SS15: Ogier pulling clear

Sebastien Ogier has opened out a small advantage at the top of the Rallye de France Alsace leaderboard after he recorded his fourth fastest time of the day for the Citroen Total World Rally Team.

Ogier, co-driven by fellow Frenchman Julien Ingrassia, took 8m16.3s to complete the 16.50-kilometre Firstplan stage in his DS3 WRC. He is now 4.2s in front of MINI John Cooper Works WRC pilot Dani Sordo, who started the afternoon loop of tests out front by a scant margin of 0.2s.

Petter Solberg, in his privateer Citroen, strengthened his grip on the final podium spot with the third fastest time. The Norwegian is 43.0s behind Ogier following his early puncture.

Jari-Matti Latvala was second quickest through the stage. However, the factory Ford ace has been handed a 10-second time penalty for a jumped start on the previous test.

Mads Ostberg was an impressive fifth fastest in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC, 1.9s quicker than works Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen.