Duval extends lead in Australia

The Belgian has driven superbly on the opening three stages, taking the fastest time on SS22, the longest stage of the rally - 29.93kms run through Helena North 1.

The results means his lead has extended to 36.8 seconds, and with a just repeat of this morning's stages still left today, the gap appears comfortable.

Mitsubishi's Harri Rovanpera has retaken second from Colin McRae, eliminating the 5.1 deficit he had overnight and turning it into a 6.9-second advantage, thanks to the fastest time on the final stage of the morning, the 17.31-km stage of Helena South 1.

McRae still seems assured of a podium finish and Skoda's best career result, with a healthy 48.6-second margin back to Manfred Stohl, who holds fourth in his privateer Citroen.

Chris Atkinson continued to give the home crowd something to cheer about by making up another position and moving to fifth after setting his fastest time on SS21 and overtaking Gigi Galli.

Atkinson has an outside chance of finishing higher, with his gap to Stohl now down to 22.9 seconds with three stages remaining.

Ford's Toni Gardemeister has also overhauled Galli and has taken sixth, with the Italian dropping to seventh.

Roman Kresta, who had gone into Leg Three in sixth, spun and stalled the engine on SS21, losing approximately 40 seconds. He is now eighth.

Pos  Driver        Team        Time
 1.  Duval         Citroen     2h 50:36.2
 2.  Rovanpera     Mitsubishi  +     36.8
 3.  Mcrae         Skoda       +     43.7
 4.  Stohl         Citroen     +   1:32.3
 5.  Atkinson      Subaru      +   1:55.2
 6.  Gardemeister  Ford        +   2:35.8
 7.  Galli         Mitsubishi  +   2:48.4
 8.  Kresta        Ford        +   3:24.2
 9.  Sola          Ford        +   5:38.5
10.  Schwarz       Skoda       +   7:05.1
11.  Arai          Subaru      +  13:33.9
12.  Higgins       Subaru      +  15:03.2
13.  Pozzo         Subaru      +  15:49.1
14.  Nutahara      Mitsubishi  +  17:29.1
15.  Al-Attiyah    Subaru      +  18:49.4
16.  Brand         Subaru      +  21:48.2
17.  Challis       Mitsubishi  +  24:04.4
18.  Villagra      Mitsubishi  +  26:23.7
19.  Frisiero      Mitsubishi  +  28:32.8
20.  Orders        Subaru      +  33:43.8