Rowe wins in Australia to lead PCWRC.

Martin Rowe has set up a thrilling final round of the Production Car World Rally Championship [PCWRC] in Corsica next month after winning the penultimate round at the Rally of Australia today.

Rowe's Subaru Impreza WRX STI finished nearly two minutes in front of defending champion Karamjit Singh with Irishman Niall McShea third.

Toshi Arai, who led the PCWRC points chase at the start of Rally Australia, has slipped to second equal overall with Singh after not finishing the Perth based event in his Subaru.

Englishman Rowe now has 37 points, while Arai and Singh both have 30. The trio are the only drivers who can win the title as fourth placed Stig Blomqvist in another Impreza WRX STI has 26 points and can not catch Rowe even if he were to win the final round in Corsica.

"It's a nice points buffer to have," said Rowe. "The Subaru went well on the tarmac in Germany so I'm looking forward to next month. We don't have to go all out, but simply keep an eye on Toshi and Karamjit and make sure we finish fifth or better."

Rowe is the third different Subaru driver to win a round of the PCWRC this year. Blomqvist was successful in Sweden, while Arai won in New Zealand, Argentina and Cyprus.

Rowe started the last day of Rally Australia with a 29.5 seconds lead over McShea, but the pressure was relieved on the day's second stage when McShea recorded a slow stage time, dropping back to third overall.

That left Rowe nearly two minutes in front of Singh, a gap he maintained for the rest of the event.

"We were able to ease off a little and not take risks," said Rowe. "We tried to drive at our own pace for the whole rally and not be too worried about what everybody else was doing."

Rowe added: "Marco Ligato was fast on the first day, but struck problems on the day's final stage at the Gloucester Park super stage. Then Toshi went fast yesterday until he was forced out. Since then Niall kept the pressure on, but we've managed to resist it."

The victory in Australia was Rowe's first in the PCWRC, but he has built his point's lead on consistency, having finished second in Cyprus and Germany, third at the season opener in Sweden and fourth in New Zealand.

"Consistency pays off in the championship," said Rowe. "Richard Burns is proving that in the WRC and we are starting to in the PCWRC."

Now Rowe is looking to maintain that consistency for the final round of the PCWRC, the Tour de Corse from 16 to 19 October.