Ogier extends title lead with Rally of Portugal win

France's world champion Sebastien Ogier coasted home to win the Rally of Portugal on Sunday for the fourth time. The Volkswagen Polo driver's third win out of four this season cemented his position at the top of the world rally championship standings. Ogier, who had a 43 second cushion over his nearest pursuer, Finland's Miko Hirvonen, led virtually since the first stage on Thursday to notch up his team's eighth consecutive win. That drew the German carmaker level with Citroen's record constructors' run in the WRC. Ogier sealed his 19th career win when taking Sunday's power stage, his eighth stage win out of 16 in the Algarve, to gain the maximum 28 points. His nearest rival in the title race, Jari-Mata Latvala, finished out of the top 10. Behind Ogier and Hirvonen in third, 1min 12sec adrift, came Norway's Mads Ostberg, in a Citroen DS3. The next leg of the year is in Argentina starting on May 8. Source: AFP