2018 Rally Australia
27\. Kennards Hire Rally Australia 2018

Round 13 of 13 in the 2018 World Rally Championship| ← Previous event

Host country|  Australia
Rally base| Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Dates run| 15 - 18 November 2018
Start location| Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Finish location| Coramba, New South Wales
Stages| 24 (316.30 km; 196.54 miles)
Stage surface| Gravel
Transport distance| 698.91 km (434.28 miles)
Overall distance| 1,015.21 km (630.82 miles)
Statistics
Crews registered| 29
Crews| 25 at start, 15 at finish
Overall results
Overall winner|  Jari-Matti Latvala
Miikka Anttila
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
2:59:52.0
Power Stage winner|  Sébastien Ogier
Julien Ingrassia
M-Sport Ford WRT
Support category results
WRC-2 winner|  Alberto Heller
José Diaz
M-Sport Ford WRT
3:22:20.5
WRC-3 winner| no classified finishers

The 2018 Rally Australia (formally known as the 27\. Kennards Hire Rally Australia) was a motor racing event for rally cars that took place between 15 and 18 November. The event was open to entries competing in World Rally Cars and cars complying with Group R regulations. It marked the twenty-seventh running of Rally Australia and was the final round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and its support series, the WRC-2 and WRC-3 championships.[1] The 2018 event was based in Coffs Harbour in New South Wales and consisted of twenty-four special stages. The rally covered a total competitive distance of a 316.30 km (196.54 miles) and an additional 698.91 km (434.28 miles) in transport stages.[2]

Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul were the defending rally winners.[3] The Finnish crew of Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen were the reigning winners of the World Rally Championship-2, but did not enter the rally this year.[4] There were no defending crews in the World Rally Championship-3 category since no crews entered here last year.

Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila won their first rally victory since 2017 Rally Sweden. Their team, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, were the manufacturers' winners.[5] The M-Sport Ford WRT crew of Alberto Heller and José Diaz won the World Rally Championship-2 category in a Škoda Fabia R5.[6] In the World Rally Championship-3, there were no classified finishers.

Defending world champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia took fifth place, which was enough for them to secure their sixth consecutive drivers' and co-drivers' titles respectively. Following a win and a 4th-place finish, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT won their first manufacturers' title since 1999.[7] In the WRC-3 championships, Enrico Brazzoli and Luca Beltrame still secured the titles although the Italian crews retired from the event.

## Background

[edit]

### Championship standings prior to the event

[edit]

Defending world champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia entered the round with a three-point lead over the defending rally winners Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul.[8] Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja were third, a further twenty points behind. In the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT held a twelve-point lead over Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT.

In the World Rally Championship-2 standings, newly-crowned champions Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler lead the drivers' and co-drivers' standings by thirty-three points. Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson were in second, while the Finnish crew of Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen were another twenty-one points behind in third.[9] However, all of them did not participate in the event.[4] In the teams' championship, Škoda Motorsport II held a seventeen-point lead over sister team Škoda Motorsport.

In the World Rally Championship-3 standings, Enrico Brazzoli and Luca Beltrame held a slender one-point lead over Taisko Lario and Tatu Hämäläinen, while 2018 Junior World Rally champions Emil Bergkvist and Johan Johansson were in third, eleven and seventeen points further behind in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively. In the teams' championship, ACI Team Italia led Castrol Ford Team Turkiye by sixteen points.

### Entry list

[edit]

The following crews were entered into the rally. The entry list consisted of twenty-nine crews, including twelve World Rally Car entries, four entries in the World Rally Championship-2 and two in the World Rally Championship-3.

