Loeb wins Acropolis Rally
Sebastien Loeb increased his lead in the World Rally Championship by winning Acropolis Rally on Sunday.
The French multiple world champion was leading by 10 seconds in his Citroen DS3 car going into the final day and he had no difficulty securing the 71st win of his stellar career.
It was also the third time he had won the rally in Greece after 2005 and 2008.
Teammate Mikko Hirvonen of Finland took second place in what was the sixth race of the season, to give the French stable their third double of the season after the rallies of Mexico and Argentina.
Third place went to Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland in the fastest of the Fords.
It was the fourth win of the season for Loeb, who has won the world title a record eight times, and takes his lead in the overall standings this year to 30 points over Hirvonen with seven races remaining.
Mats Ostberg of Norway is in third a further nine points adrift after placing fourth in Greece.
"This rally was so long and difficult," said Loeb, who survived a scare on stage 20 when he stopped to change a left-rear puncture after three kilometres.
"We had some fortune in the morning, but in general we had to fight really hard. It was really good.
"I tried to always keep my rhythm and do what I felt. I tried to manage the car and the tyres. I believe that everybody has done a great rally."
Petter Solberg started Sunday's five stages trailing Loeb by 10.2s only to crash out on the opening test in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
The Norwegian's misfortune - he tore a rear wheel off his car after striking a tree - promoted Hirvonen up to second with Latvala securing the final podium place in third.
The Finn marked his return from injury by claiming 10 fastest stage times. "At least after a long time I'm back on the podium," he said.
RESULTS
1. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 4:42:03.300
2. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Citroen +00:40.000
3. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford 03:04.800
4. Mads Ostberg (Norway) Ford 06:16.400
5. Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Ford 07:46.500
6. Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Citroen 09:41.400
7. Sebastien Ogier (France) Skoda 12:59.900
8. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Saudi Arabia) Ford 20:12.200
9. Ott Taenak (Estonia) Ford 23:18.900
10. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (Qatar) Mini 28:40.500
STANDINGS
1. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen Total World Rally Team
116
2. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Citroen Total World Rally Team
88
3. Mads Ostberg (Norway) Mads Ostberg
80
4. Petter Solberg (Norway) Ford World Rally Team
73
5. Evgeny Novikov (Russia) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
43
5. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford World Rally Team
43
7. Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Czech Ford Rally Team
36
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) Qatar World Rally Team
23
9. Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen Motorsport
22
9. Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Citroen Junior World Rally Team
22
11. Daniel Sordo (Spain) Mini WRC Team
21
12. Ott Taenak (Estonia) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
18
13. Francois Delecour (France) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
8
13. Dennis Kuipers (Netherlands) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
8
15. Armindo Araujo (Portugal) Armindo Araujo WRT
7
16. Pierre Campana (France) Mini WRC Team
6
16. Henning Solberg (Norway) Henning Solberg
6
18. Patrik Sandell (Sweden) Mini WRC Team
4
18. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Saudi Arabia) Yazeed Al Rajhi
4
20. Ken Block (U.S.) Monster World Rally Team
2
20. Jari Ketomaa (Finland) Ketomaa WRT
2
22. Ricardo Trivino (Mexico) Ricardo Trivino
1
22. Eyvind Brynildsen (Norway) Eyvind Brynildsen
1
22. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (Qatar) Seashore Qatar Rally Team
1
22. Peter van Merksteijn Jr.
