Thierry Neuville will take a commanding lead into the final day of Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour after mishaps on Saturday claimed the defending champion and another top contender.

The Belgian holds a 19 second advantage over Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala after an abbreviated second day of racing.

Saturday’s second running of the Newry stage was cancelled due to a damaged bridge, believed to be caused by a car earlier that day.

Drivers will complete an exhibition-type 1.2km stage on the Coffs Harbour foreshore on Saturday night, a stage that Neuville won on Friday and is unlikely to impact the overall standings on Saturday.

Earlier, overnight leader and 2016 champion Andreas Mikkelsen was forced to retire after hitting a bank and puncturing two tyres, while Kris Meeke’s rally was ended due to suspension problems.

Mikkelsen had led by more than 20 seconds from Neuville and Meeke after a near faultless day one, but the World Rally Championship finale is now Neuville’s to lose.

The Hyundai driver is not getting ahead of himself though, given heavy rain is predicted for the NSW north coast on Sunday.

“It’s a good lead, but we have to be careful now because tomorrow, if the rain is coming, it’s going to be really, really difficult,” Neuville, who is currently second overall in the WRC series, said.

“It’s not easy and the rally is still long.”

Mikkelsen was all smiles on Friday but it was a different story on Saturday.

Carrying only one spare tyre, he was forced to miss the spectator-friendly Raleigh Raceway stage that followed his crash on the Newry stage and concede soon after that his rally was over.

“It’s devastating, but what can you do?” Mikkelsen said.

“We are trying to push as hard as we can, sometimes you get away with it, but not today.”

About 65km of racing remains across five short stages on Sunday’s final day, with M-Sport’s Sebastien Ogier assured of claiming his fifth world title regardless of the outcome.