SS6: Hirvonen in front as Ogier crashes
Latvala fastest
Mikko Hirvonen has moved into the lead of Rally Australia after Sebastien Ogier crashed out of first place.
Ogier began the Shipmans stage with a lead of 9.1s over Hirvonen but is reported to have hit a tree and retired his works Citroen DS3 WRC.
“It was so unbelievably slippery and when you brake it is like ice,” said Hirvonen, who holds a 5.4s advantage over team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. “I went off the road but it was into a field so there was nothing to hit.”
Latvala, who won the stage held in treacherous conditions following heavy rain, said: “I had few moments and a couple of times I was hitting the banks to keep on the road. It was extremely difficult, even dangerous in some places.”
Evgeny Novikov set the second fastest time in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta and is now 10.3s behind third-placed Petter Solberg in the overall classification.
Several drivers reported spins or going off the road completely as the slippery surface took its toll. Khalid Al Qassimi removed the front bumper from his Team Abu Dhabi Fiesta while Daniel Oliveira completed the stage with damage to the radiator of his MINI John Cooper Works WRC following an off.
New Zealander Hayden Paddon continues to lead the Production Car World Rally Championship, despite reporting that he went off the road on several occasions. “I don’t care about how much time I lost - I’m just so relieved to be here."
Standings after SS6: