Coffs Harbour, New South Wales - Sebastien Ogier and team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala will be looking to lock up the World Rally Championship Manufacturers' title for Volkswagen in Australia this weekend.
Defending world champion Ogier still holds a 44 point over his team-mate although both came away without any points after withdrawing from the all-tar Rallye Deutschland in August.
Despite their misfiring, which left Belgian Thierry Neuville as a first-time winner this season, the result ensured that only Ogier and Latvala are capable of winning the Drivers' trophy.
Ogier won the 2013 Australian rally to end a run of three victories by Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, and he likes his chances of increasing his series lead on the gravel roads in and around Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast.
Ogier said ahead of the start on Friday: “I love the layout of the special stages and always feel good Down Under,”
“Last year was almost perfect for Julien (co-driver Ingrassia) and me - 19 best times on 22 special stages. Naturally we want to repeat that this year.
“We secured the Drivers' title for Volkswagen in Germany, but not the Manufacturers' championship. That's definitely the goal for Australia.”
Ogier and Latvala, who need only five points between them to clinch the Manufacturers' championship for Volkswagen Motorsport, have dominated this year with the Frenchman winning five rallies and the Finn three, with four rounds left.
Latvala admitted: “Switching back from tar to gravel is always harder than the other way around, but we had a test in Finland before the rally to get used to the feeling once again.
“I hope that I can fight for the win. But we also need to keep an eye on the competition outside of our team. I think that Citroen and Hyundai also have a good chance of winning.”
The varying conditions start with Friday's technical, narrow, winding stages, most of which are on forest roads and under tree cover.
Saturday's day two stages pass through more open countryside and features sweeping corners, big crests and jumps, while Sunday's final day is all about extremely fast sections through the rainforest.
The early starters face the task of sweeping the loose material from the surface, benefiting those behind who will have a cleaner and faster line.
Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen was first through Saturday's stages in 2013 and said it was like driving on marbles.
There are three rounds left in the World Rally Championship after Australia - France, Spain and Britain - with a maximum 100 points.
AFP