Loeb: Mikko made a great rally

Eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb praised his new team-mate Mikko Hirvonen for his second place on last week’s Rally Sweden - only the Finn’s second time out in a Citroen DS3 WRC.

Hirvonen’s only the third team-mate of Loeb’s to beat him on Rally Sweden since the Frenchman’s first factory outing in the snow in 2002. The other two are Colin McRae (2003) and Sebastien Ogier (2011).

Loeb, who finished sixth but still leads the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ standings, said: “Mikko made a great rally, it’s him who took the honours [for Citroen].”

Loeb added that Hirvonen’s early podium highlighted the ability of the car built by the Versailles-based team and the former Ford man himself.

“The result demonstrates the qualities of the Citroen drivers and also the DS3 and the way you can adapt to the car - if anybody ever doubted this.”

Once he’d been off the road and slipped down the order, Loeb admitted his focus was on securing his sixth place and taking the three bonus points on offer for the end of rally Power Stage. Managing both ensured he stayed out front in the race for the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia.

“I was well-motivated for the Power Stage,” said Loeb. “‘I was in ‘attack’ mode and I did it. I had managed my tyres through the second loop and I think we had the better tyres than the others, who were still fighting.”

Loeb leads the standings by seven points from Hirvonen.