Sebastien Ogier dominates Rally Australia

COFFS HARBOUR, Australia (AP) World Rally Championship leader Sebastien Ogier of France won all six road stages in the Rally Australia on Friday to be in a strong position to clinch the series title this weekend.

Ogier, who also won a special stage on Thursday on the opening night and another on Friday, had an elapsed time after 10 of 22 stages of more than 58 minutes.

Finland's Mikko Hirvonen was 20 seconds behind, followed by Belgium's Thierry Neuville, 38.1 seconds behind Ogier in third place.

The 354-kilometer (218-mile) rally ends on Sunday. There are six stages scheduled for each of Saturday and Sunday, including two 50-kilometer (30-mile) stages on Saturday.

Ogier, who drives a Volkswagen Motorsport entry, came into the rally with a 75-point lead over Neuville. There are three events remaining after Australia.

"We can say that the day was perfect," Ogier said.

Mads Ostberg, in sixth place overall, said he hit a rock so hard that the driver's door of his Ford Fiesta flew open during the eighth stage.

"We almost went off the road into the trees," Ostberg said.

"It's a good job I hit it sideways because if I had hit it with the front of the car, then that would have been it."