Sebastien Ogier will take a 12.2sec lead into the final stage of Rallye de France after a trouble free run through the penultimate test.
The Frenchman drove his Volkswagen Polo R through the repeated section from Bischwiller in the joint second-fastest time, one second adrift of stage winner Jari-Matti Latvala.
“This one was a bit easier than the first pass, so all okay, a good drive,” said Ogier, as he left for the rally closing street stage at Haguenau.
Fourth quickest for Dani Sordo was enough to keep the Spaniard relatively comfortable in second, 10.5sec ahead of third placed Latvala.
Sordo said he hadn’t given up on catching Ogier, but admitted he wouldn’t be able to do it through driving alone.