Andreas Mikkelsen signed off Volkswagen's FIA World Rally Championship era with victory at Rally Australia Sunday, but failed to finish this season's championship as runner-up.

The Norwegian won the final round of the 2016 season by 14.9 seconds from team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who spun away his own chances in Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales.

It provided a perfect farewell for the German manufacturer, who bow out of the series after a dominant four-year period.

But Mikkelsen's win in a Polo R was not enough to secure the runners-up spot in the drivers' championship.

Third place for Belgium's Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20, a further 57.7sec back, secured the position behind the already-crowned Ogier.