SS26: Power Stage win for Loeb

Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb secured three vital world championship points by winning the Rally Australia Power Stage as Mikko Hirvonen claimed the overall victory for the jubilant Ford team.

Loeb was 1.2s faster than Jari-Matti Latvala through the live television test in his Citroen DS3 WRC with Petter Solberg claiming the final bonus point in third position in his privateer Citroen.

Hirvonen was on course for the final bonus point until Latvala charged through the stage four-tenths faster than his fellow Finn to demote him to fourth in the stage classification.

“I’m happy to score these few points but for sure I would have preferred to have scored more points in the rally,” said Loeb, who languished in 10th overall following his roll on Friday morning. “I tried to push very hard to see what we can do but I can’t be happy with this rally. It has not been good for me, my team-mate or my team.”

Sebastien Ogier slowed nearing the end of the run to ensure he didn’t take any points away from Citroen team-mate Loeb. “I have team orders and I respect it,” said the dejected Frenchman afterwards.

Ken Block, the first driver to tackle the Power Stage in his Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC, completed the test in a time of 2m21.4s. He said: “I got some confidence back and had a really good time. The stages are amazing here and the Australian fans are very welcoming. I really appreciate that.”

Henning Solberg picked up two punctured rear tyres in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta but heroically managed to complete the stage. Khalid Al Qassimi opted for maximum caution to finish the stage and clinch a career-best fifth in his Team Abu Dhabi Fiesta. Hayden Paddon maintained sixth overall to win the Production Car crown in his Subaru Impreza.

Coffs Coast resident Nathan Quinn, competing on Rally Australia as a wildcard entrant in the PWRC, was handed a dream opportunity to compete in front of the live television cameras.

After completing the run in a time of 2m32.1s, the Mitsubishi Lancer driver said: “We set some really great times for a little team from Coffs Harbour.”