Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) ended day one of the Rallye de France Alsace in the lead, 13 seconds ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala’s Ford Fiesta.
The soon to be nine-time world champion stands in first position in provisional classification after he secured four stage wins out of six ESS presented on Friday. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford), fastest in the two remaining special stages, was the only driver able to answer back.
Mikko Hirvonen, the other Citroën driver, and the last mathematical rival to Loeb in the chase to the title, was third, half a minute behind his teammate, and just ahead of the second works Ford Fiesta driven by Petter Solberg.
Dani Sordo, who struggled a little bit more than in the past aboard his Mini John Cooper, was fifth, 50 seconds behind. Thierry Neuville (Citroën) was sixth on Friday evening, after he was quickest in the first super special stage presented on Thursday in the streets of Strasbourg.
WTCC driver Yvan Muller and endurance driver Romain Dumas, who both drive a Mini John Cooper, stand in 19th and 20th positions, respectively.
Rallye de France Alsace – Day 1 :
1. Loeb/Elena (Citroen DS3) in 1h17’32’’6
2. Latvala/Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS) + 13’’1
3. Hirvonen/Lehtinen (Citroën DS3) + 32’’6
4. Solberg/Patterson (Ford Fiesta RS) + 33’’.3
5. Sordo/Del Barrio (Mini John Cooper Works) + 48’’8
6. Neuville/Gilsoul (Citroën DS3) + 55’’4
7. Ostberg/Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’00’’3
8. Tanak/Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’22’’4
9. Novikov/Minor (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’35’’9
10. Chardonnet/De La Haye (Citroën DS3) + 2’51’’0
Etc.
The soon to be nine-time world champion stands in first position in provisional classification after he secured four stage wins out of six ESS presented on Friday. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford), fastest in the two remaining special stages, was the only driver able to answer back.
Mikko Hirvonen, the other Citroën driver, and the last mathematical rival to Loeb in the chase to the title, was third, half a minute behind his teammate, and just ahead of the second works Ford Fiesta driven by Petter Solberg.
Dani Sordo, who struggled a little bit more than in the past aboard his Mini John Cooper, was fifth, 50 seconds behind. Thierry Neuville (Citroën) was sixth on Friday evening, after he was quickest in the first super special stage presented on Thursday in the streets of Strasbourg.
WTCC driver Yvan Muller and endurance driver Romain Dumas, who both drive a Mini John Cooper, stand in 19th and 20th positions, respectively.
Rallye de France Alsace – Day 1 :
1. Loeb/Elena (Citroen DS3) in 1h17’32’’6
2. Latvala/Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS) + 13’’1
3. Hirvonen/Lehtinen (Citroën DS3) + 32’’6
4. Solberg/Patterson (Ford Fiesta RS) + 33’’.3
5. Sordo/Del Barrio (Mini John Cooper Works) + 48’’8
6. Neuville/Gilsoul (Citroën DS3) + 55’’4
7. Ostberg/Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’00’’3
8. Tanak/Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’22’’4
9. Novikov/Minor (Ford Fiesta RS) +1’35’’9
10. Chardonnet/De La Haye (Citroën DS3) + 2’51’’0
Etc.