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The final day of the 2006 Telstra Rally Australia was action-packed, positions changing as a number of competitors went out on the last group of stages.

Clearly the fastest Group N cars this weekend were those of Jari Matti Latvala, Toshi Arai and Dean Herridge. Though defending champion Arai didn't finish, his two fellow SUBARU runners both ended on the podium, Latvala taking his maiden win in the PCWRC, and Dean Herridge taking third place on his home event.

Dean Herridge added to his woes this morning when he lost fourth gear on the opening stage. The home crowd favourite soldiered on and made it to the podium after moving up when Aki Teiskonen went out shortly before the end.

The second stage of the morning was the scene of championship points' protagonist Fumio Nutahara going onto SupeRally and thus ending the event in seventh place. The result gives points' leader Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah a six point advantage going intro the final round - in New Zealand in two weeks' time.

Illustrating just how close the competition in the PCWRC is, at the end of SS24 the gap among the top four cars was a mere 36.5 seconds after more than three hours' competitive running. Jari Matti was taking no unnecessary risks when it was his turn up front over the last few stages of the rally. He couldn't rest on his laurels however as rival Mitsubishi man Mirco Baldacci was on a charge all morning, passing others as he moved closer to the front.

Aki Teiskonen started the morning off strongly, running in second place behind Jari Matti Latvala at the mid-point of the day. SS25 caught him out however; the Finn crashing on the penultimate stage. It was a great misfortune as he had been going so well throughout the event after a measured start. He was however, still far enough ahead to eventually be classified fourth.

Sergei Uspenskiy had a very promising return to the championship, netting fifth place overall in the PCWRC, and beating both the national Australian drivers he had been battling with throughout the event.

Driver Comments:

Jari Matti Latvala - WINNER:

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"I'm incredibly happy to take this win here in Australia. This is so important for me and is a real boost to my self confidence. It was so difficult on the long stage (SS25 - 29.93kms). I'm so happy and I can really believe in myself now more than ever. We've had such a tough season, so this really feels good. This is something I've been dreaming about for a very long time. When I got the lead, the guys behind me, Aki and Dean, were coming very fast. I really had to go flat out on those last few stages to be sure of staying ahead.

"Now I've got two weeks to relax and then it's back to business in New Zealand."

Dean Herridge - 3rd place:
"It was difficult with no fourth gear over the last few stages. We just had to really concentrate and not make any mistakes. It's great to score a podium on my home rally - and especially as it's the last time for us here in Perth. We've had a huge amount of support from the fans and our families so it's just fantastic to get this result."

Aki Teiskonen - 4th place:
"It's very disappointing not to finish after running so well - and particularly to go out on the same stage I went out on last year. Of course I had to push to catch Jari Matti but it didn't work out for us today. Well, we just have to do better next time in New Zealand in a couple of weeks' time."

George Donaldson - STI Group N Project General Manager:
"It's been the most incredible final Rally Australia from Perth. We've had an amazing performance from our drivers Toshi Arai, Jari Matti Latvala and Dean Herridge this weekend. But Rally Australia being Rally Australia, nothing's ever simple and straightforward. However, Jari Matti proving to be the strongest driver in the PCWRC this weekend, triumphing with a brilliant performance, and annihilating the competition by a stunning 33 seconds. He's rally shown his ability here after driving splendidly on Rally Japan as well. This is for me, one of the performances of the year, on what is widely regarded as the most difficult rally in the championship.

"Toshi was very unlucky to retire yesterday after damaging the car but that's sport at the highest level. Dean fell foul right on the first day when he damaged his gearbox and this left him with a legacy he overcame on day one, but which finally overtook him on day two and three.

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"Aki Teiskonen had been in or about that fight for the top three places for most of the rally. Unfortunately on the penultimate stage, he crashed into the trees. Both he and his co-driver are okay. However, the car is very badly damaged. I have to respect Aki for risking everything for the win as he had a chance today to keep his championship aspirations alive. If he'd taken 10 points from here, he could still theoretically have won the championship so all respect to the guy for making that gargantuan effort.

"Sergei Uspenskiy has done a splendid job here. He's taken on and beaten all the local superstars, and put himself nicely in the points in the PCWRC. It's a great job from him, and we're looking forward to seeing him in New Zealand for the final round in two weeks' time. He's getting more and more confident in this environment and he'll want to lift his pace accordingly."

"It's great to go into the last round leading the championship. It's also important to note that we have five SUBARU IMPREZAs in the top seven positions in the standings."