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From wrc.com
French rally driver Sebastien Loeb can clinch the FIA World Rally Championship for a ninth time by beating his Citroen teammate Mikko Hirvonen on Rallye de France Alsace next month.
Loeb is 61 points clear of Hirvonen with three rounds left to run following a dominant season in the Citroen DS3 WRC he shares with co-driver Daniel Elena.
Providing Loeb finishes ahead of Finn Hirvonen on the Strasbourg-based event from October 4 to 7, then Frenchman will put the title beyond his rival's reach.
But even if Hirvonen finishes ahead of the eight-time title winner then Loeb can still be champion in France by finishing one place behind him, providing Hirvonen doesn't win the rally or the event-closing Power Stage.
Another possible outcome is that if Hirvonen fails to finish in the top eight then Loeb will clinch the title regardless of his result.
Whatever the outcome in France, only Loeb or Hirvonen can take the title after Ford driver Petter Solberg was ruled out of contention following Wales Rally GB earlier this month.
French rally driver Sebastien Loeb can clinch the FIA World Rally Championship for a ninth time by beating his Citroen teammate Mikko Hirvonen on Rallye de France Alsace next month.
Loeb is 61 points clear of Hirvonen with three rounds left to run following a dominant season in the Citroen DS3 WRC he shares with co-driver Daniel Elena.
Providing Loeb finishes ahead of Finn Hirvonen on the Strasbourg-based event from October 4 to 7, then Frenchman will put the title beyond his rival's reach.
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| Sebastien Loeb, Citroen Racing (Photo: Citroen) |
But even if Hirvonen finishes ahead of the eight-time title winner then Loeb can still be champion in France by finishing one place behind him, providing Hirvonen doesn't win the rally or the event-closing Power Stage.
Another possible outcome is that if Hirvonen fails to finish in the top eight then Loeb will clinch the title regardless of his result.
Whatever the outcome in France, only Loeb or Hirvonen can take the title after Ford driver Petter Solberg was ruled out of contention following Wales Rally GB earlier this month.