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Citroen C4 WRC driver Sebastien Loeb sealed a crushing victory on Rally Mexico, round two of the 2010 World Rally Championship, to leap into the lead of the FIA Drivers' standings.
Loeb, the defending and six-times World Champion built up a massive lead of almost a minute during Saturday's competition, and cruised through Sunday's three stages to finish 24.2sec ahead of Petter Solberg who claimed a sensational second place in another Citroen C4 WRC.
Today's win was the 55th at World Championship level for Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena and was the pair's fourth consecutive success on Rally Mexico. After finishing runner-up to his Ford rival Mikko Hirvonen on the series' opening round in Sweden, it springs the Frenchman six points clear at the top of the drivers' standings.
After losing out to Solberg in a last stage showdown, Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier finished Rally Mexico in third place in his C4 WRC, just 1.1sec behind Petter.
One minute 22 seconds behind the winning trio of Citroens, BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen was fourth, in the first Ford Focus RS WRC. His team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala rounded off the top five positions.
Rally of Mexico – Final classification
1. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen C4)in 3h42’41’’7
2. Petter Solberg (Citroen C4) + 24.2s
3. Sebastien Ogier (Citroen C4)+ 25.3s
4. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) + 1m47.5s
5. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) + 2m15.1s
6. Henning Solberg (Ford Focus) + 2m48.0s
7. Federico Villagra (Ford Focus) + 10m13.4s
8. Xavier Pons (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 18m44.4s
9. Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta S200) + 19m02.0s
10. Armando Araujo (Mitsu Lancer) + 21m32.5s
Etc.
Provisional championship classification :
1. Loeb 43 points, 2. Hirvonen 37, 3. Latvala and Ogier 25, 5. P. Solberg 20, 6. H. Solberg 16, 7. Sordo 12, 8. Wilson and Villagra 10, etc.
Citroen C4 WRC driver Sebastien Loeb sealed a crushing victory on Rally Mexico, round two of the 2010 World Rally Championship, to leap into the lead of the FIA Drivers' standings.
Loeb, the defending and six-times World Champion built up a massive lead of almost a minute during Saturday's competition, and cruised through Sunday's three stages to finish 24.2sec ahead of Petter Solberg who claimed a sensational second place in another Citroen C4 WRC.
Today's win was the 55th at World Championship level for Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena and was the pair's fourth consecutive success on Rally Mexico. After finishing runner-up to his Ford rival Mikko Hirvonen on the series' opening round in Sweden, it springs the Frenchman six points clear at the top of the drivers' standings.
After losing out to Solberg in a last stage showdown, Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier finished Rally Mexico in third place in his C4 WRC, just 1.1sec behind Petter.
One minute 22 seconds behind the winning trio of Citroens, BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen was fourth, in the first Ford Focus RS WRC. His team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala rounded off the top five positions.
Rally of Mexico – Final classification
1. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen C4)in 3h42’41’’7
2. Petter Solberg (Citroen C4) + 24.2s
3. Sebastien Ogier (Citroen C4)+ 25.3s
4. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) + 1m47.5s
5. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) + 2m15.1s
6. Henning Solberg (Ford Focus) + 2m48.0s
7. Federico Villagra (Ford Focus) + 10m13.4s
8. Xavier Pons (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 18m44.4s
9. Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta S200) + 19m02.0s
10. Armando Araujo (Mitsu Lancer) + 21m32.5s
Etc.
Provisional championship classification :
1. Loeb 43 points, 2. Hirvonen 37, 3. Latvala and Ogier 25, 5. P. Solberg 20, 6. H. Solberg 16, 7. Sordo 12, 8. Wilson and Villagra 10, etc.