WRC Rally Australia: Kris Meeke hangs on in lead as VWs close in
Kris Meeke remains in the Rally Australia lead despite the Volkswagens picking up the pace through the Friday afternoon stages
Citroen driver Meeke had deposed VW's Sebastien Ogier from the rally lead on the final morning stage as the World Rally champion struggled with running first on the road.
But dust on the stages was less of a problem on the afternoon's repeat run, allowing Ogier to win SS4 and then his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala to go quickest on the next two.
Despite third-fastest on SS6 being the best he could manage through the loop, Meeke kept his pace close enough to the VWs' times to hang on in the overall lead by 2.1 seconds over Latvala and 2.6s over Ogier as they head for the evening superspecials.
Andreas Mikkelsen in the third VW and leading M-Sport Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen remain firmly in contention too, completing a top five covered by a mere 5.6s.
Thierry Neuville began the day in this pack as well, but damaged his Hyundai's suspension on a rock on the afternoon's middle stage Belligen.
Although that cost him two minutes, Neuville was able to effect repairs on the road section afterwards and was back on the pace for SS6.
That means Hayden Paddon is now the top Hyundai in sixth, just ahead of Mads Ostberg's Citroen and M-Sport driver Robert Kubica.
The Pole had a largely trouble-free start, bar a quick SS1 spin and slightly out-of-kilter steering.
Hyundai's third driver Chris Atkinson struggled for pace on his return to WRC competition for his home rally having not been in action since Mexico in March, and then lost more time with a loose sump guard.
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