WRC: Mikko Hirvonen named Rally Australia winner after Citroen penalties !

From the World Rally Championship

In a shock development late on Sunday night, BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen has been named the new winner of Repco Rally Australia after Stewards handed Sebastien Loeb, Dani Sordo and Sebastien Ogier time penalties for a technical infringement.

At Sunday evening's post event scrutineering, Loeb's Citroen C4 WRC was found to be fitted with a front anti-roll bar link which did not comply with the homologation form of the car. Representatives from the Citroen Total World Rally Team agreed that part of the anti-roll bar link on his car was different to the one on the homologation photograph.

After establishing that the C4s of Sordo and Ogier were fitted with the same part, Stewards levied a one-minute penalty on each of the three cars, as well as reprimanding the Citroen team for using a part which was not homologated.

The Citroen team are not appealing the decision, which means the amended results are now final. Victory for Hirvonen means his lead over Loeb in the drivers' championship standings increases to five points. The changes mean that Citroen's advantage over Ford in the manufacturers' series is now 13 points.

New final classification :

1. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus Wrc) in 2'53’06”5
2. Loeb-Elena (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 47”5
3. Sordo-Marti (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 1'04”6
4. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1'52"0
5. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 2'23”3
6. Wilson-Martin (Ford Focus Wrc) + 5'25”3
7. H. Solberg-Menkerud (Ford Focus Wrc) + 7'17”8
8. Villagra-Perez Companc (Ford Focus Wrc) + 7’39”4
9. Paddon-Kennard (Mitsubishi Lancer) + 15’36”1 (1st N Group)
Etc.

Drivers championship (amended) :
1. Mikko Hirvonen (78), 2. Sebastien Loeb (73), 3. Daniel Sordo (50), 4. Jari-Matti Latvala (36), 5. Henning Solberg (29), 6. Petter Solberg (25), 7. Matthew Wilson (23), 8. Sebastien Ogier (20), etc.

Constructors championship (amended) :
1. Citroen (133), 2. Ford (120), 3. Stobart Ford (69), 4. Citroen Junior (37), 5. Munchi's Ford (21).