Mikkelsen wins Rally, misses championship runner-up

Andreas Mikkelsen signed off Volkswagen's FIA World Rally Championship era with victory at Rally Australia Sunday, but failed to finish this season's championship as runner-up.

The Norwegian won the final round of the 2016 season by 14.9 seconds from team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who spun away his own chances in Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales.

It provided a perfect farewell for the German manufacturer, who bow out of the series after a dominant four-year period.

But Mikkelsen's win in a Polo R was not enough to secure the runners-up spot in the drivers' championship.

Third place for Belgium's Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20, a further 57.7sec back, secured the position behind the already-crowned Ogier.

"It's been such a perfect end to the season," Mikkelsen said. "Coming here I had nothing to lose.

"During all this year I really drove for the championship, but coming here I just went for the win.

"The plan was to try and win the power stage because I would like to try and beat Thierry for that second place but I'm still happy about this." 

Ogier won the final power stage to claim three bonus points. Neuville took two points for second, while Spanish team-mate Dani Sordo secured the final point.

Ogier and New Zealander Hayden Paddon had their victory hopes dashed on a dramatic final morning of the rally.

The race was delayed on the 21st stage for almost half hour when Frenchman Eric Camilli rolled his M-Sport vehicle onto its side and then its roof, before a small fire broke out in the car.

He retired from the stage but appeared unhurt.

Mikkelsen started the day just two seconds clear of teammate Ogier but the gap was extended on the first stage of the day.

The Frenchman spun on the 20th stage, costing him 19.6 seconds in the race for the lead and virtually handing the rally to his teammate.

Ogier would have also dropped out of the top two if not for a puncture suffered by then-third placed Paddon.

The Kiwi suffered external damage on his Hyundai and shredded his left rear after going wide on a turn, costing him 73 seconds and bumping him back to fifth place.

It pushed Neuville into third, assuring him of second spot in the drivers' championship after the season-ending round.

Final standings after Sunday's special stages:

1. Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger (NOR/VW Polo-R) 2hr 46min 5.7sec, 2. Sebastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/VW Polo-R) at 14.9sec, 3. Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Hyundai i20) at 1:12.6, 4. Hayden Paddon-John Kennard (NZL/Hyundai i20) at 1:26.7, 5. Dani Sordo-Marc Marti (ESP/Hyundai i20) at 1:28.3, 6. Mads Ostberg-Ola Floene (NOR/Ford Fiesta RS) at 1:41.5, 7. Ott Tanak-Raigo Molder(EST/Ford Fiesta RS) at 3:04.3, 8. Esapekka Lappi-Janne Ferm (FIN/Skoda Fabia R5) 7:32.3, 9.  Jari-Matti Latvala-Miikka Anttila (FIN/VW Polo-R) at 7:56.9, 10. Lorenzo Bertelli-Simone Scattolin (ITA/Ford Fiesta RS) at 8:00.1.

Stage winners

Mikkelsen 3 (SS19, SS20, SS21), Ogier 2 (SS22, SS23)

Final championship standings:

1. Sebastien Ogier (FRA) 268 points (champion), 2. Thierry Neuville (BEL) 160, 3. Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) 154, 4. Hayden Paddon (NZL) 138, 5. Dani Sordo (ESP) 130

Source: AFP