Loeb In Control After Thrusday Night In Finland

After the openeing 3 stages of Neste Oil Rally Finland, Last years Finland winner, Sebastien Loeb holds a 7.3 second leading ahead of Team mate Mikko Hirvonen.

The Frenchman led from the start. Going fastest on SS1 and SS3. Saying he has found a good rhythem and pushed hard on the final stage of the evening to set him self up nicely for a long hard day on friday: “I feel well in the car at the moment and i tried really hard, I know i can fight for victory. I couldn’t go faster here (stage 3). Flat-out. Big push.”

Hirvonen holds 2nd and Latvala 3rd. Solberg was doing well battling for the lead, but on SS3 the Norwegian struggled with traction and lost a lot of time, dropping down to 6th.

End of Day1
Loeb
Hirvo+7.3
JML+7.3
Ostb+7.5
Neuv+9
PSolb+9.2
Atko+15.6

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Finland – Fridays Itinerary

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Loeb’s thoughts on Rally Finland.

Arguably the greatest driver of all time, 8 Times World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb goes into Finland once again leading the WRC drivers’ standings. But the Frenchman said due to uncertainty over the weather expected this weekend for Rally Finland, his opting for what he described as a “safe choice” for his road order position after going fastest on Qualifying.

Photo:D.Darrall

“It was very difficult to choose. We know if it’s dry it’s better to be behind and if it’s wet it’s better to be in front. We don’t know exactly for the weather so we choose in the middle because we expect some rain in some moments but not always. Finally [my main rivals] are doing nearly all the same and after 10 cars there shouldn’t be a big difference so we should nearly be all equal.”

The championship leader claimed his 2nd triumph in Finland last year, the only none Scandinavian to do so. And once again is one of the favourites to win at the wheel of the Citroen DS3 WRC. He tells us his thoughts on the event and says how he never always fully attacks in the Finnish Forest’s.”I say the same thing every year, this is not my favourite rally. The stages are magnificent, but the trees are bit too close to the road for my liking. I have always managed to avoid going off, undoubtedly because I don’t go flat out if I don’t feel totally comfortable behind the wheel. To be totally honest, it is difficult to say whether I’ll be going for the win or not. I’ve got such a healthy lead in the world championship that I don’t need to take any risks. But if I feel that I am capable of winning, then I’ll go for it. After a good break, I am pleased to get behind the wheel of the DS3 WRC.”

The first three stages of Rally Finland kicks off later tonight.

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Finland – Loeb fastest in Quali, goes 10th on the road

Sebastien loeb went fastest on Qualifying stage and gets first choice for road position for day 1 of Rally Finland.

Photo:D.Darrall

 

Sébastien Loeb will start Rally Finland 10th on the road, with Jari-Matti Latvala in 11th, after the leading drivers selected their start positions in the Service Park.

Mikko Hirvonen will start twelfth and Petter Solberg thirteenth, as the Ford and Citroën drivers bunch together, allowing lesser cars to go ahead of them to clear the stages. Stage 1 kicks off on Thursday night at 17:23 local time.

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