Rally France – Alsace (30th September – 3rd October 2010) – Day 3
It was the ideal scenario but it had to be made come true. When Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elenastopped their Citroën C4 WRC in front of the Haguenau town hall they had just scored theirsixtieth victory in the WRC, and bagged their seventh consecutive FIA World Rally Championshiptitle. In addition to a performance, unique in the annals of motor sport, Loeb had made the heartsof over 300 000 spectators who were all rooting for the local lad jump for joy. Dani Sordo andDiego Vallejo’s second place helped the Citroën Total World Rally Team to its sixth Manufacturers’World Championship title.
After two long legs, the third day of Rally France took the crews to the north of Strasbourg. The final legon which there were no service halts, consisted of two passages through the stage in the Bitche militarycamp followed by two passages through the stage in Haguenau, the town in which Loeb grew up. Thefuture seven-time World Rally Champion was deeply moved by the ever-increasing popular enthusiasm onthe liaison stage bringing him from Strasbourg to Haguenau to race in the first city stage. “There werepeople everywhere on the road, and at the stage. It was rather moving.”
Dani Sordo’s day got off to an equally emotional start - but not for the same reasons! “That little stagewasn’t easy, all the more so as I hadn’t taken very good notes. We also ran into a little hitch when awater hose fastener came off. We were able to repair it.
Sordo reboosted his confidence by setting the fastest time in the Camp de Bitche stage in front of Loeb:“We didn’t have any split times so it was difficult to know if we had the right pace. I was almost surprisedto set the quickest time.” Loeb admitted that he nursed his lead: “Without the splits we were racingblind, but I didn’t take the slightest risk in the very quick sections.”
After an interminable regrouping halt in Bitche, the organisers decided to cancel the second passagethrough the military camp stage and the rally ended in the streets of Haguenau. After crossing thefinishing line Loeb gave full vent to his joy by climbing up onto the roof of his C4 WRC: “My first worldtitle will always remain the best for me, but this one will have a special place in my heart. We won it aftera very difficult race. It’s quite simply mind blowing to cross the finishing line in my home town, and it’sincredible to see so many people. I don’t think we’ve ever seen so many spectators at a rally.”
“It’s good to get to the end,” said a breathless Daniel Elena. “This route was a real challenge, but wemanaged to avoid the pitfalls to win the world titles for us and for Citroën.”Second-placed Sordo also had a big smile on his face: “First of all, I’d like to congratulate Seb and Danielwho were once again unbeatable this weekend. We too had a good rally and we’re proud to have helpedcontribute to Citroën’s sixth world title. I hope that I’ll be a prophet in my own country in a couple ofweeks!”
Olivier Quesnel, the Citroën Racing Team Principal, showed how proud he was of the work of his teamand his crews: “What Loeb’s achieved this weekend is quite simply exceptional. Nobody can image thepressure on his shoulders. But he managed to ignore it when he had to concentrate on going for thequickest times. He didn’t really need to come first in this rally to become world champion, but the guy’s aborn winner and he couldn’t just do the necessary. Once again, he proved that he’s the best driver in theworld at present.”
“ It’s another historic day for Citroën,” added Frédéric Banzet, the make’s general manager. “A doubleand the world titles for us here in France - it’s simply incredible! This result is down to the best team inrallying in the world. I’d like to associate all the men and women who work in the Citroën Racing factoryin Versailles with this success, as well as all the collaborators who’ve contributed to these new worldtitles.”
*Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.
THE RALLY IN FIGURESSébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena Dani Sordo / Diego VallejoSS17: Haguenau 1 (4,20 km) 4th +1.3s 1st 2nd +0.7s 2nd +42.2sSS18: Camp de Bitche 1 (24,70 km) 2nd +4.4s 1st 1st 2nd +37.8sSS19: Camp de Bitche 2 (24,70 km) CANCELLEDSS20: Haguenau 2 (4,20 km) 8th +4.4s 1st 4th +2.3s 2nd +35.7s
Fastest times in the stagesDay 1 – SS 1 to 4: Loeb (Citroën C4) – SS 5: Latvala (Ford Focus) – SS 6: Loeb – SS 7: Sordo (CitroënC4) – SS 8: Latvala.
Day 2 – SS 9: Loeb – SS 10: Sordo – SS 11: Loeb – SS 12: Latvala – SS 13: Ogier – SS 14: Sordo – SS15 and 16: P. Solberg (Citroën C4).Day 3 – SS 17: P. Solberg – SS 18: Sordo – SS 19:cancelled – SS 20: Latvala.Best performers: Loeb 7 fastest times, Sordo and Latvala 4 each, P. Solberg 3 and Ogier 1.Leaders: SS1 to 20: Loeb.
Overall classification at the end of the third day1. Loeb / Elena Citroën C4 3h05m49.3s2. Sordo / Vallejo Citroën C4 +35.7s3. P. Solberg / Patterson Citroën C4 +1m16.8s4. Latvala / Anttila Ford Focus +1m29.3s5. Hirvonen / Lehtinen Ford Focus +3m43.8s6. Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C4 +11m55.9s7. Villagra / Curletto Ford Focus +14m15.4s8. Wilson / Martin Ford Focus +14m26.9s9. H. Solberg / Minor Ford Fiesta +16m48.9s10. Sandell / Axelsson Skoda Fabia +17m12.3s
