Sebastien Ogier has grabbed his 4th consecutive FIA World Rally Championship title today after winning Rally Spain in his VW Polo R WRC. Co-driven by Julien Ingrassia, the hardcore duo scored their fifth win of the season in a rally that never favored them that much up until the asphalt stage.

Hyundai has had an incredible season so far that culminated to the round of Spain where they claimed a double podium. Dani Sordo took his Hyundai i20 WRC into the lead on Friday and managed to stay put for most of the stages, that was up until yesterday when Ogier turned things around. Sordo was on his way to becoming the first Spaniard to win his home rally in 21 years, but Ogier’s pace prevented him from doing that after the Frenchman stole the lead away.

Photos by RicardoOliveiraPhoto

Thierry Neuville in the other Hyundai was third, he was the only man capable of denying Ogier his fourth WRC title win but only if he had claimed maximum points. The German managed to retain third place all the way to the finish giving Hyundai and double podium. The other Hyundai man, New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon missed a podium spot today after finishing fourth. Mads Ostberg was the best placed Ford driver in fifth.

A battle for third between Neuville and VW man Andreas Mikkelsen ended after the Polo R driver crashed out of the rally on Saturday afternoon. Mikkelsen later admitted he was pushing his limits of speed prior to the incident.

The bottom half of the top ten was led by Ott Tanak in sixth place followed by Kevin Abbring’s Hyundai and the two Skoda Fabias of Kopecky and Tidemand. Craig Breen completed the top ten in his Citroen DS3 WRC.

The final live TV Power Stage was won by Jari-Matti Latvala who claimed all three points, two points went to Ogier while the final point went to Sordo.

The penultimate round will take place at the Wales Rally GB 2016 set for October 27.

PHOTOGRAPHY BYPau Cañizares, Sophie Graillon.
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