Sebastien Ogier edges closer to third WRC crown

French ace Sebastien Ogier is on the brink of a third straight title after extending his lead in the closing stages of Coates Hire Rally Australia.

Starting the final day with a slender .3s lead, Ogier blasted through SS13 to take the 21.95km Bucca Long stage.

Ogier’s Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala has moved into second overall, slipping past Citroen’s Kris Meeke who is now in a fight to hold onto the final podium position.

Benefitting from being last into the stage, Ogier was 2.5s faster than Latvala to squeeze out a crucial 5.1s lead following SS13.

This was despite a scare towards the end when Ogier missed a junction.

Ogier then covered the 9.23km Wedding Bells stage fastest, taking another 1s away from Latvala.

“It’s another good stage. A very clean drive from me on this stage. With Jari pushing behind I also have to push,” Ogier said.

Latvala pressed hard on the day’s opening stage suffering a couple of big compressions which cracked the windscreen of the Polo R.

“I don’t give up until I’m at the finish line. I’m realistic I know its hard but I try,” Latvala said.

“I had a good run. I really attacked and I can see that the windscreen is broken.”

Ogier completed a morning shut-out of the three stages, topping the 6.4km Settles Road run and blasting to a 7.3s overall lead.

Meeke goes into the final two stages clutching a dwindling 4.2s advantage over Andreas Mikkelsen who is pushing hard to hoist another Volkswagen podium sweep.

Hayden Paddon had a tidy morning and continues to set the pace for the Hyundai team in fifth overall 18.4s behind Mikkelsen.

Top 10 standings after SS15