SEPTEMBER 11 (Eagle News) — Series leader Sebastian Ogier, who can secure his third consecutive world title this weekend, tipped his Volkswagen Polo R high onto two wheels at the opening corner of his first pass through the 4.98km Hydes Creek test.
The Frenchman reacted quickly to prevent the car rolling and then went fastest by 1.1sec in his fourth and final run. A victory in Australia will be enough to secure Ogier his third world title.
“It was a little stunt moment on two wheels!” joked Ogier. “It was a long hairpin right and I was actually too slow going into the bend because I braked too early. I was too far on the inside and the bank lifted the car onto two wheels.
“Luckily I had the reflexes to open the steering in the other direction and put the car back on four wheels and spin it through 360 degrees. It wouldn’t have had big consequences if we had rolled because it was a slow corner, but I’m always happier when I bring the car back in perfect shape,” he added.
Team mate Andreas Mikkelsen was second, having been fastest until Ogier’s final run, and Jari-Matti Latvala completed a 1-2-3 for Volkswagen a further half second behind.
Kris Meeke (DS 3) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) were fourth and fifth, with Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) and Ott Tänak (Ford Fiesta RS) tied in sixth.
Meeke’s team mate Stefan Lefebvre of France is standing in for Norway’s Mads Ostberg, forced to pull out with minor injuries follwing a recce accident.
Flying the flag for Australia is Scott Pedder, aiming for his first WR2 victory in his home country. (Reuters)