No.  | Entrant  | Driver  | Co-driver  | Car  | Group | Eligibility  | Tyre

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1  |  M-Sport Ford WRT |  Sébastien Ogier |  Julien Ingrassia | Ford Fiesta WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer | M
2  |  M-Sport Ford WRT |  Elfyn Evans |  Daniel Barritt | Ford Fiesta WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
3  |  M-Sport Ford WRT |  Teemu Suninen |  Mikko Markkula | Ford Fiesta WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
4  |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT |  Andreas Mikkelsen |  Anders Jæger-Synnevaag | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
5  |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT |  Thierry Neuville |  Nicolas Gilsoul | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
6  |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT |  Hayden Paddon |  Sebastian Marshall | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
7  |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |  Jari-Matti Latvala |  Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
8  |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |  Ott Tänak |  Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
9  |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |  Esapekka Lappi |  Janne Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
10  |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT |  Mads Østberg |  Torstein Eriksen | Citroën C3 WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
11  |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT |  Craig Breen |  Scott Martin | Citroën C3 WRC | RC1  | WRC manufacturer  | M
21  |  M-Sport Ford WRT |  Jourdan Serderidis |  Lara Vanneste | Ford Fiesta WRC | RC1  | WRC  | M
31  |  Pedro Heller |  Pedro Heller |  Pablo Olmos | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2  | WRC-2  | M
32  |  Motorsport Italia |  Armin Kremer |  Pirmin Winklhofer | Škoda Fabia R5 | RC2  | WRC-2  | P
33  |  M-Sport Ford WRT |  Alberto Heller |  José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2  | WRC-2  | M
34  |  Gianluca Linari |  Gianluca Linari |  Pietro Elia Ometto | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | RC2  | WRC-2  | P
61  |  Enrico Brazzoli |  Enrico Brazzoli |  Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | RC3  | WRC-3  | P
62  |  Louise Cook |  Louise Cook |  Stefan Davis | Citroën DS3 R3 | RC3  | WRC-3  | M
71  |  Eli Evans |  Eli Evans |  Ben Searcy | Škoda Fabia R5 | RC2  | —  | MR
72  |  Harry Bates |  Harry Bates |  John McCarthy | Toyota Yaris AP4 | ASN  | —  | MR
73  |  Team MRF Tyres |  Gaurav Gill |  Glenn MacNeall | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2  | —  | MR
74  |  Steve Glenney |  Steve Glenney |  Andrew Sarandis | Škoda Fabia R5 | RC2  | —  | MR
75  |  Les Walkden Racing |  Molly Taylor |  Malcolm Read | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | ASN  | —  | MR
76  |  Raana Horan |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor | Škoda Fabia R5 | RC2  | —  | P
77  |  Tony Sullens |  Tony Sullens |  Kaylie Newell | Citroën DS3 R3 | RC3  | —  | MR
78  |  Wayne Morton |  Wayne Morton |  Kirra Penny | Toyota Auris S2000 | ASN  | —  | MR
79  |  Atsushi Masumura |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | RC2  | —  | H
80  |  Lewis Bates |  Lewis Bates |  Anthony McLoughlin | Toyota Corolla S2000 | ASN  | —  | MR
81  |  Luke Anear |  Luke Anear |  Jon Mitchell | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | ASN  | —  | MR
Source:[4]

## Report

[edit]

### Leg 1

[edit]

Coming into Coffs Harbour, Sébastien Ogier was the championship leader. Being first on the road, he had to endured the lack of grip. He ended the day in seventh after title contender Thierry Neuville suffered a rear-left puncture in the second pass of Sherwood, which dropped him down to tenth overall. Another title rival Ott Tänak also had some issue. His Yaris' engine took on water in a river crossing, which tore the front aero from his car and affected its handling. The Estonian eventually finished in fifth overall, 16.9 seconds off the lead.

It was Mads Østberg and Craig Breen made full use of advantages of being late on the road that gave Citroën a 1–2. Jari-Matti Latvala was 1.9 seconds behind Breen in third, followed by Hayden Paddon, another 3.8 seconds behind in fourth. Esapekka Lappi recovered to sixth after of the same watersplash issue as Tänak's. Ford duo Elfyn Evans and Teemu Suninen completed the day in eighth and ninth respectively after giving positions to their defending world champion Ogier. Andreas Mikkelsen was the only major retirement of the leg. The Norwegian parked his i20 with suspected radiator damage after crashing into a ditch.

### Leg 2

[edit]

Because of the puncture on Friday, Thierry Neuville was the first manufacturer car on the road. The Belgian managed to catch two places despite dry roads meant he was effectively high-speed road-sweepers, cleaning the surface of thick gravel to expose a faster line with more grip for those starting later. He eventually ended the leg in eighth, more than 50 seconds behind the title rival Sébastien Ogier, who kept his position in sixth after a trouble free day. Meanwhile, Ott Tänak set some brilliant pace, which elevated him to the top spot, around 20 seconds cleared of his teammate Jari-Matti Latvala. If the rally ends today, Ogier will win his sixth consecutive drivers' title with 212 points, while Tänak will snatch the runner-up spot from Neuville with an advantage of only one point in the championship standings.

