Sebastien Ogier survived a final-stage scare to clinch a record fifth WRC Rally Sardinia victory, fending off a charging Ott Tanak to win by just 7.9s on the Italian island’s rough gravel stages.

Sebastien Ogier retains his lead of WRC Rally Sardinia after a searingly hot Saturday leg, but will have to fend off Ott Tanak in Sunday’s final-leg shootout.

Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier held a slender overnight lead at Rally Sardinia after a punishing Friday leg that wreaked havoc among several leading contenders on Italy’s rough, tough FIA World Rally Championship counter.