Loeb wins Italian WRC thriller

Sebastien Loeb has extended his lead of the World Rally Championship for drivers after winning Rally d’Italia Sardegna for a fourth time.

Driving a Citroen DS3 WRC, Loeb faced the daunting prospect of running first on the road and clearing a line through the loose surface gravel for the drivers behind for three consecutive days to claim his second victory of 2011 alongside co-driver Daniel Elena.

The result was also the fourth consecutive triumph for the factory Citroen squad in this season’s WRC, which moves it ahead of Ford in the race for the manufacturers’ crown.

“Leading from nearly the start that’s really a good job,” said Loeb. “Mikko was pushing very hard behind so we really had to take big risks all the time. We lost time in some places because of the cleaning but we took it back in some other places. It was really a hard fight.”

Loeb’s success ahead of Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen and Citroen privateer Petter Solberg was his 64th at world championship level.

SS18: Power Stage glory for Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen might have lost out on victory on Rally d’Italia Sardegna but he will leave the Mediterranean island with three bonus points after winning the event-closing Power Stage.

It was the second time this season that Hirvonen, who finished second overall behind winner Sebastien Loeb, has won the live television spectacular in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC following his triumph on Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March.

He beat Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala by 1.4 seconds to cement second place in the overall standings ahead of Petter Solberg, who had closed up on the penultimate stage.

“It’s been a really good weekend,” said Hirvonen. “Even though we got a puncture earlier in the rally I’m very pleased and it’s great to get these three Power Stage points.”

Latvala, meanwhile, was attempting to claim his eighth stage best of the event as he continued his recovery from his day one retirement. He was forced to settle for two bonus points, however. “That was good, I pushed very hard - I even nearly went off after the finish line,” he said.

Loeb clinched his fourth Rally d’Italia Sardegna victory by going third fastest on the Power Stage to claim one bonus point in the process. His lead over Hirvonen in the drivers’ classification has increased to seven points.

With his Citroen DS3 WRC repaired following the rear suspension failure he suffered on the penultimate test, Sebastien Ogier secured the fourth fastest time. Solberg was next up to clinch his first podium of 2011.

Dani Sordo claimed the eight fastest time in his factory MINI John Cooper Works WRC to complete the car’s world championship debut in sixth position behind M-Sport Stobart driver Matthew Wilson.

Standings after SS18: