SS20: Final stage thriller awaits

A thrilling live TV finale lies in wait at Rally Sweden as Andreas Mikkelsen, Sébastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville will head into the Power Stage with just 4.6sec covering the trio.

Ogier was fastest of the tussling threesome through the first pass of the Värmullsåsen stage to edge ahead of Neuville into second. However, Mikkelsen still heads him by 3.0sec, with Neuville a further 1.6sec behind in third.

Mikkelsen was on the ragged edge as he powered down the ski slope towards the finish, a huge jump followed by a brush with a snow bank in the final corner.

“I went wide there and lost a second, but otherwise it was a clean stage. It’s going to be a very exciting last stage. A win is definitely possible,” said the Norwegian Volkswagen Polo R driver, who conceded 3.8sec to Ogier.

“It wasn’t a perfect stage for me. I made a few mistakes when I hit snow banks. One stage to go and I still need more time,” said Ogier.

Neuville (below) repaired the intercom problems that hindered him in the previous test and the Hyundai i20 pilot still fancied his chances.

“It’s not over. We had a very good stage, close to perfect. I have good tyres which could be helpful and everything is still open,” said the Belgian.

Martin Prokop slipped from sixth to eighth as the pressure of trying to keep the dueling Elfyn Evans and Kris Meeke behind him almost proved too much.

“I had a huge moment. I was pushing on a high-speed corner and had a half-roll. I have no idea how we got back on the road. When we stopped it was all dark - there was snow all over the car,” said the Czech driver who lost 30sec in the incident. Just 1.4sec separate the two Britons in sixth and seventh.

Michal Solowow retired after his Ford Fiesta RS went off the road and became stuck in the snow.