Intro:

Thierry Neuville overshadowed Sebastien Loeb's Sebastien farewell and Sebastien Ogier's World Rally Championship crown as he flew into the Rally of France lead on Friday afternoon

Script:

Belgian driver Thierry Neuville won the last four of Friday's stages to take the overall lead of the Rally France, with newly crowned world champion Sebastien Ogier finishing the day down in fifth place.

Neuville's remote chances of overtaking Ogier in the championship race were ended on Thursday when Neuville failed to win the first power stage.

Nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb started aggressively in his last ever rally and clinched the first three stages of the morning but struggled in the afternoon after picking the wrong tyres, as did Ogier.

Neuville won all four of the afternoon's stages and is 9.8 seconds ahead of Spaniard Daniel Sordo, the overnight leader, and 11.8 clear of Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala.

Loeb is 12.2 back in fourth spot, with Ogier down by 28.7.

The Rally France is one of the hardest tests of the season and combines wide and narrow roads with sections through the forest and hilly climbs