDEO: Morning stages
VIDEO: Afternoon stages