Brendan takes fourth in Rally Finland

A flat tyre on the first stage of the final day has cost Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth a podium finish in the Rally of Finland.

The Australians were lying third in the event with only the final stage left to run, but a flat tyre on the day's first stage cost them three minutes and relegated them to fourth place in the WRC Academy.

“We got a flat on SS12 which put us back from third to fifth, so we then decided to stay consistent and bring the car home for some solid points," Reeves said.

“The last two stages were good. We made up a lot of time to claim fourth place so that helps balance out the puncture we got earlier today. We are now equal second in the Cup on the same points as Craig [Breen], so that puts us in a really good position for the second half of the season.”

FIA WRC Academy points after 3 of 6 rounds:

1. Egon Kaur (EST), 88 points

=2. Brendan Reeves (AUS), 36 points

=2. Craig Breen (IRE), 36 points

4. Miguel Baldoni (ARG), 26 points

5. Jan Cerny (CZE), 22 points