MOTORSPORT: Ogier claims sixth WRC title

Toyota is world rallying’s champion manufacturer after just two seasons back from a 17-year break, while Sebastien Ogier is world rally champion for the sixth straight year despite none of the three title contenders finishing among the top three at the weekend’s Rally Australia.

Fifth as rain made Coffs Harbour’s gravel roads muddy was enough for Ogier to claim another crown – his second with M-Sport Ford after four with Volkswagen.

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Toyota’s Ott Tanak crashed out on the final day of the most exciting WRC for years as they battled Ogier.

Eli Evans became Australia’s champion rally driver for the fourth time, while his co-driver Ben Searcy is a national champion now too.

They did not finish in the top three of the Australian Rally Championship round at Rally Oz either.

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Instead, Steve Glenney in his first drive of a Skoda Fabia R5, won at Coffs Harbour from rookie Luke Anear, driving just his third gravel rally, in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

“Trying to stay alive out there was the hardest thing – every corner was just so treacherous,” said Anear, who was co-driven by Jon Mitchell.

Evans had damaged the radiator of his Skoda Fabia R5 on Friday but two strong performances over the weekend secured him another title – “this one had more twists and turns,” he said – by 19 points after starting the event 57 points clear.

Glenney’s victory was his first in the ARC since 2006 after concentrating on tarmac rallying for many years.

Molly Taylor crashed her Subaru heavily on the opening day and engine problems prevented early leader Harry Bates taking part in the final day in his Toyota Yaris AP4.

The event was marred by two spectators lying right beside the course filming on a smartphone on Saturday, almost being hit by Neuville, after a tractor appeared on a stage on Friday, causing Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen to crash his Hyundai i20.

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Police may lay charges over the incidents, which could also bring action from the governing Federation Internationle de l’Automobile (FIA) against the event organisers.

Finn Jari-Matti Latvala won the event outright for Toyota – his first victory in a WRC round since Rally Sweden in February last year.

He finished more than half a minute ahead of Hyundai’s New Zealander Hayden Paddon. That’s the Kiwi’s best result this year with British co-driver Sebastien Marshall.

“We’ve definitely earned this one,” Paddon said. “Each year we’ve been getting one place better in Australia, so I must be on to win it next year.”

Ogier, with co-driver Julien Ingrassia partnering him as always, remained calm and composed on the final day’s difficult course, needing only sixth place to clinch the title that leaves him just three short of rallying’s most successful driver – his French compatriot Sebastien Loeb.

“It’s been an incredible season and the fight has been so close,” Ogier said after his last outing in a Fiesta before he returns to his roots at Citroen next season – starting with the Monte Carlo Rally in January.

“Not so long ago we thought it was going to be difficult to take the title again (as Hyundai and Neuville led mid-season before Toyota and Tanak’s hot streak), but we never gave up.

“So emotional … what we achieved together [with M-Sport] over the past two years has been really special.”

Belgian Neuville parked his i20 three stages from the finish after hitting a tree and losing a rear wheel, while Estonian Tanak also hit a tree on the next stage – ending his slim chance of becoming world champion if Ogier faltered.

But the Frenchman remained the master while the early leader, Norwegian Mads Ostberg, took third place in a Citroen C3 – almost 20 seconds behind Paddon’s Hyundai.

Toyota’s departing young Finn, Esapekka Lappi, was fourth, another 10 seconds back, with Welshman Elfyn Evans sixth for M-Sport, more than half a minute behind Ogier.

M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson, who has battled Toyota and Hyundai on a much smaller budget and toppled them in the manufacturer championship last year, said this year’s performance in Ogier and Ingrassia’s farewell season with the team “really does mean a lot”.

“Two months ago it wasn’t looking good, but when you have Sebastien and Julien in your team you know anything is possible,” Wilson said.

“The way they fought back over the last three events was incredible. We will certainly miss them next year.”

2018 World Rally Championship final driver standings after 13 rounds:
1. Sebastien Ogier (France, Ford Fiesta) 219 points; 2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium, Hyundai i20) 201; 3. Ott Tanak (Estonia, Toyota Yaris) 181; 4. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland, Toyota) 128; 5. Esapekka Lappi (Finland, Toyota) 126; 6. Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, Hyundai) 84; 7. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain, Ford) 80; 8. Hayden Paddon (New Zealand, Hyundai) 73; 9. Dani Sordo (Spain, Hyundai) 71; 10. Mads Ostberg (Norway, Citroen C3) 70.

2018 WRC final manufacturer standings:
1. Toyota 368 points; 2. Hyundai 341; 3. M-Sport Ford 324; 4. Citroen 237.