Mikkelsen wins Rally Australia, misses c’ship runner-up

COFFS HARBOUR: Andreas Mikkelsen signed off Volkswagen’s FIA World Rally Championship era with victory at Rally Australia Sunday, but failed to finish this season’s championship as runnerup.

The Norwegian won the final round of the 2016 season by 14.9 seconds from team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who spun away his own chances in Cof fs Harbour in northern New South Wales.

It provided a perfect farewell for the German manufacturer, who bow out of the series after a dominant four-year period.

But Mikkelsen’s win in a Polo R was not enough to secure the runners- up spot in the drivers’ championship.

Third place for Belgium’s Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20, a further 57.7sec back, secured the position behind the already-crowned Ogier.

“It’s been such a perfect end to the season,” Mikkelsen said. “Coming here I had nothing to lose.

“During all this year I really drove for the championship, but coming here I just went for the win.

“The plan was to try and win the power stage because I would like to try and beat Thierry for that second place but I’m still happy about this.”

Ogier won the final power stage to claim three bonus points. Neuville took two points for second, while Spanish team-mate Dani Sordo secured the final point.

Ogier and New Zealander Hayden Paddon had their victory hopes dashed on a dramatic final morning of the rally.

The race was delayed on the 21st stage for almost half hour when Frenchman Eric Camilli rolled his M- Sport vehicle onto its side and then its roof, before a small fire broke out in the car.

He retired from the stage but appeared unhurt. — AFP