Loeb closes in on WRC title
by Dave Maher, 12 October 2008
Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb secured victory at the Rally of Corsica on Sunday to extend his lead in the World Rally Championship standings to 14 points.
Loeb was triumphant by close to three and a half minutes from Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen. The result sees Citroen lead Ford by 23 points in the manufacturers’ series.
“It’s getting better and better," Loeb, having taken his fourth successive Rally of Corsica win, said on the WRC’s official website. “To win here in Corsica is a great moment. We were much faster all rally and that’s great for me and the team
“We’ll add another two more points to our championship lead. A 14 point lead with two rallies to go looks good. So okay, we’ll see how we get on in Japan.”
Ford drivers Francois Duval and Jari-Matti Latvala both picked up penalties deliberately on the final day to ensure Hirvonen – Loeb’s closest challenger – secured the best possible points total.
“I can’t celebrate it but I understand what the team is doing and I appreciate what Francois and Jari-Matti have done, but I really wish I didn’t have that puncture,” said Hirvonen.
Petter Solberg was fifth overall for Subaru, although the Norwegian was two minutes off the pace after sustaining a puncture on the final stage – his second of the day.
Solberg’s Subaru team-mate Chris Atkinson was sixth, with Urmo Aava seventh, as Matthew Wilson picked up the final available drivers' point.
Rally of Corsica result (top 8):
1. Sebastien Loeb (Fra), Citroen, 3hours 42mins 58secs
2. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin), Ford, +3mins:24.7secs
3. Francois Duval (Bel), Ford, +3:31.6
4. Jari-Matti Latvala (Fin), Ford, +3:37.5
5. Petter Solberg (Nor), Subaru, +5:35.4
6. Chris Atkinson (Aus), Subaru, +6:10.4
7. Urmo Aava (Est), Citroen, +7:25.2
8. Matthew Wilson (UK), Ford, +9.02.2