MOTORSPORT

SEBASTIEN Ogier is closing in on his fourth World Rally Championship crown after taking the lead at the Rally of Spain. The Frenchman, who leads by 68 points with two races remaining, was left trailing home favourite Dani Sordo on Friday, but ended yesterday’s penultimate leg of the four-day mixed-surface event with a 5.8 seconds lead in his Volkswagen Polo. Sordo dropped down into second, with his Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville third. Andreas Mikkelsen, who sits second in the championship standings, crashed out in his Polo on a fast corner.