RallyRACC, SS15: Citroën and ‘Séb’ Loeb have everything under control

(23/10/2011)

Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford). RallyRACC 2011

The 47 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España 2011 is coming to the final stages under the iron grip of Sébastien Loeb (Citroën). With his 7th victory almost within reach, Loeb and Elena ended the first loop of the day as leaders, with a 31.1sec gap over a powerful Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford). Despite Latvala’s outstanding performance, he will surely have to yield his position to team mate Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) who, despite some interesting times today, is far from challenging for victory.

The two Citroën Total musketeers, Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb, scooped the top positions in Santa Marina 1 stage. After 26.51 km, Hirvonen and Latvala entered third and fourth, followed by the two Minis, with Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke at the wheel.

La Mussara 1 stage brought the first scratch time for Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen (Ford). He managed to show all his might and now pulls a 29sec gap on his challenger, Dani Sordo. Sordo punctured his rear wheel but, even so, his split times were not as good as the Finn’s.

Loeb conquered the short Coll de la Teixeta stage (4.32 kms), followed by Ogier, Latvala and Sordo. Hirvonen came in 6th. Upon arrival to PortAventura’s service park, Loeb is on top of the timing sheets with a 31.1 gap over Latvala, 1’.53.5 over Hirvonen, and over 3 minutes over Sordo.

With only three special stages to go and as little as 51.31 timed kilometers, the event seems to be almost in the hands of the seven-time world champion, although obviously nothing is set until the podium in Salou. The bonus points awarded by the Coll de la Teixeta Power Stage (broadcast live by Nitro) will also have an impact in the final result.

In the SWRC series, Juho Hänninen (Skoda) stays ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah (Ford) and Martin Prokop (Ford). Patrik Flodin (Subaru) is comfortably leading the PWRC over Michal Kosciuszko (Mitsubishi).