McShea heads Subaru title charge.

Niall McShea roared into contention for the FIA Production Car World Championship title on this weekend's Tour of Corsica, mastering tricky condition on the tortuous asphalt roads to secure a brilliant runner-up position.

The excellent result leaves the Lloyd Helicopters-backed driver as top-placed Subaru Impreza driver and just two points behind the championship leader Jani Paasonen with just one event, Rally Australia, to run.

"After such a fraught winter trying to put a deal together, to head into the final round within shot of the championship is a dream come true," said McShea, who is run by Belgian team Syms Racing. "The team has showed a lot of faith in me, as have Lloyd Helicopters, Ivan Fisher of Fisher Engineering and Brian Murphy, and podium results are by far the best way for me to repay that."

McShea and co-driver Michael Orr had to be performing at their peak throughout the three-day event, which was run on six asphalt stages around the host town of Ajaccio, as variable weather made conditions in the mountain stages particularly tricky.

McShea quickly settled into second, knowing it would be enough to catapult him into second in the championship. But the Northern Irishman didn't have things all his own way as first Mark Higgins and then Alister McRae put him under intense pressure.

McShea, though, was equal to the task as first Higgins dropped back and then McRae's challenge stuttered on the soaking final stage of the second leg. Underling his speed, McShea then stamped on any dreams McRae had of making a final day push by setting fastest time overall on three of the leg's four stages. He finished almost a minute clear.

"It was a good battle with Mark and then Alister - even better because I came out on top of it," smiled McShea. "Because Alister is also in the running for the championship I knew he wasn't going to give up, so I had to keep my concentration and make sure I was pushing as hard as possible without making any mistakes. We've had to contend with every type of road conditions imaginable and there wasn't even a moment where I could relax. Now I'm really looking forward to another close battle in Australia."

Contenders for the FIA Production Car World Championship and their points totals are now: Jani Paasonen 29; Niall McShea 27; Alister McRae 26; Toshi Arai; Xavier Pons 24; Toshi Arai 20.

Rally Australia, runs from November 12-14.