Volkswagen's quest to finish their World Rally Championship stint with a 1-2 in the drivers' championship has got off to a perfect start at the season-ending Rally Australia.
Andreas Mikkelsen, currently ranked third in the drivers' standings, has opened up a commanding 13.7sec lead over his nearest rival Dani Sordo after the opening five stages in Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.
While other drivers have struggled with grip on the loose gravel early in the event, Mikkelsen has been the quickest through the first, third, fourth and fifth stages in Volkswagen's last event in the championship.
"It's been a very good morning,," he said.
"The pace has been comfortable. No moments. A good attack."
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville, who is 14 points clear of Mikkelsen in second spot in the championship, is fifth after five stages, but 21.1 seconds back on the leader.
His New Zealand teammate, Hayden Paddon, is third after a disastrous fourth stage cost him 12.6 seconds on Mickelsen.
Still a chance of claiming second in the title race as well, Paddon took a risk on the 10.49km stage by taking on a mixed strategy three soft tyres and one hard.
However it didn't pay off when he half-spun four times.
"The balance was completely wrong," he said.
"We went full sideways and had to come out of the throttle and wait for the car to come back.
"That wasn't the main time loss but the rest of it was just in the driving and the car."
Meanwhile it hasn't been all plain sailing for Volkswagen.
Four-time drivers' champion Sebastien Ogier, who has already wrapped up this year's title, is fourth and 20.1 seconds off the pace with the disadvantage of opening each stage and clearing the loosest gravel.
Follow Volkswagen driver, Jari-Matti Latvala endured a nightmarish morning to be a little more than six minutes off the pace and last after breaking a suspension when he hit a bridge on the opening stage of the event.
Friday's opening day includes 11 of the 23 stages for the weekend, before the event concludes on Sunday.
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