World champion Sebastien Ogier and New Zealander Hayden Paddon have had their victory hopes dashed on a dramatic final morning of the Rally Australia.
Volkswagen’s Andreas Mikkelsen leads by 22.7 seconds over Ogier with two short stages remaining.
The race was delayed on the 21st stage for almost half hour when Eric Camilli rolled his M-Sport vehicle onto its side and then it’s roof, before a small fire broke out in the car.
He was retired from the stage but appeared unhurt.
Mikkelsen started the day just two seconds clear of teammate Ogier.
That gap was then extended on the first stage of the day, before the Frenchman spun on the 20th stage, costing him 19.6 seconds in the race for the lead and virtually handing the rally to his teammate.
“I’ve never driven so fast and felt so comfortable,” Mikkelsen said.
“It brings a lot of confidence.
“Now I’m not driving crazy but setting good times. It’s really coming together.”
Ogier also would have dropped out of the top two if not for a puncture suffered by then-third placed Paddon.
The Kiwi suffered external damage on his Hyundai and shredded his left rear after going wide on a turn, costing him 73 seconds and bumping him back to fifth place.
“We went wide, touched a bank and knocked the tyre off the rim,” he said.
The incident could be a blessing in disguise for Hyundai though.
It pushed Thierry Neuville into third, assuring him of second spot in the drivers’ championship after the season-ending round if he holds his place.