Challenger’s car and hopes crash land

THIERRY Neuville’s world title charge is in a similar state to his car after the contender finished the sixth stage of Rally Australia without a rear left tyre.

The Belgian entered the World Rally Championship finale three points behind fivetime defending champion Sebastien Ogier in the closest title fight for 15 years.

And Neuville held the upper hand on his French rival, building a near 10-second gap on Ogier through the first five stages at Coffs Harbour before hitting a chicane yesterday.

He then landed awkwardly after a jump and finished the day’s final stage with only three tyres and significant bodywork damage to his Hyundai i20.

Neuville was fortunate the puncture happened late enough in the day to finish all six forestry stages and avoid a retirement.

But the mistake still cost him 40 seconds and has given Ogier, who is now 31.1 seconds ahead of him, a clear run at his sixth straight crown.

In his last start with Ford before a move to Citroen next year, Ogier struggled as the first to drive the dusty, slippery forest routes.

With him on sweeping duties the backmarkers flourished, Mads Ostberg the best of them to take the overall lead.

The Norwegian leads JariMatti Latvala by 6.2 seconds, with sixth-stage winner Craig Breen a further 1.3 seconds back.

Ogier is seventh and 41.7 seconds off the pace but needs only to finish ahead of Neuville to claim the title.

“I pushed like crazy, I was on the limit over the jump and everywhere, I can’t do (any) more,” the series leader said.

“I was on the limit, including on the jump.”

Ogier will start midfield today and do his best on cleaner roads to make up the day-one deficit before tomorrow’s final stage.

There was no shortage of drama on the opening day of racing, with 2016 champion Andreas Mikkelsen an early casualty after finding a ditch in his Hyundai.

Mikkelsen had narrowly avoided a tractor that had found its way on to the course.

Former Australian Rally Championship winner Molly Taylor and co-driver Malcolm Read were also forced out of their event.

The duo’s Subaru hit a hay bale at high speed on the morning’s second stage, putting them out of the race.

Both reported soreness but suffered no serious injuries.