Loeb wins in Australia

Sébastien Loeb can savor this victory. After his five successes at the start of the year, at a time when the season seemed promised to the Alsatian, this sixth victory in 2009 has a particular flavor. The difficulties encountered at the start of the summer pushed the Frenchman to perform flawlessly, while Mikko Hirvonen, very consistent, was able to stay in ambush a handful of seconds behind the five-time world champion.

This Sunday, the two drivers started from scratch. After 200 km of rally, Loeb and Hirvonen were neck and neck and started with the same time before the last ten Australian specials. Quickly, it was the Frenchman who showed himself to his advantage, remaining in line with the second day. Third on the road, Loeb benefited from the sweep carried out before him by Hirvonen and Sordo. After five stages and two scratch times, the Frenchman was already 11 seconds ahead of his runner-up, Mikko Hirvonen.

Sébastien Loeb didn't stop there and set the scratch time in SS31. In the following special, it was his teammate, Dani Sordo, who took the best time to reach second place in the general classification. But Citroën's double lead did not last, Hirvonen regained his position in SS33, dominated by Loeb. The die was already made but the Frenchman accelerated further and opened up a maximum gap on Hirvonen, after SS34, of 18??4. Third, 2??1 behind leader Ford, Sordo could hope for the second step on the podium but Hirvonen took the best time in the last special.

After more than 320 km of rallying, Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen were finally able to decide between themselves, to the Frenchman's advantage. After three consecutive successes for the Finn, the Citroën driver returns to victory and returns to the general classification of the WRC, one point behind Mikko Hirvonen, still leader.