WRC – Loeb keeps his cool in Monte-Carlo

Sébastien Loeb won the scratch in the Sisteron special and thus consolidates his lead at the top of Monte-Carlo with almost two minutes ahead of Sébastien Ogier which is content to ensure to offer a podium to Volkswagen for the first rally of the Polo R WRC. The fight for third place, however, intensified between Dani Sordo and Evgeny Novikov since it is the Qatar WRT driver who now completes the leading trio at the end of the third stage of the Monaco event. After being more than eight seconds behind the Russian, the Spaniard recovered in the last special by coming back to just 1"7 behind the Ford Fiesta RS WRC, which promises an interesting fight for the final day.

Mikko Hirvonen must also react since the Finn lost his fifth place to his compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala. The Citroën driver lost a lot of time in Sisteron after suffering from overheating of his brakes and the DS3 WRC is now 14 seconds behind the second Polo R WRC. Juho Hänninen still occupies seventh place, almost a minute behind his closest compatriot. Mads Ostberg remains eighth returning to the Monaco parc ferme with more than a minute ahead of Bryan Bouffier. The privateer driver of the DS3 WRC kept the studded tires for the last two stages. However, the Frenchman is not worried since Martin Prokop, tenth in the ranking, is more than ten minutes behind.

Despite battery problems, Sepp Wiegang remains comfortably ahead of WRC2 with his Skoda Fabia S2000 ahead of the Subaru Impreza of Armin Kremer and Yuriy Protosov. Olivier Burri retains the lead of the WRC on his Peugeot 207 S2000 ahead of the DS3 R3Ts of Mathieu Maurage, first of the 2WD, and Sébastien Chardonnet, who is 1'20 behind his compatriot.

The crews will face the final stage of Monte-Carlo tomorrow, which includes two special stages. The 23,5km of Moulinet? The Bollene Vesubie will be covered three times while the 19km from Lantosque? Luceram will be crossed twice. Sébastien Loeb will open the road from 15:11 p.m. while the last special will be contested from 22:06 p.m. The drivers still have 108,5km timed to decide between themselves.