Following two Toyotas, Hayden Paddon was in third, just 4.4 seconds off Latvala. Mads Østberg came into the day as the rally leader, but he was struggled with his Citroën C3’s balance in the afternoon loop. The Norwegian completed the day in fourth, just edged Esapekka Lappi by 3.8 seconds. Teammate Craig Breen fared worse -- He spun into a bank and damaged his rear suspension, which dropped him down to tenth overall. Seventh-place Elfyn Evans provided a convenient buffer between Ogier and Neuville, with teammate Teemu Suninen finished the leg in ninth.

### Leg 3

[edit]

It turned out the final leg of the season was a total disaster for two title contenders Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. Neuville, who led the championship for most of the year, clipped a bank and a tree on SS22 and forced to retire.[10] One stage later, Tänak stopped because of the damage to transmission.[11] Following two title rivals' retirements, Sébastien Ogier successfully won his sixth drivers' title with a fifth-place finish.[12] Toyota's Jari-Matti Latvala won the rally, which helped the team to win their first manufacturers' title for the first time since 1999. Hayden Paddon and Mads Østberg rounded out of the podium, followed by Esapekka Lappi in a third Yaris. Elfyn Evans completed the event in sixth after teammate Ogier, while Craig Breen gained one place from Teemu Suninen, who retired his Fiesta before the final test following an impact in the previous stage. WRC-2 category winner Alberto Heller, local driver Steve Glenney and rally veteran Jourdan Serderidis covered out of the leaderboard.

## Classification

[edit]

### Final results

[edit]

Pos. | No. | Driver  | Co-driver | Entrant  | Car  | Class | Time  | Difference

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to 1st | to prev.
1  | 7  |  Jari-Matti Latvala |  Miikka Anttila |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | 2:59:52.0  | 0.0  | 0.0
2  | 6  |  Hayden Paddon |  Sebastian Marshall |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | 3:00:24.5  | +32.5  | +32.5
3  | 10  |  Mads Østberg |  Torstein Eriksen |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 3:00:44.2  | +52.2  | +19.7
4  | 9  |  Esapekka Lappi |  Janne Ferm |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | 3:00:54.3  | +1:02.3  | +10.1
5  | 1  |  Sébastien Ogier |  Julien Ingrassia |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 3:02:22.8  | +2:30.8  | +1:28.5
6  | 2  |  Elfyn Evans |  Daniel Barritt |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 3:02:22.8  | +3:05.1  | +34.3
7  | 11  |  Craig Breen |  Scott Martin |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 3:08:51.0  | +8:59.0  | +5:53.9
8  | 33  |  Alberto Heller |  José Diaz |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2 | 3:22:20.5  | +22:28.5  | +13:29.5
9  | 74  |  Steve Glenney |  Andrew Sarandis |  Steve Glenney | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | 3:26:53.8  | +27:01.8  | +4:33.3
10  | 21  |  Jourdan Serderidis |  Lara Vanneste |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 3:35:06.1  | +35:14.1  | +8:12.3
11  | 4  |  Andreas Mikkelsen |  Anders Jæger-Synnevaag |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | 3:43:13.9  | +43:21.9  | +8:07.8
12  | 34  |  Gianluca Linari |  Pietro Elia Ometto |  Gianluca Linari | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | WRC-2  | 3:49:40.4  | +49:48.4  | +6:26.5
13  | 71  |  Eli Evans |  Ben Searcy |  Eli Evans | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | 4:05:03.5  | +1:05:11.5  | +15:23.1
14  | 80  |  Lewis Bates |  Anthony McLoughlin |  Lewis Bates | Toyota Corolla S2000 | —  | 4:13:38.8  | +1:13:46.8  | +8:35.3
15  | 73  |  Gaurav Gill |  Glenn MacNeall |  Team MRF Tyres | Ford Fiesta R5 | —  | 4:14:20.0  | +1:14:28.0  | +41.2
Ret  | 8  |  Ott Tänak |  Martin Järveoja |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | Retired SS23
Ret  | 3  |  Teemu Suninen |  Mikko Markkula |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | Retired SS23
Ret  | 5  |  Thierry Neuville |  Nicolas Gilsoul |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | Retired SS22
Ret  | 32  |  Armin Kremer |  Pirmin Winklhofer |  Motorsport Italia | Škoda Fabia R5 | WRC-2  | Retired SS21
Ret  | 31  |  Pedro Heller |  Pablo Olmos |  Pedro Heller | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2  | Retired SS20
Ret  | 76  |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor |  Raana Horan | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | Retired SS19
Ret  | 78  |  Wayne Morton |  Kirra Penny |  Wayne Morton | Toyota Auris S2000 | —  | Retired SS19
Ret  | 79  |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop |  Atsushi Masumura | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | —  | Retired SS19
Ret  | 61  |  Enrico Brazzoli |  Luca Beltrame |  Enrico Brazzoli | Citroën DS3 R3 | WRC-3  | Retired SS14
Ret  | 72  |  Harry Bates |  John McCarthy |  Harry Bates | Toyota Yaris AP4 | —  | Retired SS14
DNS  | 62  |  Louise Cook |  Stefan Davis |  Louise Cook | Citroën DS3 R3 | WRC-3  | Did not start
DNS  | 75  |  Molly Taylor |  Malcolm Read |  Les Walkden Racing | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | —  | Did not start
DNS  | 77  |  Tony Sullens |  Kaylie Newell |  Tony Sullens | Citroën DS3 R3 | —  | Did not start
DNS  | 81  |  Luke Anear |  Jon Mitchell |  Luke Anear | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | —  | Did not start
Source:[13][14]

