Neuville wins Tour of Corsica rally

Belgian driver Thierry Neuville extended his overnight lead to comfortably win the Tour of Corsica rally, with world champion Sebastien Ogier finishing nearly one minute behind in second place.

It was a particularly pleasing win for Neuville after crashing when leading at the Monte Carlo and Sweden rallies this year.

“The feeling is amazing. Special thanks to the team, they have always believed in me and kept pushing me after Monte Carlo and Sweden,” Neuville said. “I struggled a bit in the opening day and I wasn’t sure we could win this event, but we came back and turned it around.”

Neuville became the fourth driver to win in as many races this season - a first in 30 years - suggesting an unpredictable campaign to come after years of dominance from Ogier and his predecessor Sebastien Loeb.

Neuville had won three of Saturday’s four stages to lead Ogier by 38.9 seconds overnight and padded out that advantage to win by 54.7. Spaniard Dani Sordo was 56 seconds behind Neuville in third.

Sunday’s ninth and penultimate stage - a long 54-kilometre (33mile) trek from Antisanti to Poggio di Nazza - gave Ogier an opportunity to close the gap on Neuville.

Instead, he lost more time due to an electrical problem, finishing in seventh. Neuville won stage 9 to extend his lead, while Sordo leapfrogged Ogier.