WRC Rallye Monte Carlo Shakedown

SÉBASTIEN LOEB RETURNED TO THE FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE BEST POSSIBLE STYLE WHEN HE WAS FASTEST IN THIS EVENING’S SHAKEDOWN AT RALLYE MONTE-CARLO.

Loeb is the ‘Monte master’ with seven wins to his name over the unpredictable Alpine roads. Despite almost 15 months away from the WRC, the 40-year-old Frenchman was quickly back in the groove through the 3.52km Chateauvieux stage.

His first of five runs through the twisty, hairpin-lined test in a Citroen DS 3 was 0.4sec faster than team-mate Kris Meeke, and 1.1sec quicker than arch-rival Sébastien Ogier.

“It’s not a bad way to come back to WRC!” he said. “I immediately felt comfortable in the car but this won’t be an easy rally. The weather forecast looks tricky and so my low position in the road order could be an advantage or a disadvantage,” said Loeb.

Meeke also completed five passes through the test while Ogier restricted himself to the minimum three.

Fourth was Andreas Mikkelsen, the Norwegian just a tenth of a second behind Volkswagen team-mate Ogier’s Polo R. The Ford Fiesta RS cars of Robert Kubica and Elfyn Evans completed the top six.

The top 10 times were:

1.Sébastien Loeb 2min 21.0sec

2.Kris Meeke + 0.4sec

3.Sébastien Ogier + 1.1sec

4.Andreas Mikkelsen + 1.2sec

5.Robert Kubica + 1.3sec

6.Elfyn Evans + 1.4sec 

7.Mads Østberg + 1.8sec

8.Sebastien Chardonnet + 3.7sec

9=Thierry Neuville + 3.9sec

9=Dani Sordo+ 3.9sec



source: www.wrc.com

WRC : Ogier tests Volkswagen Polo R WRC for Rallye Monte-Carlo 2015

SEBASTIEN OGIER TESTING VOLKSWAGEN POLO R WRC FOR RALLYE MONTE-CARLO 2015

Ogier tests the new Polo R WRC for the 2015 season

Watch Sebastien Ogier testing Volkswagen Polo R WRC for WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2015.

Ogier wins Wales Rally...And its Goodbye Hirvonen!!

World Champion Sebastien Ogier comfortably scored his eighth win of the season in the Wales Rally GB. Ogier in his Volkswagen Polo R remained unchallenged after his team mate Jari Matti Latvala, who looked promising on the opening day before he crashed mid way in the opening stage.

Mikko Hirvonen had an emotional end to his career after he finished in the second place.

Here are the Top five timings in the Wales Rally GB after the Power Stage.

1. Ogier (VW): 3:03:08.2

2. Hirvonen (Ford): 37.6

3. Ostberg (Citroen): 1m03.6s

4. Neuville (Hyundai): 1m14.9s

5. Evans (Ford): 1m24.3s

Ogier after winning:

"The win is the best way to finish the year - that was the target. We wanted to enjoy it here. We started flat-out and we made a great difference, but after Jari-Matti had his problem my race changed and I had to control it. Not the best fun but I had to do it. When the conditions are like this it's not too bad. I'm so happy for Mikko to finish on the podium. It's a great achievement."

Hirvonen after finished on the podium in his last Rally:

"I'm so happy! I couldn't have a better end to my career. A great fight. For sure I am going to miss things. There are so many people to thank. To you all - thank you!"

Jari-Matti Latvala won the rally-closing Power Stage in a Polo R to take maximum bonus points. Thierry Neuville claimed two points for second in a Hyundai i20, with Østberg taking one point for third.