SS16: Ogier continues push for top ten

Sebastien Ogier’s audacious bid to climb back into the top 10 on Rally Australia has received a boost after he claimed his second fastest stage time of day two aboard his Citroen DS3 WRC.

The rising French star was 2.3s faster than fellow factory Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb, the seven-time world rally champion.

“I think it’s possible to go back in the top 10, there is much more grip now and the stages are beautiful,” said Ogier.

Citroen privateer Petter Solberg has finally gone faster than factory Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala, edging the rally leader by 0.1s through the repeat of the Grace stage. “I can push and the car feels better and better,” said the Norwegian.

Mikko Hirvonen, the winner in Australia on the last two occasions, continues to hold second place, 26.2s behind team-mate Latvala. However, Solberg’s pace through the stage means Hirvonen is now only 37.3s ahead of the 2003 world champion.

“I really pushed hard because I don’t want to let Petter get too close,” said Hirvonen. “But it’s really tricky with the loose gravel.”

Khalid Al Qassimi remains on course for his best finish in the world championship. The Team Abu Dhabi driver is currently fifth overall, one place adrift of M-Sport Stobart’s Matthew Wilson, at the wheel of a similar Fiesta.

Ken Block said he lost 30 seconds when he spun his Monster World Rally Team Fiesta.

Henning Solberg’s exit on the previous stage is understood to be the result of an electrical glitch in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta.