CITROËN STRENGTHENS ITS GRIP ON THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Citroen strengthened its grip on the 2004 World Rally Championship at the
weekend (16-19 September 2004) with the reigning manufacturers' title
holder extending its lead in the 2004 title chase thanks to second and
fourth places in the UK round of the championship for Sébastien Loeb, now
with 28 point lead in the drivers' championship, and Carlos Sainz in the
Citroën Xsara WRC.
The battle between Loeb and Solberg dominated the event, with Loeb leading
from the start to the penultimate stage, where he finally succumbed to the
pressure from a relentless challenge by Subaru's Petter Solberg. The
ice-cool Frenchman decided that it was better to maintain his championship
position than risk an event ending 'off' challenging Solberg, who was on a
do-die mission to snatch victory from Loeb in the dieing seconds of the
event. Loeb's performance during the rally proved that he was not prepared
to take easy with his substantial lead in the drivers' championship.
"Petter was very fast towards the end," said Loeb at the finish. "I made
little mistakes, but not all that many, and I did not want to put the
championship at risk."
Loeb's team mate, Carlos Sainz, who is now the world's most successful
rally driver of all time, following his win in Argentina earlier this year,
played a strong supporting role, ensuring that Citroën collected more
manufacturers' points than any other team and was able to extend its lead.
Petter Solberg would have to win the next three rounds and Loeb score no
points for the Subaru driver to overhaul the Citroën driver. So, with the
next three rounds on tarmac - Sardinia on 1-3 October, Corsica on 15 -17
October and Spain on 29-31 October - which is Citroën's forte, there is
every chance that Loeb and Citroën will arrive in Australia for Rally
Australia on 12-14 November as the newly crowned World Champions.
The Rally in Figures
Event Leaders
Francois Duval, Ford Focus, SS 1; Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Xsara, SS 2 to
17; Petter Solberg, Subaru Impreza, SS 18 to 19.
Fastest Stage Times
Drivers:
Petter Solberg, Subaru Impreza, 8; Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Xsara, 5;
Francois Duval, Ford Focus, 4; Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot 307, 1; Markko
Martin, Ford Focus, 1.
Constructors:
Subaru, 8; Citroën, 5; Ford, 5; Peugeot, 1.
Tyre manufacturers:
Michelin, 11; Pirelli, 8.
Final Classification
1 P.Solberg-Mills Subaru Impreza 3h42'39"500 106.9 km/h
2 Loeb-Elena Citroen Xsara 3h42'45"800 + 00'06"30
3 Martin-Park Ford Focus 3h45'33"200 + 02'53"70
4 Sainz-Marti Citroen Xsara 3h46'21"600 + 03'42"10
5 Duval-Prevot Ford Focus 3h47'20"800 + 04'41"30
6 Rovanpera-Pieti Peugeot 307 3h49'24"400 + 06'44"90
7 Hirvonen-Lehtin Subaru Imprexa 3h49'47"800 + 07'08"30
8 Stohl-Minor Peugeot 206 3h52'59"600 + 10'20"10
9 Vouilloz-Giraud Peugeot 206 3h57'51"800 + 15'12"30
10 Warmbold-Price Ford Focus 3h58'28"800 + 15'49"30
World Rally Championship
Driver Victories
Sébastien Loeb 5
Petter Solberg 4
Markko Martin 1
Carlos Sainz 1
Marcus Gronholm 1
Manufacturer Victories
Citroën 6
Subaru 4
Ford 1
Peugeot 1
Podiums per Drivers
Sébastien Loeb 9
Markko Martin 7
Petter Solberg 6
Marcus Gronholm 4
Carlos Sainz 5
François Duval 4
Harri Rovanpera 1
Podiums per Manufacturer
Citroën 14
Ford 11
Subaru 6
Peugeot 5
Drivers' Championship Points
1. S. Loeb (F) 92; 2. P. Solberg (N) 64; 3. M. Martin (EE) 59; 4. C. Sainz
(SP) 55; 5. M. Gronholm (FIN) 47; 6. F. Duval (B) 43; 7. M. Hirvonen (FIN)
23; 8. H. Rovanpera (FIN) 20;
9. J. Tuohino (FIN) 16; 10. F. Loix (B)7; 11. D. Carlsson (SW) 6; 12. G.
Panizzi (F) 6; 13. C. Robert (F) 4; 14. M. Stohl (A) 4; 15. H. Solberg
(N) 3;
Manufacturers' Championship Points
1. Citroën, 150; 2. Ford, 112; 3. Subaru, 91; 4. Peugeot, 76; 5.
Mitsubishi, 17;
Citroen strengthened its grip on the 2004 World Rally Championship at the
weekend (16-19 September 2004) with the reigning manufacturers' title
holder extending its lead in the 2004 title chase thanks to second and
fourth places in the UK round of the championship for Sébastien Loeb, now
with 28 point lead in the drivers' championship, and Carlos Sainz in the
Citroën Xsara WRC.
