Ogier wins Rally Australia

COFFS HARBOUR, Australia — World champion Sebastien Ogier of France won Rally Australia on Sunday by 6.8 seconds over teammate Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland, continuing their season-long duel atop the World Rally Championship standings and clinching the manufacturers’ championship for Volkswagen with three of 13 series races remaining. Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia won 11 of the 20 stages over three days in Australia. After more than 313 kilometres of competition, Ogier finished the closing Wedding Bells II Power Stage with Latvala hot on his tracks, the Finnish driver having picked up more than three seconds with two stage wins on Sunday afternoon. Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway, lead driver of the second Volkswagen team, finished third, 1 minute, 18 seconds behind Ogier. Citroen driver Kris Meeke of Northern Ireland was fourth, 1:44 behind Ogier. “It was amazing to head the one-two-three for the team,” Ogier said. “We are here first for Volkswagen, and I am so happy for the team. It is a great step toward my championship as well.” The drivers’ title is still up for grabs, beginning with the next race, the Rally de France-Alsace beginning October 3 in Strasbourg. That will be followed by rallies in Spain in late October and in Wales in mid-November to complete the season.