Sebastien Ogier has one hand on the World Rally Championship title after grabbing a narrow lead over Citroen Abu Dhabi’s Kris Meeke on the second day of Rally Australia.
Ogier, driving a Volkswagen Polo, heads into Sunday’s final five stages with a 0.3 second lead over Meeke, who led the rally until the final night stage.
Overnight leader Jari-Matti Latvala faded to third place, 2.6 seconds behind teammate Ogier with his hopes of winning the 2015 title now hanging by a thread.
Ogier has a commanding lead over Latvala and only needs to finish in front of the Finn to take his third consecutive world title.
In a thrilling race around the New South Wales town of Coffs Harbour the top four drivers are separated by less than 10 seconds, with fourth placed Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway 9.1 seconds off the leading time.
Meeke seized the lead in his Citroen after consistent performances on the first two stages, both won by New Zealander Hayden Paddon, who is in fifth placed overall, 19.1 seconds behind the leader.
Latvala slipped from the lead after he admitted to being too cautious on the opening stages.
Ogier began to show his dominance as he won the third stage to close to within 2.6 seconds of Meeke.
He then drove superbly to overtake Meeke on the final stage and put himself in prime position to take his third Rally Australia title in as many years.
Ogier said the lingering dust was a problem on the final stage.
“I was worried about the dust near the beginning but it was OK,” he said.
“Not a good stage for me though — still a lot of dust on the road.
“I expected it would be cleaner. I didn’t find the optimal rhythm so I was not flat out.”
LEG 2 CLASSIFICATION
1. Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen 2:20:51.800
2. Kris Meeke (Britain) Citroen +00:00.300
3. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Volkswagen 00:02.600
4. Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) Volkswagen 00:09.100
5. Hayden Paddon (New Zealand) Hyundai 00:19.400
6. Ott Taenak (Estonia) Ford 00:39.100
7. Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Hyundai 01:03.900
8. Daniel Sordo (Spain) Hyundai 01:10.200
9. Elfyn Evans (Britain) Ford 03:15.100
10. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) Ford 08:30.400
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
HOW TO WATCH
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