From the World Rally Championship
Sebastien Ogier sealed victory on Rally Japan at the Sapporo Dome super special this afternoon to collect his second rally victory at World Championship level.
The 26-year-old Frenchman, driving for the Citroen Total team, came out on top after a thrilling final day battle which started with the top four drivers split by 15 seconds.
Contesting Rally Japan for the first time, Ogier won by 15.7sec in front of fellow C4 WRC driver Petter Solberg, who picked up a broken front damper in the closing stages of the rally.
Jari-Matti Latvala finished third, 10.3sec adrift of Solberg, in his BP Ford Abu Dhabi team Focus, with Citroen Junior team driver Dani Sordo 9.2sec further back in fourth.
World Championship leader Sebastien Loeb ended the rally in fifth place, 53.3sec behind Ogier.
Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen C4) crashed out as he was running 8th.
Rally Japan – Final classification:
1. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen C4 Wrc) in 3.10’26”4
2. P. Solberg-Patterson (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 15"7
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus Wrc) + 26”0
4. Sordo-Vallejo (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 35”2
5. Loeb-Elena (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 53”3
6. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1'13”5
7. H. Solberg-Minor (Ford Focus Wrc) + 3’03”1
8. Villagra-Perez Companc (Ford Focus Wrc) + 10’17”9
9. Ketomaa-Stenberg (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 14’47”1
10. Prokop-Tomanek (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 15'20"8
etc.
Championship:1. Loeb 201 points, 2. Ogie 158, 3. Latvala 132, 4. P. Solberg 118, 5. Sordo 107, 6. Hirvonen 94, etc.
Sebastien Ogier sealed victory on Rally Japan at the Sapporo Dome super special this afternoon to collect his second rally victory at World Championship level.
The 26-year-old Frenchman, driving for the Citroen Total team, came out on top after a thrilling final day battle which started with the top four drivers split by 15 seconds.
Contesting Rally Japan for the first time, Ogier won by 15.7sec in front of fellow C4 WRC driver Petter Solberg, who picked up a broken front damper in the closing stages of the rally.
Jari-Matti Latvala finished third, 10.3sec adrift of Solberg, in his BP Ford Abu Dhabi team Focus, with Citroen Junior team driver Dani Sordo 9.2sec further back in fourth.
World Championship leader Sebastien Loeb ended the rally in fifth place, 53.3sec behind Ogier.
Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen C4) crashed out as he was running 8th.
Rally Japan – Final classification:
1. Ogier-Ingrassia (Citroen C4 Wrc) in 3.10’26”4
2. P. Solberg-Patterson (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 15"7
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus Wrc) + 26”0
4. Sordo-Vallejo (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 35”2
5. Loeb-Elena (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 53”3
6. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1'13”5
7. H. Solberg-Minor (Ford Focus Wrc) + 3’03”1
8. Villagra-Perez Companc (Ford Focus Wrc) + 10’17”9
9. Ketomaa-Stenberg (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 14’47”1
10. Prokop-Tomanek (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 15'20"8
etc.
Championship:1. Loeb 201 points, 2. Ogie 158, 3. Latvala 132, 4. P. Solberg 118, 5. Sordo 107, 6. Hirvonen 94, etc.