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Loeb extends winning rally record with victory in Bulgaria

Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena have extended their un-beaten streak on tarmac surface FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) events by winning the 14 special-stage Rally Bulgaria in the weekend, the seventh round of 13 in the 2010 series.

With a winning margin of 29 seconds over second placed team mates Dani Sordo and Marc Marti in the second Citroen C4 WRC, Norwegian privateer Petter Solberg and the newly recruited Chris Patterson finished a close third a further 6.8 seconds back.

Fourth placed Citroen Junior team driver Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia were part of WRC history –giving Citroen the honour of being the first manufacturer to score a one-two-three-four finish in the WRC.

Bulgaria’s first inclusion to the pinnacle of rally competition events, the 345.10 kilometre journey was based at the picturesque ski resort region of Borovets.  Expecting summer like conditions, teams encountered rain, fog and cool temperatures to place higher emphasis on choice between the Pirelli P-Zero control tyre options of hard or soft compound.  While some gained on their gamble, others languished – including the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.  Expected to pressure the Citroen marquee for event honours, drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila finished fifth and sixth respectively.

For Loeb, his 58th WRC victory has increased his lead in the Drivers’ World Championship to 49 points, with second placed Sebastien Ogier 14 points ahead of third placed Mikko Hirvonen, on 86 points.

 “It’s all gone off like a dream, really. We began with a good first day and we consolidated our position on the next one. Today was a bit more relaxed! I like the first Rally Bulgaria! It’s got good stages that highlight the qualities of the drivers and the cars. Bravo to Dani who drove a great race.” said Loeb, who has won every tarmac round of the WRC since Spain in 2004.

“I’ve achieved my aim in this rally.  My role was to bag as many points as possible for Citroën for the Manufacturers’ World Championship title, and I also wanted to win my duel with Petter. My second podium on the trot has boosted my confidence for the rest of the season,” said second placed Sordo

Also a round of the FIA Junior World Rally Championship (J-WRC), a predicted dominant showing by Citroen C2 Super 1600 driver Thierry Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Klinger reversed previous did-not-finish results.  The young Belgium speedster finished 52.5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, having only driven his C2 on tarmac for the first time during the event’s Shakedown on the Thursday morning.

His confident win this weekend earned him 25 J-WRC points, putting him sixth in the Junior standings – 21 points off the Championship lead. Kevin Abbring (NLD, Renault Clio) left Bulgaria the sole J-WRC championship leader, picking up six points for seventh place after a podium finish was thwarted by an alternator failure on the last stage of Saturday which saw the Dutchman lose ten minutes.

The series now switches back to gravel for one of the year’s highlights – Rally Finland.  With massive jumps and long flowing corners it is often referred to as a challenger to Rally New Zealand as a driver favourite.  Run from 29 – 31 July it will also include the Production and Super 2000 World Rally Championship classes (P-WRC and S-WRC) along with the five Pirelli Star Drivers – including New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard.

Rally Bulgaria – Final Results (subject to final scrutineering) – top ten.
1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena, France, Citroën C4 WRC, 3 hr 02 min 39.2sec
2.   Dani Sordo/Marc Marti, Spain, Citroën C4 WRC, 3 hr 03 min 08.7sec
3.   Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson, Norway, Citroën C4 WRC, 3 hr 03 min 15.5sec
4.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, France, Citroën C4 WRC, 3 hr 04 min 34.2sec
5.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen, Finland, Ford Focus RS WRC, 3 hr 05 min 57.0sec
6.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, Finland, Ford Focus RS WRC, 3 hr 07 min 07.7sec
7.   Per-G Andersson/Jonas Andersson, Ford Focus RS WRC, 3 hr 08 min 04.4sec
8.   Frigyes Turan/Gabor Lsiros, Peugeot 307 WRC, 3 hr 09 min 43.2sec
9.   Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin, Britain, Ford Focus RS WRC, 3 hr 12 min 07.8sec
10. Henning Solberg/Ilka Minor, Norway, Ford Fiesta S2000, 3 hr 15 min 45.2sec

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers (after 7 of 13 rounds) – top ten.
1. Sébastien Loeb (FRA), 151 points
2. Sébastien Ogier (FRA), 100 points
3. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN), 86 points
4. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN), 80 points
5. Petter Solberg (NOR), 78 points
6. Dani Sordo (ESP), 67 points
7. Matthew Wilson (GBR), 40 points
8. Federico Villagra (ARG), 26 points
9. Henning Solberg (NOR), 25 points
10. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), 15 points
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers (after 7 of 13 rounds)
1. Citroën Total World Rally Team, 232 points
2. BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, 185 points
3. Citroën Junior Team, 125 points
4. Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team, 98 points
5. Munchi’s Ford World Rally Team, 40 points