TOP REVS - SPORT
| 2013-08-07VW’s Ogier dominates Rally Finland
VW’s Ogier
Sebastien Ogier has claimed a thrilling victory in Finland to strengthen his grip on the World Rally Championship with five rounds remaining.
Volkswagen driver Ogier reached the finish in Jyvaskyla with a 36,6 seconds advantage over Thierry Neuville (Ford Fiesta) to win his fifth rally of the season and move 90 points clear in the standings as he chases his first world title.
Volkswagen driver Ogier reached the finish in Jyvaskyla with a 36,6 seconds advantage over Thierry Neuville (Ford Fiesta) to win his fifth rally of the season and move 90 points clear in the standings as he chases his first world title.
In reaching the finish first in his Polo, Ogier became only the fifth non-Nordic driver to win the classic test of driving skill around the lakes and forests of Finland.
“I had a dream about winning here.”
“A lot of points for the championship and victory in Finland make it a perfect weekend,” he said.
Huge crowds packed the stages in central Finland where four drivers led during the opening seven specials and only 11 seconds covered the top four at the mid-point.
Ogier built a comfortable lead on Friday and was able to drive within himself on the final day when battle raged for second place between Ford Fiesta drivers Neuville and Mads Ostberg - the rivals trading places through the final stages.
Ostberg spun off while avoiding a large rock in the penultimate stage, however, and ended up 21 seconds adrift of Neuville.
Neuville said: “Yesterday we lost time with a puncture but otherwise it was a smooth, clean run. Before the rally I couldn’t have imagined this result was possible.”
-Nampa-Reuters
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - DRIVERS
1. Sébastien Ogier (France) - 181
2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium) - 91
3. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) - 91
4. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) - 73
5. Dani Sordo (Spain) - 69
6. Sébastien Loeb (France) - 68 (only three rallies contested)
7. Mads Ostberg (Norway) - 65
8. Evgeny Novikov (Russia) - 39
9. Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) - 37
10. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) - 30
TEAMS/CONSTRUCTORS
1. Volkswagen Motorsport - 251
2. Citroën Abu Dhabi - 196
3. Qatar M-Sport (Ford) - 112
4. Qatar WRT (Ford) - 107
“I had a dream about winning here.”
“A lot of points for the championship and victory in Finland make it a perfect weekend,” he said.
Huge crowds packed the stages in central Finland where four drivers led during the opening seven specials and only 11 seconds covered the top four at the mid-point.
Ogier built a comfortable lead on Friday and was able to drive within himself on the final day when battle raged for second place between Ford Fiesta drivers Neuville and Mads Ostberg - the rivals trading places through the final stages.
Ostberg spun off while avoiding a large rock in the penultimate stage, however, and ended up 21 seconds adrift of Neuville.
Neuville said: “Yesterday we lost time with a puncture but otherwise it was a smooth, clean run. Before the rally I couldn’t have imagined this result was possible.”
-Nampa-Reuters
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - DRIVERS
1. Sébastien Ogier (France) - 181
2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium) - 91
3. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) - 91
4. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) - 73
5. Dani Sordo (Spain) - 69
6. Sébastien Loeb (France) - 68 (only three rallies contested)
7. Mads Ostberg (Norway) - 65
8. Evgeny Novikov (Russia) - 39
9. Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) - 37
10. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) - 30
TEAMS/CONSTRUCTORS
1. Volkswagen Motorsport - 251
2. Citroën Abu Dhabi - 196
3. Qatar M-Sport (Ford) - 112
4. Qatar WRT (Ford) - 107
