SALOU, Spain: Frenchman Sebastien Ogier sped into the lead at the Rally of Spain on Friday, clinching the fourth super-special with a slick ride in his VW Polo.

The defending champion now enjoys an 8.4sec lead over Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and a full 19.8sec on Norway’s Mads Ostberg (Citroen).

His only remaining rival for the title however, Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala (VW), was left in a disappointing seventh at 24.2sec.

Ogier leads Latvala by 27 points with just one race to go after this one. Latvala must finish above Ogier, taking at least two more points, to remaining in the hunt at the Rally of Great Britain.

“That was a great morning for me and I’m a little surprised to be in the lead. But I gave it my all and made no mistakes,” said Ogier, who was first down the dirt track.

“When you lead off on the dirt you need to drive clean but loose,” explained the Frenchman.

“And if I can hold on until tonight that would be just great,” added the champion, who had feared going first would actually slow him down.

“Our disadvantage of course is counterbalanced by the dirt thrown up which impedes the driver behind you,” he said.

Latvala hit a rock on the morning’s first special and also suffered from the dust and was left deflated by the morning’s competition.

“I drove poorly this morning, I was trying to save the tires. My engine needs re-tuning and I need to get my confidence back,” said the Finn.