### Point scorers

[edit]

Pos. | No. | Driver  | Co-driver  | Entrant  | Car  | Class | Points

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1  | 7  |  Jari-Matti Latvala |  Miikka Anttila |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | 25 in WRC, 1 from Power Stage
2  | 6  |  Hayden Paddon |  Sebastian Marshall |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | 18 in WRC, 0 from Power Stage
3  | 10  |  Mads Østberg |  Torstein Eriksen |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 15 in WRC, 3 from Power Stage
4  | 9  |  Esapekka Lappi |  Janne Ferm |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | 12 in WRC, 4 from Power Stage
5  | 1  |  Sébastien Ogier |  Julien Ingrassia |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 10 in WRC, 5 from Power Stage
6  | 2  |  Elfyn Evans |  Daniel Barritt |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 8 in WRC, 2 from Power Stage
7  | 11  |  Craig Breen |  Scott Martin |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 6 in WRC, 0 from Power Stage
8  | 33  |  Alberto Heller |  José Diaz |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2  | 4 in WRC, 25 in WRC-2
9  | 74  |  Steve Glenney |  Andrew Sarandis |  Steve Glenney | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | 2 in WRC
10  | 21  |  Jourdan Serderidis |  Lara Vanneste |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | 1 in WRC, 0 from Power Stage
12  | 34  |  Gianluca Linari |  Pietro Elia Ometto |  Gianluca Linari | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | WRC-2 | 18 in WRC-2

### Special stages

[edit]

