Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) leads by thirty seconds ahead of Latvala after the first day of rally of Spain, penultimate round of the world rally championship.
The Frenchman feared to be penalized by starting in first position on gravel roads on Friday. But, finally, it was his followers to be in trouble with a lot of dust, and very difficult visibility conditions that helped Loeb to pull away in front in the first loop of the day.
In the afternoon, the visibility was better, and Jari-Matti Latvala was able to close the gap, the move up to the lead, while Sebastien Ogier also closed on to Loeb, only two seconds behind his team mate.
But then, Ogier lost about one minute after he suffered a puncture in ES5. Then it was Latvala’s turn to be in trouble, as the Finn had, again, visibility issues : after he lost several seconds in a spin, Latvala had a puncture, which cost him precious seconds.
That put Loeb back in front, thirty seconds ahead of Latvala, while Hirvonen stood about one minute behind his championship rival before the second day. Earlier, Petter Solberg was forced to retire after he damaged his left front suspension when he hit a rock on the side of the road.
On Saturday, Loeb’s situation will be easier as the special stages will be ran on tarmac.
Classification after day one:
1. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) in 1h44’06’’3
2. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Fiesta) + 30’’6
3. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta) + 54’’2
4. Sébastien Ogier (Citroen DS3) + 1’45’’3
5. Dani Sordo (Mini Copper) + 2’02’’7
6. Kris Meeke (Mini Cooper) + 2’52’’8
7. Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) + 3’03’’1
8. Henning Solberg (Ford Fiesta) + 3’11’’6
Etc.
The Frenchman feared to be penalized by starting in first position on gravel roads on Friday. But, finally, it was his followers to be in trouble with a lot of dust, and very difficult visibility conditions that helped Loeb to pull away in front in the first loop of the day.
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| Sébastien Loeb, Citroen. (Photo: WRC) |
In the afternoon, the visibility was better, and Jari-Matti Latvala was able to close the gap, the move up to the lead, while Sebastien Ogier also closed on to Loeb, only two seconds behind his team mate.
But then, Ogier lost about one minute after he suffered a puncture in ES5. Then it was Latvala’s turn to be in trouble, as the Finn had, again, visibility issues : after he lost several seconds in a spin, Latvala had a puncture, which cost him precious seconds.
That put Loeb back in front, thirty seconds ahead of Latvala, while Hirvonen stood about one minute behind his championship rival before the second day. Earlier, Petter Solberg was forced to retire after he damaged his left front suspension when he hit a rock on the side of the road.
On Saturday, Loeb’s situation will be easier as the special stages will be ran on tarmac.
Classification after day one:
1. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) in 1h44’06’’3
2. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Fiesta) + 30’’6
3. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta) + 54’’2
4. Sébastien Ogier (Citroen DS3) + 1’45’’3
5. Dani Sordo (Mini Copper) + 2’02’’7
6. Kris Meeke (Mini Cooper) + 2’52’’8
7. Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) + 3’03’’1
8. Henning Solberg (Ford Fiesta) + 3’11’’6
Etc.