MotorSportVoice - 2009

Sardinia was the setting for the latest round of the World Rally Championship. This event has seen some massive accidents in recent years, and has the ability to catch even the best drivers in the world out.

Sebastien Loeb's hope of taking a sixth rally victory in succession came to a grinding halt. The best the Frenchman could manage was 4th, whilst young Finnish ace Jari-Matti Latvala took his first victory of a very up-and-down season to-date. Loeb's team mate, Dani Sordo, started the first stage late, incurring a penalty which many believed was the start of tactics for road position. He vehemently denied this, and said there was a problem with his Citroen C4. Even if this had been tactical, it would be nothing compared to the end of the day performance from Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. Loeb stopped near the end of the stage, to allow himself to slip back down the leader board, giving him a better road position on day two. Hirvonen replied by slowing, but he didn't do enough. In a statement after the day, he admitted he had been caught out by the length of time Loeb had stopped for. Latvala did not take part in the games, and duly finished the day with a healthy advantage. The second day saw Latvala continue to extend his lead, despite some challenges from behind. Hirvonen moved clear in second after Loeb was penalised for entering a stage late, and then suffered a puncture. The final day saw Latvala close the rally out from team mate Hirvonen. Behind the Ford pair, Loeb and Petter Solberg were battling for third. On the road Loeb took the place, but was later penalised for an incident during the puncture on day two. As his car slowed to a stop, to allow the crew to change the wheel, his co-driver Daniel Elena removed his safety belts and opened the door before the car had come to a standstill. This is in breach of the regulations, and a two minute penalty was applied dropping him to fourth.

A whole host of tin-top action awaits next weekend. From a British point of view the BTCC heads to Cheshire for a three race package at Oulton Park. The WTCC moves to Valencia in Spain, and the Australian V8 Supercars is held at Symmons Plains near Launceston in Tasmania.