Overall classification

Day  | Stage  | Name  | Length  | Stage winners  | Car  | Time  | Class leaders
15 November  | -- | Bucca [Shakedown]  | 5.07 km  |  Sébastien Ogier -- Julien Ingrassia | Ford Fiesta WRC | 2:53.8  | —
16 November  | SS1  | Orara East 1  | 8.77 km  |  Esapekka Lappi -- Janne Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:45.5  |  Esapekka Lappi -- Janne Ferm
SS2  | Coldwater 1  | 14.12 km  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | 7:56.3  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila
Esapekka Lappi -- Janne Ferm
SS3  | Sherwood 1  | 26.68 km  |  Mads Østberg -- Torstein Eriksen | Citroën C3 WRC | 12:49.0  |  Mads Østberg -- Torstein Eriksen
SS4  | Orara East 2  | 8.77 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:43.5
SS5  | Coldwater 2  | 14.12 km  |  Thierry Neuville -- Nicolas Gilsoul | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 7:51.1
SS6  | Sherwood 2  | 26.68 km  |  Craig Breen -- Scott Martin | Citroën C3 WRC | 12:35.6
SS7  | Destination NSW SSS18 1  | 1.27 km  |  Sébastien Ogier -- Julien Ingrassia | Ford Fiesta WRC | 1:23.4
SS8  | Destination NSW SSS18 2  | 1.27 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:23.0
17 November  | SS9  | Argents Hill Reverse 1  | 13.13 km  |  Hayden Paddon -- Sebastian Marshall | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 7:20.9
SS10  | Welshs Creek Reverse 1  | 28.83 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 15:12.6
SS11  | Urunga 1  | 20.11 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 11:32.3  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila
SS12  | Raleigh 1  | 1.99 km  |  Elfyn Evans -- Daniel Barritt
Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Ford Fiesta WRC
Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:33.1
SS13  | Argents Hill Reverse 2  | 13.13 km  |  Hayden Paddon -- Sebastian Marshall | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 7:16.8
SS14  | Welshs Creek Reverse 2  | 28.83 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 15:01.4  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja
SS15  | Urunga 2  | 20.11 km  |  Esapekka Lappi -- Janne Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | 11:32.5
SS16  | Raleigh 2  | 1.99 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:32.2
SS17  | Destination NSW SSS18 3  | 1.27 km  |  Ott Tänak -- Martin Järveoja | Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:23.1
SS18  | Destination NSW SSS18 4  | 1.27 km  |  Thierry Neuville -- Nicolas Gilsoul | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 1:24.1
18 November  | SS19  | Coramba 1  | 15.55 km  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | 9:38.1
SS20  | Sapphire 1  | 19.27 km  |  Hayden Paddon -- Sebastian Marshall | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 11:30.2  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila
SS21  | Wedding Bells18 1  | 7.16 km  |  Esapekka Lappi -- Janne Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:14.9
SS22  | Coramba 2  | 15.55 km  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | 10:05.1
SS23  | Sapphire 2  | 19.27 km  |  Jari-Matti Latvala -- Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | 11:48.1
SS24  | Wedding Bells18 2 [Power stage] | 7.16 km  |  Sébastien Ogier -- Julien Ingrassia | Ford Fiesta WRC | 4:16.2
World Rally Championship-2
15 November | -- | Bucca [Shakedown]  | 5.07 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 3:08.9  | —
16 November  | SS1  | Orara East 1  | 8.77 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 5:12.9  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz
SS2  | Coldwater 1  | 14.12 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 8:42.3
SS3  | Sherwood 1  | 26.68 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 14:27.5
SS4  | Orara East 2  | 8.77 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 5:07.3
SS5  | Coldwater 2  | 14.12 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 8:32.3
SS6  | Sherwood 2  | 26.68 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 14:06.4
SS7  | Destination NSW SSS18 1  | 1.27 km  |  Armin Kremer -- Pirmin Winklhofer | Škoda Fabia R5 | 1:29.0
SS8  | Destination NSW SSS18 2  | 1.27 km  |  Pedro Heller -- Pablo Olmos | Ford Fiesta R5 | 1:27.3
17 November  | SS9  | Argents Hill Reverse 1  | 13.13 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 8:00.9
SS10  | Welshs Creek Reverse 1  | 28.83 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 16:46.0
SS11  | Urunga 1  | 20.11 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 12:55.0
SS12  | Raleigh 1  | 1.99 km  |  Armin Kremer -- Pirmin Winklhofer | Škoda Fabia R5 | 1:38.0
SS13  | Argents Hill Reverse 2  | 13.13 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 7:55.1
SS14  | Welshs Creek Reverse 2  | 28.83 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 16:40.7
SS15  | Urunga 2  | 20.11 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 12:52.7
SS16  | Raleigh 2  | 1.99 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 1:38.0
SS17  | Destination NSW SSS18 3  | 1.27 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 1:28.2
SS18  | Destination NSW SSS18 4  | 1.27 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 1:27.2
18 November  | SS19  | Coramba 1  | 15.55 km  |  Pedro Heller -- Pablo Olmos | Ford Fiesta R5 | 10:46.5
SS20  | Sapphire 1  | 19.27 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 13:07.3
SS21  | Wedding Bells18 1  | 7.16 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 5:14.7
SS22  | Coramba 2  | 15.55 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 12:32.6
SS23  | Sapphire 2  | 19.27 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 15:01.2
SS24  | Wedding Bells18 2  | 7.16 km  |  Alberto Heller -- José Diaz | Ford Fiesta R5 | 4:52.3
World Rally Championship-3
15 November  | -- | Bucca [Shakedown]  | 5.07 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 3:48.6  | —
16 November  | SS1  | Orara East 1  | 8.77 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 6:40.5  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame
SS2  | Coldwater 1  | 14.12 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 10:23.4
SS3  | Sherwood 1  | 26.68 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 18:08.6
SS4  | Orara East 2  | 8.77 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 6:04.6
SS5  | Coldwater 2  | 14.12 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 10:12.7
SS6  | Sherwood 2  | 26.68 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 25:08.6
SS7  | Destination NSW SSS18 1  | 1.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS8  | Destination NSW SSS18 2  | 1.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
17 November  | SS9  | Argents Hill Reverse 1  | 13.13 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 9:24.8
SS10  | Welshs Creek Reverse 1  | 28.83 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 19:01.0
SS11  | Urunga 1  | 20.11 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 15:03.4
SS12  | Raleigh 1  | 1.99 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 1:49.8
SS13  | Argents Hill Reverse 2  | 13.13 km  |  Enrico Brazzoli -- Luca Beltrame | Citroën DS3 R3 | 9:10.3
SS14  | Welshs Creek Reverse 2  | 28.83 km  | No stage-winner | —  | No leader
SS15  | Urunga 2  | 20.11 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS16  | Raleigh 2  | 1.99 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS17  | Destination NSW SSS18 3  | 1.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS18  | Destination NSW SSS18 4  | 1.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
18 November  | SS19  | Coramba 1  | 15.55 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS20  | Sapphire 1  | 19.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS21  | Wedding Bells18 1  | 7.16 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS22  | Coramba 2  | 15.55 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS23  | Sapphire 2  | 19.27 km  | No stage-winner | —
SS24  | Wedding Bells18 2  | 7.16 km  | No stage-winner | —

