Volkswagen duo lead in Poland

04 July 2015 08:02

Volkswagen team-mates Sebastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen will contest what should prove a thrilling final day of the Lotos Rally Poland on Sunday with the pair heading into the two remaining stages at the head of the field.

Having covered almost 280 kilometres in the opening 15 stages, there is only a 5.6 second gap separating the duo.

Ogier, who sits atop the drivers' standings had extended his overnight lead despite having to clean the gravel stages as the opening car in Saturday's early sessions.

But Norwegian Mikkelsen kept up the fight and was pleased with his decision to run solely on the hard-compound tyres throughout the day.

"There was so much dust I couldn't see in places," he told wrc.com.

"I pushed to the maximum but lost time in the dust. On hard tyres, I think that was my chance."

Ogier, who has won the last two world championships, instead ran soft and hard tyres despite the heat in Poland but the Frenchman was pleased to still be out in front after a difficult day leading the stages.

"I've been cleaning the roads since the start so to lead is fantastic," he said.

"But we have to finish the fight tomorrow. I wasn't so sure about my tyre choice this afternoon because they were moving a lot. It wasn't a perfect choice," said Ogier.

Behind the rivals, Ott Tanak sits third in his Ford Fiesta, with the third Volkswagen of Jari-Matti Latvala close behind in fourth place.

Fifth and sixth spots are occupied by the Hyundais of Hayden Paddon and Thierry Neuville, respectively whilst local favourite Robert Kubica is in seventh ahead of Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg, whilst Dani Sordo's Hyundai i20 completed the top-10.

Source: PA