WRC: Tanak rallies but Ogier still in control

World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier is three stages away from a fourth straight Wales Rally GB victory after consolidating his lead on Sunday morning's opening loop.

Ogier has led the rally since the opening stage, and entered the final day with 33.8 seconds in hand over nearest rival Ott Tanak.

The Volkswagen driver forfeited time to the chasing Tanak on all three of the morning's stages, with Tanak winning the lot in his Ford Fiesta, but nevertheless heads into the final loop with a 25.9s lead.

An identical time loss to that Ogier suffered on Sunday's first three stages when they are repeated this afternoon would still allow the Frenchman to win by more than 15s.

Hyundai teammates Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon matched one another throughout the morning loop, with Neuville still in the driving seat in his i20 to claim the final podium position.

Neuville has 12.3s in hand over New Zealander Paddon, with 16 stage miles to go until the rally end.

Citroen's Kris Meeke and third Hyundai driver Dani Sordo retained their muted fifth and sixth places from the overnight classifications.

Behind those two, though, there was a change of position behind as Jari-Matti Latvala moved up to seventh in his Volkswagen Polo R as he continued his recovery drive, displacing M-Sport's Mads Ostberg for seventh overall.

Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen) and Eric Camilli (M-Sport Fiesta) remain on course to complete the points in ninth and 10th respectively.

Originally on Autosport.com