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Ogier just grasps win in Jordan

After a thrilling final day of Jordan Rally, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed victory by the slimmest two-tenths of a second ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila. Third position was taken by reigning FIA World Rally Champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.

In the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers, Loeb takes the lead for the first time this season but is just two points ahead of Mikko Hirvonen. Ogier’s victory elevates him to third ahead of Latvala. And, in the all-important Manufacturers’ Championship, the Citroën Total World Rally Team and Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team both have 130 points, with the M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team holding third position.
 
Today’s closing day of competition took in two loops of four stages, concluding with the Power Stage, in which additional points are awarded to the fastest three drivers through this single stage. Rally victor Ogier claimed an extra three points for winning this Baptism Site stage, with Hirvonen and Loeb taking two and one point respectively.
 
The day was set for an exciting finale, with no fewer than four drivers fighting for victory. Ogier maintained his lead throughout the day, but then lost out to a charging Latvala in the penultimate stage of the rally. The pair went into the final Power Stage split by a mere five-tenths of a second, but fastest time for Ogier ensured the Frenchman claimed his second world rally victory this year by two-tenths of a second. Loeb remained in the fight for most of the day, but lost second position to Latvala in stage 15 when he overshot a hairpin. The Frenchman also lost a bit of time in the Power Stage, briefly off the road, and went on to finish third – enough to take the lead in the Championship.
 
Behind the podium finishers, Hirvonen went on to finish fourth, the Finn moving up the leaderboard after potential winner Petter Solberg went off the road and retired in stage 17.
 
The fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders back to Europe and the island of Sardinia for Rally Italia (5-8 May).
 
Jordan Rally – Final Results (subject to final scrutineering)

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers (after 4 of 13 rounds)

FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers (after 4 of 13 rounds)