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5th
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Sebastien Loeb's incredible run success in the FIA World Rally Championship continued today when he won Rally Finland for a third time alongside co-driver Daniel Elena.
Loeb, whose victory was his 73rd in the world championship - which puts him equal with Finnish rallying legend Juha Kankkunen on the list of all-time Rally Finland winners -, overcame a stern challenge from Citroen teammate and local hero Mikko Hirvonen to triumph by 6.1s as the thrilling high-speed gravel event ended with a second pass of the famous Ouninpohja stage this evening.
For Hirvonen, the two seconds he dropped with a sensor glitch on Friday's final test, coupled with the delay he encountered nudging a tree on stage 13, means his wait for his first WRC win with Citroen continues.
Jari-Matti Latvala was the leading Ford finisher in third with Petter Solberg fourth in an identical Fiesta RS WRC. It was a frustrating event for the Blue Oval pair, who had been tipped to challenge for victory but ultimately conceded that they didn't have the speed to beat their Citroen rivals on this occasion.
Adapta Fiesta pilot Mads Ostberg fought back from a mechanical failure on the second Leustu stage to reclaim fifth from Ott Tanak on the first run through Ouninpohja. Tanak, from Estonia, drove without error in his M-Sport Fiesta to end a miserable recent run of form in sixth position.
Rally Finland - Final classification
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 2.28'11”4
2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 6”1
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 35”0
4. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta Wrc) + 56”1
5. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'32”1
6. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'47”6
7. Rantanen-Lukka (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'51"7
8. Ketomaa-Stenberg (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'01"9
9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'04”3
10. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 8'46”0
Etc.
Championship
1. Loeb 171 points, 2. Hirvonen 128, 3. P. Solberg 104, 4. Ostberg 90, 5. Latvala 69, etc.
Loeb, whose victory was his 73rd in the world championship - which puts him equal with Finnish rallying legend Juha Kankkunen on the list of all-time Rally Finland winners -, overcame a stern challenge from Citroen teammate and local hero Mikko Hirvonen to triumph by 6.1s as the thrilling high-speed gravel event ended with a second pass of the famous Ouninpohja stage this evening.
For Hirvonen, the two seconds he dropped with a sensor glitch on Friday's final test, coupled with the delay he encountered nudging a tree on stage 13, means his wait for his first WRC win with Citroen continues.
Jari-Matti Latvala was the leading Ford finisher in third with Petter Solberg fourth in an identical Fiesta RS WRC. It was a frustrating event for the Blue Oval pair, who had been tipped to challenge for victory but ultimately conceded that they didn't have the speed to beat their Citroen rivals on this occasion.
Adapta Fiesta pilot Mads Ostberg fought back from a mechanical failure on the second Leustu stage to reclaim fifth from Ott Tanak on the first run through Ouninpohja. Tanak, from Estonia, drove without error in his M-Sport Fiesta to end a miserable recent run of form in sixth position.
Rally Finland - Final classification
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 2.28'11”4
2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 6”1
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 35”0
4. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta Wrc) + 56”1
5. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'32”1
6. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'47”6
7. Rantanen-Lukka (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'51"7
8. Ketomaa-Stenberg (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'01"9
9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'04”3
10. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 8'46”0
Etc.
Championship
1. Loeb 171 points, 2. Hirvonen 128, 3. P. Solberg 104, 4. Ostberg 90, 5. Latvala 69, etc.