Rally Australia WRC: Hyundai’s Neuville maintains lead in the rain – WRC

Thierry Neuville survived the elements to hold his Rally Australia lead after the morning’s first three stages, which were all rain-affected.

Neuville headed into the last day of the World Rally Championship’s finale with a 20.1-second lead over Latvala.

But while Neuville was able to maintain his advantage, there was drama for Citroen C3 duo Craig Breen and Stephane Lefebvre.

Breen, who was in fourth place, rolled out of the event on the second stage of the day, while Lefebvre was forced out after hitting a tree on the stage before as the conditions proved tricky.

At the head of the order, Neuville’s lead was marginally decreased by 1.1s on the opening stage of the day but the main damage was inflicted on the second stage – with Neuville’s time 35.9s slower than stage winner Hayden Paddon.

Paddon was the fourth driver onto the longest stage of the day Bucca, while Latvala and Neuville were the sixth and seventh car.

The leading duo’s stage condition was worse due to intensifying rain, and they dropped significant time to Ott Tanak and Paddon.

Despite suffering front-left bodywork damage, Latvala gained 9.1s on Neuville, to close to with 10 seconds of the Hyundai driver.

On the third stage, Wedding Bells – which will be used as the powerstage – Neuville was fastest and clawed back 4.8s on Latvala in just four miles. Consequently, Neuville’s advantage stands at 14.7s.

“That was a hell of a ride,” admitted Neuville after completing Wedding Bells.

“Really tricky conditions but I kept it on the road – it was close sometimes and I had to be clever.”

Tanak is on course for his seventh podium of the year in his final outing for M-Sport while Paddon is fourth, 33.5s adrift.

World champion Sebastien Ogier had another difficult morning, picking up a one-minute penalty for arriving at Bucca too early and suffering from further gearbox issues which have plagued his weekend.

Ogier is in fifth position in his Ford Fiesta, over a minute-and-a-half off Paddon.

Elfyn Evans got his pre-rally wish for monsoon conditions and made the most of his advantage by winning the opening stage of the day. He survived a big moment on Wedding Bells and is sixth in the overall classification.

Esapekka Lappi was the first driver onto the morning’s stages for the second consecutive day and he sits seventh with two stages remaining.

The recovering Kris Meeke, who broke his suspension on Saturday, rounds out the top eight.

Leading positions after SS19

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