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Loeb, Latvala and Solberg take 2010 WRC drivers’ podium places

The 2010 FIA World Rally Championship wrapped up at Wales Rally GB with Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb celebrating his seventh WRC drivers’ title with a record-breaking 62nd rally victory.

Loeb, with co-driver Daniel Elena, had only a 5-second lead over Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson when the third day of the rally began. The champion had to fight hard to stay ahead of Solberg, who finished a close second in his privately-run Citroën C4 WRC while the BP Ford pairing of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila took third place.

The FIA World Rally Championship for drivers was clinched by Loeb on his home round in France. However, the battle for second and third positions in the 2010 series was intense. Third place in Wales was sufficient for Latvala to claim second and, in a reversal of their Rally GB placings, Solberg finished third in the series. Sébastien Ogier’s retirement from the event on Saturday dropped him from second to fourth in the drivers’ championship. The Citroën Total World Rally Team also won the manufacturers’ championship in France and the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team finished second.

Regarding his Rally GB win, Loeb said: “I’m feeling very happy and relieved because it has been a tough battle; really fast and really impressive on this rally. Petter was pushing really hard and I know that he would never give up so I had to push on the limit. I had a few moments yesterday but we had to take those risks and I really wanted to do my best to win, especially here for the last race in the C4. It was something I really wanted and we’ve done it. I have so many memories of the car. I admire Petter behind the steering wheel, but I also admire what he has done with his team and his motivation to build his own team. I hope he will be with us [next year in the WRC].”

Gales nearing 100km/h and torrential rain ensured the four-day rally lived up to its reputation as one of the most difficult in the championship. The gravel forest tracks, which made up the bulk of the competitive stages, were treacherously muddy, with standing water causing additional problems on Friday’s first leg.
Ford’s 25-year-old Latvala coped with the conditions better than his competitors to lead for most of the opening leg. But then a misted windscreen caused him to hit a bank and puncture a tyre in the final stage; he lost more than a minute to slip to sixth. But the Finn bounced back quickly on leg two to climb to fourth and, following Ogier’s retirement, faced a straight duel with Solberg.

Latvala needed a podium to secure his best-ever WRC championship finish and was delighted to claim his sixth podium of the season. “This is a really big day for me and it feels fantastic. My target at the start of the season was to finish in the top three in the championship, so second is amazing. I won two rallies this year and I never imagined that would happen as I was the second driver in the team,” he said. “Miikka and I worked so hard this year but I also want to thank Mikko for helping and encouraging me. The car showed its strength this weekend, so I must also thank my Focus too!”

Solberg said he started the season with third in the championship as his goal. “To be able to fullfil that dream today is just unbelievable. And it is a great payback for all the hard work that my team has done this year. I really thought I should be able to catch up with Loeb today, but unfortunately it was not possible for me to beat him and his works-car. I would also like to send a big thank you to all my sponsors, team and [former long-time co-driver] Phil Mills. Phil, you did half the season and are a big part of this!”

Third place for Solberg was his best finish in the final title rankings since he finished second back in 2005, which also marked the last time he won a round of the world championship.

Solberg isn’t yet sure of his 2011 WRC plans. “I have one sponsor but nothing else and I don’t know what to do. The team has worked flat-out all year and if people think it’s easy to just get a proper car and go fast then let me say, it’s not easy. I’m very happy because it’s been hard work and a long way back to the top. We have been fast on every rally but as a privateer, it’s difficult I can tell you.”

Citroën driver Ogier finished the 2010 WRC season in fourth, followed by Citroën’s Dani Sordo and Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen.

Wales Rally GB also featured the final of the 2010 Super 2000 World Rally Championship. Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen claimed his debut SWRC rally victory in a Skoda, but Spaniard Xevi Pons landed the inaugural title with second place in his Ford as archrival Jari Ketomaa crashed out on Sunday's opening stage.

Kiwi Hayden Paddon featured in the final round of the Production World Rally Championship where his hard-earned third place on the Welsh event secured his third place in the overall PWRC standings. Pirelli Star Driver team-mate Ott Tanak took the PWRC class win in Wales, while the PWRC title went to Portuguese pairing Armindo Araújo and Miguel Ramalho who became the first crew in over a decade to secure two PWRC titles in a row.