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After Mexico, Portugal and Jordan, the Citroën DS3 WRC has scored its fourth consecutuive victory on gravel.
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena gained this win the hard way as they were first out on the road in all three legs: their success has helped them increase their lead in the drivers’ classification in the World Rally Championship.
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia saw the flag in fourth place scoring precious points for the Citroën Total World Rally Team, which now leads the Manufacturers’ Championship.
After two long days’ racing, the third leg of Rally Italy was the final sprint for the crews left in the event.
Sébastien Loeb started the morning with only 23.8s in hand over Mikko Hirvonen, as the stewards had rectified one of the Finn’s times after the second leg. The first stage was the short Gallura special, also used at the end of the rally for the Power Stage. The seven-time world champion was again handicapped by his position on the road, and he lost a few seconds cutting his lead to 20.2s.
“The next stage Monte Olia (SS16), was less penalizing in terms of sweeping. I didn’t have any choice. I had to keep pushing to fend off a comeback by Mikka,” said Loeb. “In SS17, I started off at a hot pace. Then I realized that he wasn’t catching me and I lifted off slightly in the closing kilometers.”
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