Podium for Mitsubishi and McShea.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver Niall McShea finished on the podium in third position in Rally Australia, the penultimate round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship.

The Ulsterman, co-driven by Chris Patterson, has been on fine form in his first competitive outing in Australia, setting fastest stage times in each of the three legs to rack up points and the best result of his career.

Maximum points went to Britain's Martin Rowe, the Subaru driver establishing his unchallenged lead at the end of the opening day of competition on Friday.

The final leg of Rally Australia took the remaining 34 crews to the south-west of Perth for the shortest leg covering four stages and 117.11 competitive kilometers. Based in the Sotico pine plantation, these world-famous 'Bunnings' stages provide impressive action and draw crowds in their thousands, all desperate to witness drivers powering machinery over high-speed jumps and through spectacular watersplashes in a natural amphitheatre setting.

As predicted, heavy rain fell during the last two stages, but neither this nor the cooler weather dampened anyone's enthusiasm as the fight for rally honours and world titles marched on.

McShea was on course for a highly impressive second position in his Lancer Evolution, the Ulsterman holding a 30.4 second lead over reigning Production Car World Rally Champion Karamjit Singh after the opening 24.8 kilometer Bannister North stage.

However, McShea hit problems in the following stage, dropping more than two minutes when he had to stop and change a puncture, and although he fought hard in the final two stages and set fastest time in both, the deficit to Singh, who claimed second, was too great to overcome. It was nevertheless a resounding demonstration of both the driver's and car's capabilities.

"It's disappointing we got the puncture of course, but we can't be too upset," said McShea at the finish. "It's not easy to do well the first time you come here and I guess third is pretty good. We needed a finish, the car's gone well and I really like the stages. It can't be bad."

Fourth position was claimed by veteran Stig Blomqvist and fifth was Junior World Rally Champion Daniel Sola, in another Lancer Evolution. After some early set-backs, the Spaniard was in sparkling form on Saturday and rounded off the event with three second quickest times today.

"The objective was to finish here and score some points, so we are quite pleased with the result in the end," commented Sola, who was also competing in Australia for the first time. "It is certainly a hard rally and very important I think to learn the stages. I hope this will be a big help to us in future."

Joakim Roman rounded off the Production Car World Rally Championship finishers, the Swede sixth in his Lancer Evolution.

From Australia, the crews return to Europe for the final round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship. The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France [October 15-19] is another unique event and it is little wonder that the tight and twisty mountain roads on the Mediterranean island of Corsica have earned the event its nick-name of the 'Rally of 10,000 Corners'. With the fight for the Production Car title set to be decided on this event, it is sure to provide yet more fast and furious action.

Picture credits: Mitsubishi.