Motorsport: Four-way battle for second in Australia

Andreas Mikkelsen during Wales Rally GB. Photo / Getty Images

A four-horse race for second spot in the World Rally Championship has been set up for Coffs Harbour next month, after Volkswagen claimed the manufacturers' title in Wales over the weekend.

Having already secured the driver's title, France's Sebastien Ogier's sixth win of the season was enough to wrap up the constructor's championship, putting the German team 70 points clear of Hyundai.

It means the highest honour on the line for the championship on the NSW north coast will be a runner-up placing at the season-ending event from November 18-20.

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville finished third on Sunday, putting him 14 points clear of Volkswagen's Andreas Mikkelsen, while Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo are three and 10 points further back respectively.

It meant all four remain in the hunt, with the winner of the 313km Australian gravel course securing 25 points, while three points are also given to the event's power stage.

Ogier has won the past three races in Australia since it returned to Coffs Harbour, after the event was moved to New Zealand in 2011.