Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) won rally Finland although he opened the road during the three days of the event.
On Friday evening, the world champion was standing first, although he tried to avoid to finish the day on that position by checking too early by purpose before the last stage of the day. But Ogier managed to slow down enough to move back to second, and let his team mate open the road on Saturday, for the third and last day of the rally.
Despite his handicap, Loeb was able to pull away in front in the first special stages of the final day, and get a 10 second advantage after the first loop (he was 1.5 second ahead of Ogier on Friday evening). Ogier could not follow the pace of his team mate, and he was even more disappointed when he lost some seconds after a puncture at mid day, which helped Jari-Matti Latvala’s Ford to move up to second position.
Finally, Loeb takes his second rally Finland victory by a margin of 8’’1 seconds as Latvala and Ogier take 2nd and 3rd. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) clinched fourth place after a great catch up, as the Finn lost about two minutes after a contact with a tree in the very first special stages of the event, on Thursday. Petter Solberg was fifth aboard his private Citroen DS3.
Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen DS3) took eight place, and Juho Hanninen was ninth overall, and S2000 classification winner. Both Mini driven by Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke had to retire for mechanical issues in the last stages on Saturday.
Thanks to his win, Loeb increases his lead in provisional championship classification.
Rally Finland final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 WRC) in 2.39’37”0
2. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 8”1
3. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 12”8
4. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 1'09”1
5. P. Solberg-Patterson (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 1'16”2
6. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 1'27”8
7. H.Solberg-Petrasco (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 3'25”5
8. Wilson-Martin (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 3'53”2
9. Raikkonen-Lindstrom (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 3'59”8
10. Hanninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia Super2000) + 5'13”7
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 171 points, 2. Hirvonen 144, 3. Ogier 140, 4. Latvala 96, 5. P. Solberg 83, 6. Ostberg 56, 7. Wilson 40, 8. Raikkonen and Henning Solberg 26, etc.
On Friday evening, the world champion was standing first, although he tried to avoid to finish the day on that position by checking too early by purpose before the last stage of the day. But Ogier managed to slow down enough to move back to second, and let his team mate open the road on Saturday, for the third and last day of the rally.
Despite his handicap, Loeb was able to pull away in front in the first special stages of the final day, and get a 10 second advantage after the first loop (he was 1.5 second ahead of Ogier on Friday evening). Ogier could not follow the pace of his team mate, and he was even more disappointed when he lost some seconds after a puncture at mid day, which helped Jari-Matti Latvala’s Ford to move up to second position.
Finally, Loeb takes his second rally Finland victory by a margin of 8’’1 seconds as Latvala and Ogier take 2nd and 3rd. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) clinched fourth place after a great catch up, as the Finn lost about two minutes after a contact with a tree in the very first special stages of the event, on Thursday. Petter Solberg was fifth aboard his private Citroen DS3.
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| Photo: wrc.com |
Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen DS3) took eight place, and Juho Hanninen was ninth overall, and S2000 classification winner. Both Mini driven by Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke had to retire for mechanical issues in the last stages on Saturday.
Thanks to his win, Loeb increases his lead in provisional championship classification.
Rally Finland final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 WRC) in 2.39’37”0
2. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 8”1
3. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 12”8
4. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 1'09”1
5. P. Solberg-Patterson (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 1'16”2
6. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 1'27”8
7. H.Solberg-Petrasco (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 3'25”5
8. Wilson-Martin (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 3'53”2
9. Raikkonen-Lindstrom (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 3'59”8
10. Hanninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia Super2000) + 5'13”7
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 171 points, 2. Hirvonen 144, 3. Ogier 140, 4. Latvala 96, 5. P. Solberg 83, 6. Ostberg 56, 7. Wilson 40, 8. Raikkonen and Henning Solberg 26, etc.