Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) takes win in rallye de France Alsace, and secured his ninth (and last) world championship win in rally.
On Saturday evening, the Frenchman led by 30 seconds ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford), and 54 seconds ahead of his team mate Mikko Hirvonen, who was the last driver to prevent Loeb from being world champion again.
Finally, after a little off road on Sunday morning, Sébastien Loeb maintains his lead for 15 seconds ahead of Latvala, and takes rallye de France Alsace win, putting himself out of reach in the world championship battle. It was the ninth WRC crown for the Citroen driver, who announced a partial retirement from rallying at the end of the season.
Thierry Neuville (Citroën) takes fourth position, which was his best WRC finish despite a 20 second penalty for checking too late on Saturday morning. The Belgian driver concluded the rally ahead of Mads Ostberg’s Ford Fiesta.
WTCC driver Yvan Muller (Mini) was 14th, as Audi endurance driver Romain Dumas (Mini) takes 16th position after an accident on the last day.
Final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 3h32'53”0
2. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 15”3
3. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 44”0
4. Neuville-Gilsoul (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 1'07”2
5. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'16”3
6. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'27”8
7. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 5'51"5
8. Atkinson-MacNeall (Mini Cooper Wrc) + 6'42”3
9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 8'46”7
10. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia Super2000) + 9'03"6
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 244 points, 2. Hirvonen 173, 3. Latvala 131, 4. Ostberg 125, 5. P. Solberg 119, etc.
On Saturday evening, the Frenchman led by 30 seconds ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford), and 54 seconds ahead of his team mate Mikko Hirvonen, who was the last driver to prevent Loeb from being world champion again.
Finally, after a little off road on Sunday morning, Sébastien Loeb maintains his lead for 15 seconds ahead of Latvala, and takes rallye de France Alsace win, putting himself out of reach in the world championship battle. It was the ninth WRC crown for the Citroen driver, who announced a partial retirement from rallying at the end of the season.
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| Sebastien Loeb happy in France after his victory. (Photo: WRC) |
Thierry Neuville (Citroën) takes fourth position, which was his best WRC finish despite a 20 second penalty for checking too late on Saturday morning. The Belgian driver concluded the rally ahead of Mads Ostberg’s Ford Fiesta.
WTCC driver Yvan Muller (Mini) was 14th, as Audi endurance driver Romain Dumas (Mini) takes 16th position after an accident on the last day.
Final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 3h32'53”0
2. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 15”3
3. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 44”0
4. Neuville-Gilsoul (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 1'07”2
5. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'16”3
6. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'27”8
7. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 5'51"5
8. Atkinson-MacNeall (Mini Cooper Wrc) + 6'42”3
9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 8'46”7
10. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia Super2000) + 9'03"6
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 244 points, 2. Hirvonen 173, 3. Latvala 131, 4. Ostberg 125, 5. P. Solberg 119, etc.