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| RallyeNewsletter 2009 Rally Sardinia : WRC Round 6 of 12 : 22nd - 24th May In this issue: 1. Final Unofficial Leaderboard 2. Final News 4. Final Team by Team News 5. Championship Points 6. Next Event 1. Final Unofficial Leaderboard 1. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 4hr 00min 55.7sec 2. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 4hr 01min 25.1sec 3. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Citroen Xsara 4hr 02min 53.3sec 4. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 4hr 04min 39.4sec 5. E Novikov/D Moscatt RUS Citroen C4 4hr 06min 07.5sec 6. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 4hr 08min 25.0sec 7. M Østberg/V Engan NOR Subaru Impreza 4hr 14min 16.3sec 8. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 4hr 14min 16.9sec 9. N Al-Attiyah/G Bernacchini QAT &nb! sp; Subaru Impreza 4hr 20min 39.4sec 10 P Sandell/E Axelsson SWE Skoda Fabia 4hr 20min 40.9sec 2. Final News Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila led from start to finish to claim their second career win in the FIA World Rally Championship. The Finns reached the podium in the resort of Porto Cervo with a 29.4sec advantage over team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen after three days of tough competition on the Mediterranean island. Petter Solberg was rewarded 3rd place after Loeb was given a 2 minute penalty for an incident on leg two where his co-driver Daniel Elena loosened his safety belt! s before the car had come to a total halt. 4. Team by Team News BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team claimed a dominant one-two finish on Rally d'Italia Sardegna today with the Focus RS World Rally Car. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila led from start to finish! to claim their second career win in the FIA World Rally Championship. The Finns reached the podium in the resort of Porto Cervo with a 29.4sec advantage over team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen after three days of tough competition on the Mediterranean island. #3 : Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen: "This result, and the timing of it, is perfect for Ford. I thought I could fight for the win but the dust ended those hopes. Everyone behind Jari-Matti expected to have an advantage because he was sweeping the road but, ironically, he was the one who benefited because of the dust. I went off the road on a fifth gear corner in the first stage this morning because I couldn't see so I stopped taking risks." #4 : Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila: "It wasn't an easy weekend being first through the stages and I'm surprised, but delighted, to win because I thought Mikko would catch me this morning." Citroen Total World Rally Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 Citroën Total World Rally Team's winning run came to an end today in Sardinia where Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena finished the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna in fourth position. The result hasn't prevented them from completing the first half of the 2009 World Championship with a handsome lead in the provisional standings, however, while Citroën continues to top the Manufacturers' table. #1 : Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena: "I am obviously disappointed that our winning streak has come to an end, but it had to happen one day. At least people will stop talking about a possible grand slam this season, which is something I have never given a thought to myself. Our problems this weekend prove that nothing can be taken for granted in this championship which is turning out to be as challenging as ever. We need to keep on working to try to turn the tables on our rivals in Greece." #2 : Daniel Sordo/Marc Marti: Our engine was cruelly down on power, but we still managed to have fun down the downhill bits! It was important to reach the finish. We succeeded, and that means two extra points for Citroën in the Manufacturers' World Championship." Stobart VK M-Sport Ford World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 No information available at time of writing. Please check website later. Citroen Junior Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 After a rally that confirmed the potential already seen in their first three outings with ! the Citroën Junior Team, Evgeny Novikov and Dale Moscatt finished in fifth place on the Rally d'Italia - Sardegna, round six of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship. #7 : Evgeny Novikov/Dale Moscatt: "I'm really happy. From now on, I simply want to improve! " #8: Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt: " I'm still disappointed that we couldn't finish yesterday as we had the chance to score some points. But generally speaking I'm pleased with our performance and once more we've learnt a lot. These lessons will certainly be valuable to us on the next round in Greece. " #11: Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia: Retired 5. Championship Points Full championship points at: http://www.rallye-info.com/points.asp? 6. Next Event The championship enters its second half next month when the action switches to Greece. The new base of Loutraki hosts the gravel Acropolis Rally of Greece on 11 - 14 June. |