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Rally France: Thierry Neuville opens up big lead

Strasbourg, France: Belgian driver Thierry Neuville won the last four of Friday's stages to take the overall lead of the Rally France, with newly crowned world champion Sebastien Ogier finishing the day down in fifth

rally france thierry neuville opens up big lead rally france thierry neuville opens up big lead
Strasbourg, France: Belgian driver Thierry Neuville won the last four of Friday's stages to take the overall lead of the Rally France, with newly crowned world champion Sebastien Ogier finishing the day down in fifth place.



Neuville's remote chances of overtaking Ogier in the championship race were ended on Thursday when Neuville failed to win the first power stage.

Nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb started aggressively in his last ever rally and clinched the first three stages of the morning but struggled in the afternoon after picking the wrong tires, as did Ogier.

Neuville won all four of the afternoon's stages and is 9.8 seconds ahead of Spaniard Daniel Sordo, the overnight leader, and 11.8 clear of Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala.

Loeb is 12.2 back in fourth spot, with Ogier down by 28.7.