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Back to August 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 13-08-2012: Citroen Take First & Second in Finland | |
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Chased throughout the race by his team-mates Mikko Hirvonen, Seb won what was also the 500th event in the FIA World Rally Championship. This fourth successive one-two finish meant the Citroën Total World Rally Team and its crews moved a little further ahead in the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championship standings, with Loeb leading Hirvonen 171 to 128 points, and Citroen now leads Ford by more than 100 points in the manufacturers’ title chase. Australia’s leading rally driver made his return to the World Rally Championship in his second drive for Citroen, this time at the wheel of the Citroen DS3 WRC and was well on the pace on day one in line with his target of a top five finish. It seemed that radio problems were start of a series of issues for the Aussie as he then found himself stuck on an embankment on SS8. Despite losing 16 minutes, he kept racing until one of his wheels was torn off when he hit the same rock as his team mate on special stage ten. Like his stable-mate, Chris was able to compete on the final day thanks to the work of Citroën Racing Technologies’ mechanics, whose night was reduced to a minimum. Having to deal with running second on the road, he rebuilt his confidence before really enjoying the Ouninpohja stage. “It was really fantastic to drive on this stage again. I’d really like to thank the entire team. We have spent the weekend in a top class car,” said Atkinson. “If I hadn’t made that mistake, I think we could have achieved my goal of finishing in the top five. I don’t know when I’ll be back in the WRC, but I hope it will be soon and with Citroën if possible.” Up and coming Australian rally driver, Molly Taylor, behind the wheel of a Citroen DS3 R3T, made a solid start to the 2012 Rally of Finland, completing the first stage in 55th place in a field of 97 runners. She then began her steady climb up the leader board as she learnt more about unique conditions in Finland and how her Citroen coped with them. By the end of day one she had climbed to 50th place and day two say Molly in 38th, well ahead of Chris Atkinson. By stage 15 on day three she was in 36th and had inherited the class lead. But cruelly, with just the final stage to go, her Citroen DS3 succumbed to a mechanical problem, turning it into a three cylinder DS3, and she was out of the event. Her comment on Twitter said it all. “Gutted to say we’re out” but she added “Has been a great event for us though, learning lots and really enjoying stages. Huge thanks to United Business and BP Racing for the opportunity.” 2012 RALLY OF FINLAND RESULTS 1 Loeb / Elena Citroën DS3 WRC 2:28:11.4 2 Hirvonen / Lehtinen Citroën DS3 WRC +6.1 3 Latvala / Anttila Ford Fiesta RS WRC +35.0 4 Solberg / Patterson Ford Fiesta RS WRC +56.1 5 Østberg / Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC +2:32.1 6 Tänak / Sikk Ford Fiesta RS WRC +2:47.6 7 Rantanen / Lukka Ford Fiesta RS WRC +4:51.7 8 Ketomaa / Stenberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC +6:01.9 9 Prokop / Hruza Ford Fiesta RS WRC +6:04.3 10 Ogier / Ingrassia Skoda Fabia S2000 +8:46.0
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Matching the medal-winning achievements of the French athletes at the London Olympics, Citroen’s Sébastien Loeb produced another stunning performance at the weekend (1-4 August 2012) to win the World Rally Championship Rally of Finland for the third time, leading a Citroen 1-2, the team’s fourth successive 1-2 win this season.^ Back to top ^
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