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WRC: Loeb Edges Fords to Win in Italy
Written by: RACER & autosport.com
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
05/18/2008 - 11:21 AM
Sardinia, Italy
 
Loeb has cut Hirvonen's championship lead to just three points. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb withstood growing pressure from the Ford duo of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala to win the Rally d’Italia in Sardinia.

The Frenchman edged the Finnish pair by just 10.6 and 15.3 seconds respectively, closing on to Hirvonen’s championship points lead. The Finn counts 43 versus 40 for Loeb, who also clinched his 40th career win this weekend.

"It was important for me to score some good points because Mikko is leading the championship," Loeb said. "It was a difficult rally - I had to push a lot all the time and the times weren't so good because we were leading on the road, but the most important thing is to win."

Hirvonen for his part was glad to stay ahead in the championship battle: "I'm
happy with second after we were so slow on Friday when we were the first car on the road," he said.
Ford privateer Gigi Galli and Citroen’s Daniel Sordo rounded out the top-five. The 2008 WRC season resumes in two weeks’ time with the Acropolis Rally in Greece.

Rally d’Italia overall results (top-10):

1) Loeb, Citroen, 3h57:17.2
2) Hirvonen, Ford, + 10.6
3) Latvala, Ford, + 15.3
4) Galli, Ford, + 1:42.5
5) Sordo, Citroen, + 2:05.6
6) Atkinson, Subaru, + 5:08.6
7) H Solberg, Ford, + 6:01.0
8) Aava, Citroen, + 6:21.3
9) Andersson, Suzuki, + 7:48.7
10) P Solberg, Subaru, + 9:41.0
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