Sebastien Ogier, right, and co driver Julien Ingrassia, of France, VW Polo WRC, driving the VW Polo WRC, celebrate their victory in the Rally Sweden second round of the FIA World Rally Championship, in Karlstad, Sweden, Sunday Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/TT News Agency, Micke Fransson) SWEDEN OUT
The Associated Press
KARLSTAD, Sweden (AP) - Sebastien Ogier earned his second victory of the season by winning Rally Sweden after coming from behind on the final stage Sunday when his two main rivals went off the road.
The Frenchman was only third in his Volkswagen Polo going into the final stage but first overtook teammate Andreas Mikkelsen when the Norwegian's car hit a snow bank and spun. Leader Thierry Neuville of Belgium then hit a snow bank and lost time, settling for second place. Mikkelsen was third.
Ogier said "it's a crazy win because I had to push flat out from the beginning of the rally to the end. I made only one mistake on Friday and apart from that I'm proud to have kept the car on the road at that level of speed."
He won the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally in January and is the defending world champion.
Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia of France, drive their VW Polo WRC, on SS20 'Varmullsasen' during the Rally Sweden second round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Hagfors, Sweden, on Sunday Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo / Micke Fransson / TT) SWEDEN OUT
The Associated Press
Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul of Belgium drive their Hyundai i20 WRC on SS20 'Varmullsasen' during the Rally Sweden second round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Hagfors, Sweden, on Sunday Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo / Micke Fransson / TT) SWEDEN OUT
The Associated Press
Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, at centre, of France, driving a VW Polo WRC, celebrate victory in the Rally Sweden second round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Hagfors, Sweden, on Sunday Feb. 15, 2015. Also on the podium are 2nd placed Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul, left, of Belgium driving their Hyundai i20 and 3rd placed drivers Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Floene of Norway VW Polo WRC, at right. (AP Photo / Micke Fransson, TT) SWEDEN OUT
The Associated Press