Var: Loeb ahead of Tirabassi

Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC) took no one by surprise. Armed with the best car on the field and with a track record that cannot be questioned, the six-time world champion has firmly established himself at the controls of the Rally of the Var. After three specials, in which he achieved the best times, the Alsatian is more than thirty seconds ahead of Brice Tirabassi (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC).

Third, more than a minute behind Loeb, Patrick Henry (Peugeot 307 WRC) is the best classified of the three drivers competing for the title of French champion. Guillaume Canivenq (Peugeot 207 S2000) is seventh at 1:45?? while Emmanuel Guigou (Renault Clio R3 Maxi), leader of group R, is tenth at 2:38, ahead of the Peugeot 307 WRC of Dany Snobeck.

Belgian champion and winner of the Rally du Touquet, Pieter Tsjoen (Ford Focus RS WRC) is fourth, 1:14?? of the leader. He is ahead of Cédric Robert (Abarth Grane Punto S2000), author of a good performance, and who is only eight tenths ahead of Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 S2000) before the second day of the Rallye du Var.

Romain Dumas, who recently competed in the Rallye des Cévennes at the wheel of his Porsche 996 GT3, currently occupies 18th place in the Var event, while Robert Kubica places his Renault Clio R3 just over three minutes behind that of Manu Guigou, leader in group R.