 Loeb celebrates another Rally of Germany success |
World champion Sebastien Loeb became the first driver to win a World Rally event for six successive years with victory in Germany on Sunday. The Frenchman, who held a lead of 38 seconds after the first two days, held on to his advantage on the final day.
Francois Duval finished second, 20.3 seconds adrift, Finn Mikko Hirvonen was third and Marcus Gronholm fourth.
Championship leader Gronholm went off the road on the final stage and saw his advantage cut to eight points.
Gronholm was being challenged strongly by Duval, who won all five stages on the final day.
"I have to say thanks to Francois Duval because he was pushing incredibly hard," said Loeb, who won his fifth rally of the season and 33rd of his career.
Loeb is Gronholm's closest challenger in the drivers' standings with six races to go.
Result
1. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen 3hr 27min 27.500sec
2. Francois Duval (Bel) Citroen +00:20.300
3. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) Ford +1:19.100
4. Marcus Groenholm (Fin) Ford +1:36.500
5. Jan Kopecky (Cze) Skoda +3:07.100
6. Petter Solberg (Nor) Subaru +3:14.700
7. Toni Gardemeister (Fin) Citroen +3:37.500
8. Jari-Matti Latvala (Fin) Ford +5:29.300
9. Matthew Wilson (GB) Ford +11:04.200
10. Guy Wilks (GB) Ford +19:47.800
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