Sébastien Loeb made the hole

Citroën knew that its C4 WRC was very good on asphalt. The doubles Loeb/Sordo in Catalonia have proven it, as has the invincibility of the six-time French World Champion on this terrain since 2005. But, even if the Rally of Bulgaria is still far from finished, the result of the first two special stages of the event is more than remarkable: two Citroën quintuplets, with two best times set by Sébastien Loeb. WRC debutant Kimi Räikkönen finished fifth, managing to beat Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus WRC) on each of the two stages.

Before starting the second loop, Sébastien Loeb is already 16??0 ahead of Sébastien Ogier and 18??6 on Dani Sordo. Fourth, Petter Solberg is 20??4 behind, while Kimi Räikkönen is 34??3 behind. Further still, Mikko Hirvonen is pushed back more than forty seconds (41??6), and Jari-Matti Latvala to 46??7.

During these long stages, the gap was therefore significant and could be confirmed in the afternoon. On this surface, where there is no longer any question of sweeping and starting strategy, the gaps could prove to be abysmal in the middle of the afternoon, at the end of the second loop.

In J-WRC, Mathieu Arzeno and Thierry Neuville, on Citroën C2 S1600, are competing for the lead in the Junior rankings. For the moment, the Frenchman and the Belgian have each signed a scratch but it is Mathieu Arzeno who dominates, with 4”3 ahead of his rival.