Australia: Ostberg in the lead, Neuville and Ogier behind

It is a Citroën which is at the head of the Rally d’Australie à la mi-journée de la première étape. Mads Ostberg a pris les commandes après avoir signé un temps impressionnant dans l’ES3, juge de paix du jour avec plus de 26km chronométrés. Le Norvégien devance de plus de 5 secondes les Toyota d’Esapekka Lappi et de Jari-Matti Latvala qui complètent le podium provisoire.

The C3 WRC seem comfortable on this surface since Craig Breen ne pointe qu’à une seconde du tiercé de tête en précédant de quelques dixièmes Hayden Paddon (Hyundai). Ott Tänak (Toyota) completes the Top 6 despite a big scare in the last SS of the morning where the Estonian almost rolled over while passing through a ditch which caused him a puncture with no major consequences in the standings.

BIG moment for @OttTanak in SS3 SHERWOOD 1 @RallyAustralia now live on https://t.co/twccZ0hRvh #WRC #WRClive #ChampionshipBattle pic.twitter.com/Mb5XsW7jeb

— WRC (@OfficialWRC) November 15, 2018

Teemu Suninen (M-Sport) marque la rupture dans le peloton en pointant au 7e rang devant son coéquipier Elfyn Evans avec près de 6 secondes de retard sur le 3e pilote Toyota.

Behind the Welshman's Fiesta WRC, the title contenders are in difficulty after having to sweep while rain was expected. All the crews also started with 5 medium tires. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) is 9th, 4”4 behind Elfyn Evans, leading by more than 8 seconds Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport).

Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai) was in 9th place before going off the road in SS3, perhaps disturbed by the presence of a tractor just after a chicane. The Norwegian gave up.

Meanwhile in Australia pic.twitter.com/TOaEYsBC4E

— Valmar Viisel (@paddocknews) November 15, 2018

The crews will compete in the second passage of the stage from 2:32 a.m. Paris time. The day can be followed live with our live text.