Mikkelsen gifted Poland victory

Andreas Mikkelsen was handed an unexpected victory at PFM 73rd Rally Poland on Sunday when a puncture just kilometres from the finish denied Ott Tänak a maiden FIA World Rally Championship success.

Heavy rain made the sandy roads treacherously slippery and long-time leader Tänak dropped 40sec in the penultimate speed test to hand the Norwegian victory by 26.2sec in a Volkswagen Polo R.

A devastated Tänak recovered to finish second in his Ford Fiesta RS with Hayden Paddon third in a Hyundai i20, a further 2.3sec back.

Championship leader Sébastien Ogier won the final live TV Power Stage to claim three bonus points in a Polo R. Team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala took two points for second while Thierry Neuville secured the final point in third in an i20.

More news to follow.