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WRC Rally Finland: Kris Meeke takes big lead into final day

Kris Meeke remains on course for a second win of his part-time 2016 World Rally Championship campaign after nurturing his Rally Finland lead over Volkswagen's Jari-Matti Latvala on Saturday afternoon

Matching his record from the morning's loop, Meeke took another brace of wins from the afternoon's four stages and extended his advantage by six seconds early on before Latvala retaliated slightly on the day's final two stages.

Even so, Citroen driver Meeke will start Sunday's final four stages with a lead of 41 seconds over Latvala as he bids to secure a third WRC win - and his second from as many rallies in his truncated 2016 WRC schedule.

Behind Latvala, the main fight for position appears to be the one for third between the second PH Sport Citroen of Craig Breen and DMACK's Ott Tanak.

Breen was placed in third just as the lunchtime service began, as officials gave him a nominal time for SS14 after he was forced to drive through the stage at a reduced pace thanks to an Eric Camilli off.

By contrast, Tanak started the loop in eighth after sustaining a puncture on the morning's penultimate stage, but picked his way through the order on the afternoon's first two stages despite feeling he had made a wrong decision by running on soft tyres.

The Estonian ate into Breen's advantage on SS18, Paijala - the repeat run of SS14 that Breen had not attempted at full speed - although the gap stabilised over the final two stages.

Breen therefore goes into the final day of Rally Finland with 11.5s in hand as he bids for a first WRC podium.

Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Hayden Paddon remained inseparable throughout the afternoon, despite falling away from the podium fight in fifth and sixth.

Paddon was able to get within a tenth of his team-mate before the final stage of the afternoon, but Neuville then pulled out the second-fastest time on Saalahti to edge away slightly.

The pair also have M-Sport's remaining WRC driver Mads Ostberg for close company, the Norwegian having hung in the fight in his Ford Fiesta.

Compatriot Andreas Mikkelsen had been involved in that squabble for position but, as first man on the road following team-mate Sebastien Ogier's crash on Friday, fell away from the leading group in the afternoon in eighth.

LEADING POSITIONS AFTER SS20:

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