### Power stage

[edit]

The Power stage was a 7.16 km stage at the end of the rally. Additional World Championship points were awarded to the five fastest crews.

Pos.  | Driver  | Co-driver  | Car  | Time  | Diff.  | Pts.

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1  |  Sébastien Ogier |  Julien Ingrassia | Ford Fiesta WRC | 4:16.2  | 0.0  | 5
2  |  Esapekka Lappi |  Janne Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:16.3  | +0.1  | 4
3  |  Mads Østberg |  Torstein Eriksen | Citroën C3 WRC | 4:18.9  | +2.7  | 3
4  |  Elfyn Evans |  Daniel Barritt | Ford Fiesta WRC | 4:19.2  | +3.0  | 2
5  |  Jari-Matti Latvala |  Miikka Anttila | Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:20.4  | +4.2  | 1

### Penalties

[edit]

The following crews were given time penalties during the rally.

Stage  | No. | Driver  | Co-driver | Entrant  | Car  | Class | Reason  | Penalty

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|
|
|
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|
|

SS5  | 79  |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop |  Atsushi Masumura | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | —  | 13 minutes late | 2:10
SS8  | 76  |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor |  Raana Horan | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | 1 minute late | 0:10
SS9  | 72  |  Harry Bates |  John McCarthy |  Harry Bates | Toyota Yaris AP4 | —  | 4 minutes late | 0:40
SS9  | 76  |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor |  Raana Horan | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | 17 minutes late | 2:50
SS9  | 78  |  Wayne Morton |  Kirra Penny |  Wayne Morton | Toyota Auris S2000 | —  | 13 minutes late | 2:10
SS10  | 78  |  Wayne Morton |  Kirra Penny |  Wayne Morton | Toyota Auris S2000 | —  | Jump start | 0:10
SS12  | 11  |  Craig Breen |  Scott Martin |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 23 minutes late | 3:50
SS17  | 11  |  Craig Breen |  Scott Martin |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën C3 WRC | WRC  | 1 minute late | 0:10

### Retirements

[edit]

The following crews retired from the event. Under Rally2 regulations, they were eligible to re-enter the event starting from the next leg. Crews that re-entered were given an additional time penalty.

