Sébastien Loeb strikes a big blow

Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC), six weeks after the victory of Sébastien Ogier (Citroën C4 WRC) during the Rally of Portugal, demonstrated this Friday that it had lost none of its competitiveness and its ?gnac?. Master on this surface, the Frenchman swallowed the asphalt at an incredible pace. Best time during each of the four long stages of the first day of competition, the six-time World Champion sent his rivals to compete for the places of honor. Especially since, behind, the race by elimination has already started.

During SS3, it was Sébastien Ogier who ruined his chances of competing with his elder brother. Exited from the road due to a misunderstood note, the Gapençais lost a minute and, if the other Citroëns do not fail, his hopes of a podium. In SS4, Kimi Räikkönen (Citroën C4 WRC), who had until then occupied fourth place ahead of the Ford drivers, rolled over. The Finn and his co-pilot escaped unscathed.

These errors directly benefit the Ford drivers who, on a regular basis, are beaten by far. After these four stages, Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus WRC) is fourth, 1:10:9 behind Sébastien Loeb! Even further, Jari-Matti Latvala is at 1?20??. Despite going off the road, Sébastien Ogier is sixth, just ten seconds behind Latvala. If the pace of the Citroëns is confirmed, the Junior World Champion could quickly return to the Fords.

Behind the Rally leader, Dani Sordo (Citroën C4 WRC) is second at 28??1. If the Spaniard was sometimes more competitive on asphalt, he had a good day, well placed on the podium. Petter Solberg (Citroën C4 WRC) is third at 38??0. Suffice to say that the brand with the chevrons, by continuing this momentum, could well pick up a new victory and, if all goes well, a treble, or even a quadruplet.