Sebastien Ogier will use the weight of his five consecutive world rally titles to heap the pressure on his rivals when the closest series finale in 15 years begins on the NSW north coast on Friday.
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The Frenchman leads Belgium's Thierry Neuville by just three points ahead of the three-day Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour, with Ott Tanak (Estonia) 23 points adrift and also a chance of claiming a maiden title.
While he would be "very, very pleased" to win another World Rally Championship, Ogier said the real pressure was on his rivals as they chased an elusive maiden crown.
"The only thing I have that they don't is a title ... that for sure gives me the chance to be a bit more relaxed," Ogier, in his last drive with Ford before joining Citroen next year, told media on Thursday.
"Of course, if I get a sixth one, I'll be very, very pleased but it will not really change my life anymore.
"When you're chasing your first one it will change a lot; you're world champion or you're not."
Hyundai driver Neuville led the series by as many as 27 points when he pipped Ogier to win June's Rally Italia Sardegna.
But Ogier has chipped away in the five rallies since, while Toyota's Tanak has raced well all season but been hamstrung by a series of recent mishaps that have cost him a realistic shot at the title.
More than 300km of timed sections will decide this year's world champion in what will be Coffs Harbour's first live title decider in the seven years the city has hosted Rally Australia.
Local roads, dusty forest tracks and a fan-friendly street circuit that backs onto Coffs' picturesque jetty and marina will give the expected 60,000-plus fans more vantage points than ever before.
The likelihood of rain over the weekend adds further intrigue, while Neuville's win in Australia last year also counts for little given there are 16 changes to the course.
Ogier is already the second-most successful driver in the sport's history, with countryman Sebastien Loeb the man to catch having won nine consecutive titles between 2004-2012.
WRC TITLE RACE
- Sebastien Ogier (Ford) - 204 points
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) - 201
- Ott Tanak (Toyota) - 181
- 25 points for a Rally Australia win, 18 for second and 15 for third, while five bonus points are awarded to the fastest through Sunday's Power Stage.
Australian Associated Press
