Loeb eases to victory in Corsica

Sebastien Loeb moved a step closer to a record fifth consecutive World Rally Championship crown with another dominant win in the Rally of Corsica.

The Citroen driver now leads nearest rival Mikko Hirvonen by 14 points with two rounds of the championship left.

Loeb eased home almost three-and-a-half minutes off Hirvonen in second place.

The Finn's team-mates, Francois Duval and Jari-Matti Latvala, were given team orders by Ford to incur penalties to ensure they fell to third and fourth.

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"It's getting better and better," said Loeb.

"To win here in Corsica is a great moment. We were much faster all rally and that's great for me and the team. We'll add another two more points to our championship lead. So, OK, we'll see how we get on in Japan."

Hirvonen was second in the early stages on Sunday until a puncture forced him to change a tyre and drop back to fifth place.

When Petter Solberg also suffered a puncture on stage 14 Hirvonen moved up to fourth before his team-mates were issued with their team orders to drop back behind him and keep his slim title hopes alive.

"I can't celebrate it but I understand what the team is doing and I appreciate what Francois and Jari-Matti have done, but I really wish I didn't have that puncture," said Hirvonen.

Subaru duo Solberg and Chris Atkinson were fifth and sixth in their Imprezas, with Estonia's Urmo Aava seventh and Briton Matthew Wilson eighth in his Ford Focus.

Rally of Corsica result:

1 S Loeb (Fra) Citroen 3hrs 42mins 58.000secs
2 M Hirvonen (Fin) Ford 3:46:22.700
3 F Duval (Bel) Ford 3:46:29.600
4 J-M Latvala (Fin) Ford 3:46:35.500
5 P Solberg (Nor) Subaru 3:48:33.400
6 C Atkinson (Aus) Subaru 3:49:08.400
7 U Aava (Est) Mitsubishi 3:50:23.200
8 M Wilson (GB) Ford 3:52:00.200
9 M Ostberg (Nor) Subaru 3:52:11.300
10 B Clark (Irl) Citroen 3:56:36.300

Drivers' championship standings:

1 S Loeb (Fra) Citroen 106pts
2 M Hirvonen (Fin) Ford 92
3 D Sordo (Spa) Citroen 59
4 C Atkinson (Aus) Subaru 45
5 J-M Latvala (Fin) Ford 42
6 P Solberg (Nor) Subaru 40
7 H Solberg (Nor) Ford 22
7 F Duval (Bel) Ford 22
9 G Galli (Ita) Ford 17
10 M Wilson (GB) Ford 13

Manufacturers' championship standings:

1 Citroen 169pts
2 Ford 146
3 Subaru 87
4 Stobart 62
5 Munchis Ford 22
6 Suzuki 21

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