Loeb ends full time career on a high

Sebastian Loeb rounded out his career as a full-time works WRC driver with a close win on the Rallye de Espana in Spain, coming home 7 secs ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala.

“For sure I really wanted to win this rally. We were really struggling in the start because it was really tricky on the first day. On the Tarmac I was able to take the lead but today was not easy because we had some strange tyre choice and Jari-Matti was pushing very hard and getting closer.” said the Frenchman.

Mads Ostberg, touted as possibly being the successor to Loeb's coveted DS3 WRC next season, was the revelation of Day 1, leading overnight as the gravel leg threw up some massive surprises. Only 6 stages began the rally, totalling less than 150 kms, but it was a manic beginning to the rally.

Ott Tanak lead after the second stage as the regular winners suffered horrific stage conditions as they ran further down the order, before Mads Ostberg went into the lead heading into the first service. Even these two had problems, Tanak with an overshoot plus an off, Ostberg with a spin and even a poor tyre choice. Even with this, Ostberg held a 27 sec lead overnight.

Latvala had a half of a second over Loeb after the first stage but he couldn't cope with the deteriorating conditions and fell to fifth. His team-mate Petter Solberg caught a rock which put him out (ironically the exact same rock that put him out last season), with Andreas Mikkelsen and Theirry Neuville clipping the same rock. Dani Sordo crashed out on SS3.

Things returned to normal on Day 2 as Loeb hit the tarmac and shot into the lead. Helped by Ostberg going off and losing a minute, Latvala moved into second but conceded that “I can’t catch him”, such is the fear the Frenchman has struck into the hearts of his competitors. He held a 27 sec lead over the Finn at the end of the day.

Latvala won two stages on the final day to slash Loeb's lead to just 7 secs, however it remains to be seen just how much Loeb was cruising. His 76^th career win has fittingly come on the surface on which he has so ruthlessly dominated over the past 10 years, however, even though he won't be in full time competition next season, one can only be sure that he will be adding a couple more wins to that tally.

Mikko Hirvonen took the sister works DS3 WRC to third place after a quiet rally with no major drama's, but Day 1 hero Mads Ostberg was less than 10 secs behind in fourth.

Jarkko Nikara took a fine fifth on his WRC car début in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC, after suffering a failing jack whilst changing a wheel earlier in the rally.

An astounding run from Craig Breen netted him 6^th place, as well as 1^st S-WRC but most importantly the S2000 World Rally Championship. (See below for S-WRC report)

Chris Atkinson took seventh for WRC Team MINI Portugal with P-G Andersson taking eighth and second S-WRC. A resurgent Dani Sordo came back from Rally 2 penalties to take ninth with Evgney Novikov taking tenth after a 10 minute penalty, awarded because his DMACK tyres wore down it's soft compound to under the permitted 1.6mm.

Craig Breen took an emotional and historic win in the S-WRC class to take the S2000 World Rally Championship at his first time of asking, becoming the final World Champion in the class for normally aspirated 2 litre cars before new regulations and classes come into effect next year.

Having commanded a 3 min 30 sec lead at one point, Breen drove well within himself to claim the rally win after all of his competitors came across problems. His chief rival, PROTON's P-G Andersson suffered a broken drive shaft but he also went off the road, adding more to his deficit. Yazeed Al Rajhi had an outside chance to take the title but his hopes ended once his turbo gave up the ghost.

Alastair Fisher was drafted into the second PROTON but he went off on SS5 along with Albert Llovera. Hayden Paddon went off on SS3 and retired. Fisher and Paddon rejoined to take fourth and fifth, respectively.

“This is incredible, it’s beyond my wildest dreams. I really couldn’t have done this without everybody’s support and good wishes so I’d like to take this moment to thank each and everyone of you. It’s the perfect attribute to Gareth too and I am so happy to have won this title for him.” said an elated Breen.

Benito Guerra drove a consistent rally to finish with a massive 5 min 36 sec margin over second placed Marcos Ligato. Ligato lost time with brake problems however he managed to take Subhan Aksa for second place when the Indonesian driver hit problems on SS16.

Guerra, the newly crowned P-WRC World Champion, said at the finish: “I think this is the best day of my life. This is the first FIA title for me and for Mexico and the feeling is like nothing I have experienced before. I think this will also bring me new opportunities and new sponsors, maybe I will even step up to a World Rally Car. Thanks to everyone who helped me win this weekend.”

With the WRC Academy title all sewn up in favour of Elfyn Evans, it was every man for himself in Spain. Jose Suarez went all out, alongside his fellow Academy regulars, and landed his first win in the class. He and co-driver Candido Carrera then dedicated the win to Gareth Roberts, the first WRC Academy Champion co-driver.

A puncture dropped Pontus Tidemand from the lead and he finished in second place with Academy Champion Elfyn Evans in third, his fifth podium finish.

“I am very happy. My driver was fantastic and this [result] is very important for me because it’s in memory of my friend Gareth Roberts.” said Suarez.