Stage 3 – Loeb takes a step towards the title, Ford celebrated

Sébastien Loeb claimed another victory at the first WRC Rally Ireland. This marks the 36th win of his career and the 8th this season, regaining the lead in the driver standings before the final round of the season in Great Britain in two weeks.

The Frenchman in his Citroën C4 outpaced his teammate, Dani Sordo, offering the chevron team their second one-two finish of the year. However, it was not enough to secure the constructors’ title, as Ford only needed 3 points to clinch their second consecutive title even before the last rally.

Jari-Matti Latvala had a very nice third stage today by maintaining his third place. The Finn thus steps onto the first podium of his career at only 22 years old. He was once again impressive this weekend and could very well be Gronholm’s replacement at Ford next season.

He precisely resisted the attacks of Mikko Hirvonen (Ford BP) who brings back 5 very useful points for the championship with the 4th place, while his teammate scores no points. Gronholm having retired on the first day.

There were no changes in the top 10 after the day’s 4 stages. Petter Solberg thus places the first Subaru in 5th position. He is the only one from his team to finish the rally since Atkinson didn’t start again this morning in WRC. He is ahead of Wilks, Wilson, McHale, Mikkelsen, and McShea.

Stohl, after a mistake in special stage 13, made another one today. He went off the track again but without damaging his Xsara. The Austrian finishes over 40 minutes behind the leaders. On his side, Henning Solberg in the second Ford Stobart is ranked 16th after going off the road in the first stage.

In the championship, Gronholm is now 6 points behind Loeb. A 5th place will be sufficient for the Frenchman to clinch a 4th consecutive title in the discipline.

Ireland – Result after Stage 3 – SS20