Stage  | No. | Driver  | Co-driver  | Entrant  | Car  | Class | Cause  | Re-entry

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SS3  | 4  |  Andreas Mikkelsen |  Anders Jæger-Synnevaag |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | Rolled  | Yes
SS3  | 71  |  Eli Evans |  Ben Searcy |  Eli Evans | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS3  | 80  |  Lewis Bates |  Anthony McLoughlin |  Lewis Bates | Toyota Corolla S2000 | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS6  | 61  |  Enrico Brazzoli |  Luca Beltrame |  Enrico Brazzoli | Citroën DS3 R3 | WRC-3  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS8  | 79  |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop |  Atsushi Masumura | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS9  | 79  |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop |  Atsushi Masumura | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS10  | 31  |  Pedro Heller |  Pablo Olmos |  Pedro Heller | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS11  | 73  |  Gaurav Gill |  Glenn MacNeall |  Team MRF Tyres | Ford Fiesta R5 | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS14  | 61  |  Enrico Brazzoli |  Luca Beltrame |  Enrico Brazzoli | Citroën DS3 R3 | WRC-3 | Accident  | No
SS14  | 72  |  Harry Bates |  John McCarthy |  Harry Bates | Toyota Yaris AP4 | —  | Engine  | No
SS14  | 76  |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor |  Raana Horan | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS16  | 32  |  Armin Kremer |  Pirmin Winklhofer |  Motorsport Italia | Škoda Fabia R5 | WRC-2  | Mechanical  | Yes
SS19  | 76  |  Raana Horan |  Michael Connor |  Raana Horan | Škoda Fabia R5 | —  | Mechanical  | No
SS19  | 78  |  Wayne Morton |  Kirra Penny |  Wayne Morton | Toyota Auris S2000 | —  | Accident  | No
SS19  | 79  |  Naoya Tanaka |  Super Alex Troop |  Atsushi Masumura | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | —  | Mechanical  | No
SS20  | 31  |  Pedro Heller |  Pablo Olmos |  Pedro Heller | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2  | Mechanical  | No
SS21  | 32  |  Armin Kremer |  Pirmin Winklhofer |  Motorsport Italia | Škoda Fabia R5 | WRC-2  | Mechanical  | No
SS22  | 5  |  Thierry Neuville |  Nicolas Gilsoul |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC  | Lost wheel  | No
SS23  | 3  |  Teemu Suninen |  Mikko Markkula |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC  | Mechanical  | No
SS23  | 8  |  Ott Tänak |  Martin Järveoja |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota Yaris WRC | WRC  | Accident  | No

### Championship standings after the rally

[edit]

* Bold text indicates 2018 World Champions.

#### Drivers' championships

[edit]

| World Rally Championship

| Pos. | Driver  | Points
| 1  |  Sébastien Ogier | 219
| 2  |  Thierry Neuville | 201
| 3  |  Ott Tänak | 181
1  | 4  |  Jari-Matti Latvala | 128
1  | 5  |  Esapekka Lappi | 126
World Rally Championship-2
| Pos. | Driver  | Points
| 1  |  Jan Kopecký | 143
| 2  |  Pontus Tidemand | 111
| 3  |  Kalle Rovanperä | 90
| 4  |  Gus Greensmith | 70
| 5  |  Łukasz Pieniążek | 56
World Rally Championship-3
| Pos. | Driver  | Points
| 1  |  Enrico Brazzoli | 98
| 2  |  Taisko Lario | 97
| 3  |  Emil Bergkvist | 86
| 4  |  Denis Rådström | 80
| 5  |  Jean-Baptiste Franceschi | 79

#### Co-drivers' championships

[edit]

| World Rally Championship

| Pos. | Co-driver  | Points
| 1  |  Julien Ingrassia | 219
| 2  |  Nicolas Gilsoul | 201
| 3  |  Martin Järveoja | 181
1  | 4  |  Miikka Anttila | 128
1  | 5  |  Janne Ferm | 126
World Rally Championship-2
| Pos. | Co-driver  | Points
| 1  |  Pavel Dresler | 143
| 2  |  Jonas Andersson | 111
| 3  |  Jonne Halttunen | 90
| 4  |  Przemysław Mazur | 56
| 5  |  Craig Parry | 55
World Rally Championship-3
| Pos. | Co-driver  | Points
| 1  |  Luca Beltrame | 98
| 2  |  Tatu Hämäläinen | 97
| 3  |  Johan Johansson | 80
| 4  |  Romain Courbon | 79
| 5  |  Stefan Davis | 59

