Loeb to run first in Argentina

Sebastien Loeb has chosen to run first on the road on the opening day of Philips Rally Argentina amid fears that rain will make for difficult driving conditions, particularly for crews running further down the order.

Loeb, who starts round five of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia with a four-point advantage in the 2012 title race, was fastest on this morning’s Qualifying Stage, which earned him the right to pick his starting position ahead of his rival drivers.

Mikko Hirvonen, who partners Loeb in the Citroen Total World Rally Team, was second fastest in qualifying and has chosen to run second on the road.

Ford stand-in Dani Sordo was the third driver to choose his starting position but opted to go fourth behind team-mate Petter Solberg in an effort to give the Norwegian the best possible chance of winning in South America.

Solberg is second in the drivers’ championship and will benefit from a slightly higher starting position, particularly if the rain will lead to the stage surface deteriorating through continued use.

Thierry Neuville completes the top five starters in his Citroen Junior World Rally Team DS3 WRC. The Belgian is competing in Argentina for the first time. Armindo Araujo will be the leading MINI starter in 11th position. Ex-Formula One driver Eliseo Salazar goes 14th in his MINI.

The full running order for day one is as follows:
1 Sebastien Loeb
2 Mikko Hirvonen
3 Petter Solberg
4 Dani Sordo
5 Thierry Neuville
6 Mads Ostberg
7 Ott Tanak
8 Evgeny Novikov
9 Nasser Al-Attiyah
10 Martin Prokop
11 Armindo Araujo
12 Daniel Oliveira
13 Paulo Nobre
14 Eliseo Salazar