The battle between Loeb and Solberg dominated the event, with Loeb leading
from the start to the penultimate stage, where he finally succumbed to the
pressure from a relentless challenge by Subaru's Petter Solberg. The
ice-cool Frenchman decided that it was better to maintain his championship
position than risk an event ending 'off' challenging Solberg, who was on a
do-die mission to snatch victory from Loeb in the dieing seconds of the
event. Loeb's performance during the rally proved that he was not prepared
to take easy with his substantial lead in the drivers' championship.
"Petter was very fast towards the end," said Loeb at the finish. "I made
little mistakes, but not all that many, and I did not want to put the
championship at risk."
Loeb's team mate, Carlos Sainz, who is now the world's most successful
rally driver of all time, following his win in Argentina earlier this year,
played a strong supporting role, ensuring that Citroën collected more
manufacturers' points than any other team and was able to extend its lead.
Petter Solberg would have to win the next three rounds and Loeb score no
points for the Subaru driver to overhaul the Citroën driver. So, with the
next three rounds on tarmac - Sardinia on 1-3 October, Corsica on 15 -17
October and Spain on 29-31 October - which is Citroën's forte, there is
every chance that Loeb and Citroën will arrive in Australia for Rally
Australia on 12-14 November as the newly crowned World Champions.
The Rally in Figures
Event Leaders
Francois Duval, Ford Focus, SS 1; Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Xsara, SS 2 to
17; Petter Solberg, Subaru Impreza, SS 18 to 19.
Fastest Stage Times
Drivers:
Petter Solberg, Subaru Impreza, 8; Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Xsara, 5;
Francois Duval, Ford Focus, 4; Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot 307, 1; Markko
Martin, Ford Focus, 1.
Constructors:
Subaru, 8; Citroën, 5; Ford, 5; Peugeot, 1.
Tyre manufacturers:
Michelin, 11; Pirelli, 8.
Final Classification
1 P.Solberg-Mills Subaru Impreza 3h42'39"500 106.9 km/h
2 Loeb-Elena Citroen Xsara 3h42'45"800 + 00'06"30
3 Martin-Park Ford Focus 3h45'33"200 + 02'53"70
4 Sainz-Marti Citroen Xsara 3h46'21"600 + 03'42"10
5 Duval-Prevot Ford Focus 3h47'20"800 + 04'41"30
6 Rovanpera-Pieti Peugeot 307 3h49'24"400 + 06'44"90
7 Hirvonen-Lehtin Subaru Imprexa 3h49'47"800 + 07'08"30
8 Stohl-Minor Peugeot 206 3h52'59"600 + 10'20"10
9 Vouilloz-Giraud Peugeot 206 3h57'51"800 + 15'12"30
10 Warmbold-Price Ford Focus 3h58'28"800 + 15'49"30
World Rally Championship
Driver Victories
Sébastien Loeb 5
Petter Solberg 4
Markko Martin 1
Carlos Sainz 1
Marcus Gronholm 1
Manufacturer Victories
Citroën 6
Subaru 4
Ford 1
Peugeot 1
Podiums per Drivers
Sébastien Loeb 9
Markko Martin 7
Petter Solberg 6
Marcus Gronholm 4
Carlos Sainz 5
François Duval 4
Harri Rovanpera 1
Podiums per Manufacturer
Citroën 14
Ford 11
Subaru 6
Peugeot 5
Drivers' Championship Points
1. S. Loeb (F) 92; 2. P. Solberg (N) 64; 3. M. Martin (EE) 59; 4. C. Sainz
(SP) 55; 5. M. Gronholm (FIN) 47; 6. F. Duval (B) 43; 7. M. Hirvonen (FIN)
23; 8. H. Rovanpera (FIN) 20;
9. J. Tuohino (FIN) 16; 10. F. Loix (B)7; 11. D. Carlsson (SW) 6; 12. G.
Panizzi (F) 6; 13. C. Robert (F) 4; 14. M. Stohl (A) 4; 15. H. Solberg
(N) 3;
Manufacturers' Championship Points
1. Citroën, 150; 2. Ford, 112; 3. Subaru, 91; 4. Peugeot, 76; 5.
Mitsubishi, 17;