#### Manufacturers' and teams' championships

[edit]

| World Rally Championship

| Pos. | Manufacturer  | Points
| 1  |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | 368
| 2  |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | 341
| 3  |  M-Sport Ford WRT | 324
| 4  |  Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | 237
World Rally Championship-2
| Pos. | Team  | Points
| 1  |  Škoda Motorsport II | 150
| 2  |  Škoda Motorsport | 133
| 3  |  Printsport | 81
| 4  |  ACI Team Italia WRC | 80
| 5  |  Hyundai Motorsport | 76
World Rally Championship-3
| Pos. | Team  | Points
| 1  |  ACI Team Italia | 83
| 2  |  Castrol Ford Team Turkiye | 67
| 3  |  OT Racing | 62
| 4  |  ADAC Sachsen | 62
| 5  |  Équipe de France FFSA Rally | 55

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Rally Aus retains WRC finale in 2018". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
2. ^ "Kennards Hire Rally Australia". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
3. ^ "Sunday in Australia: Neuville Secures Fourth Win". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
4. ^ a b c "Kennards Hire Rally Australia 2018 Entry List" (PDF). rallyaustralia.com.au. Rally Australia. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
5. ^ "Sunday in Australia: Six of the best for Ogier". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
6. ^ "WRC 2 in Australia: Alberto Heller Seals Comfortable Win". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
7. ^ Van Leeuwen, Andrew (18 November 2018). "Rally Australia: Latvala wins as Ogier, Toyota claim WRC titles". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
8. ^ "Breaking News: Dream Win for Loeb". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
9. ^ "WRC 2 in Spanin: Rovanperä Nets Masterful win". wrc.com. WRC. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
10. ^ Evans, David (18 November 2018). "Ogier, Tanak to fight for WRC title as Hyundai's Neuville retires". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
11. ^ Evans, David (18 November 2018). "Rally Australia: Tanak retires with one stage left - Ogier wins WRC". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
12. ^ "Sunday in Australia: Six of the Best for Ogier". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
13. ^ "Rally Australia Results". wrc.com. World Rally Championship. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
14. ^ "27. Kennards Hire Rally Australia 2018". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2018 Rally Australia.

* Official website (in English)
* 2018 Rally Australia in e-wrc website
* The official website of the World Rally Championship

Previous rally:
2018 Rally Catalunya | 2018 FIA World Rally Championship | Next rally:
2019 Monte Carlo Rally (2019)

|
|

Previous rally:
2017 Rally Australia | 2018 Rally Australia | Next rally:
TBD
2019 edition cancelled

* v
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2018 World Rally Championship

« 2017

2019 »

Categories within the World Rally Championship

* FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers
* FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers
* FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers

* FIA WRC2 Championship
* FIA WRC3 Championship
* FIA Junior WRC Championship

* v
* t
* e

Teams and drivers that are eligible to score manufacturer points

| M-Sport Ford WRT
(Ford Fiesta WRC)| Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
(Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)| Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
(Toyota Yaris WRC)| Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
(Citroën C3 WRC)

|
|
|

* 1\. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia
* 2\. Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt/Phil Mills
* 3\. Bryan Bouffier and Xavier Panseri
* 3\. Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula

* 4\. Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger
* 5\. Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul
* 6\. Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio
* 6\. Hayden Paddon and Sebastian Marshall

* 7\. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila
* 8\. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja
* 9\. Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm

* 10\. Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle
* 10./11. Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena
* 10./12. Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen
* 11\. Craig Breen and Scott Martin
* 12\. Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson

Schedule of events

* Monte-Carlo
* Sweden
* Mexico
* France
* Argentina
* Portugal
* Italy
* Finland
* Germany
* Turkey
* Great Britain
* Spain
* Australia

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Rally Australia

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* ~~2019~~

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