World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville beat title rival Sebastien Ogier in the final speed test to claim victory at the Rally Italia Sardegna.

M-Sport Ford racer Ogier held a slender 3.9-second advantage heading into the final day, but Belgian Neuville had closed that down to just 0.8 seconds by the time of the last 6.96km special power stage.

The Hyundai i20 driver took victory after Ogier finished 1.5 seconds adrift, with Esapekka Lappi third on the stage.

Neuville ended the Rally Italia Sardegna 0.7 seconds ahead of second-placed Ogier – as Lappi’s Toyota was almost two minutes back in third – scoring the maximum 30 points available and giving him a 27-point lead in the overall championship standings.

Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia were left sweating on a penalty for leaving their Fiesta without collecting the time card at the finish of the penultimate stage but the punishment was suspended and will only apply if they repeat the offence before the end of the season.