The French Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4), four times world monarch, yesterday won the RALLY of Finland in Jyvaskyla, nine seconds ahead of local Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) and with more than three minutes ahead on the third graded, Chris Atkinson (Subaru Impreza).
His victory in Finland, 42 in WRC, six of which obtained in this season, allowing Loeb to be only one point Hirvonen, currently leading the overall standings of the World.
The French pilot, current holder of the world title, there was never won in Finland, one of the few RALLY missing in his impressive achievements.
His co-driver, Daniel Elena of Monaco, nor had never achieved victory in this test Finnish, formerly known as the circuit RALLY of a Thousand Lakes.
The couple Loeb-Elena thus became the eighth Finnish pilots not to win the RALLY faster on land around the WRC championship in its 58 editions so far undertaken.
"It's probably one of my most beautiful victory, an enormous satisfaction after a RALLY so hard, which we could not commit the slightest mistake," said excited the French pilot.
Hirvonen congratulated his opponent on his victory and was satisfied with his overall performance at the weekend. "We can say now that Seb (Loeb) is half Finnish," joked.
Leading from the start, Loeb lived a difficult time in the morning, at the start of the penultimate special when his C4 made an unexpected twist at a time when it was trying to take hold after two days of career followed a hellish pace.
Despite this, the pilot of Alsace knew the situation under control and managed to leave his mark in a RALI in which took control from the first day.
For the couple Loeb-Elena, success in Finland is the sixth of the season, having won the Monte Carlo, Mexico, Argentina, Sardinia and Greece.
The next RALLY will be Germany, the weekend of August 15, with a route much easier for the French pilot.
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