Repco New Zealand Rally 2008 Final Results: Win number 44 for Loeb as disaster strikes Ford

Posted by RallyScott 31 August, 2008

repconzblack Repco New Zealand Rally 2008 Final Results: Win number 44 for Loeb as disaster strikes Ford

Sebastien Loeb won a fascinating Rally New Zealand 2008 as M-Sport Ford suffered a calamitous final day. Loeb, who started the day in fourth after a spin on the day's first stage, profited as Latvala crashed (SS17) out after hitting a rock and Hirvonen punctured (SS17) losing 50s and a certain victory.

Rally NZ highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-yx3VBvI-w

Loeb's spin on the first stage Sunday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRxVGuy6Q1Q

Loeb's victory quotes:

This morning I had the spin and just wasn’t able to make up the gap to Mikko, I thought it was over and we’d lost the chance. But then it all changed and we were leading again. But this was really a difficult rally, changing all the time, with some strategy coming in too. I needed to win for sure, and that’s very nice, but I’m not happy for what happened to Mikko because he was doing really well and it was a good battle. But okay; it’s a race and these things happen sometimes. ”

Latvala's crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgs2InWca18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOryTTduAx8

Dani Sordo scored an excellent 2nd o/a giving Citroen a 1-2 result and moved up to third place in the drivers championship. Hirvonen was third and hugely disappointed but still feels he can win this rallies season as well as the championship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtzwDNY-qiU

Fourth was Petter Solberg in his Subaru but he wasn't happy with the car's performance over the weekend and feels much work is still to be done. Fifth was Urmo Aava in his PH-Sport Citroen as he begins to bag some much needed results after several crashes this year.

Francois Duval had been fifth but crashed out on Whaanga Coast to compound Ford's misery.

Duval's crash Rally NZ:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRBztfV4x00

Malcolm Wilson reflects on his worst day:

This is one of the most disappointing days that we've ever had. After being in commanding first and second places going into the last countryside stage, we certainly didn't expect to find ourselves with just third. I really feel for Mikko because he drove a faultless rally and showed he can take the fight to Loeb. Both he and Jari-Matti showed tremendous pace this weekend and we'll come back fighting."

Sixth and seventh went to Suzuki to score their best ever result and lift morale in the team. Villagra was eighth and Henning Solberg was 9th with perhaps the drive of the rally after losing 3mins on the first stage then went on to score 7 fastest stage times.

Martin Prokop scored his first PWRC win and 10th o/a to make up a bit for a pretty disasterous season so far.

PWRC Day 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qAlF8iJIJc

Mystery Creek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk-cLhPTM6c

Top Ten Rally New Zealand 2008 Standings:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 3hr 59mins 18.9secs M
2. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +00mins 17.5secs M
3. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 08 +00mins 41.5secs M
4. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2008+02mins 48.9secs M
5. Urmo Aava PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +03mins 30.7secs A8
6. P-G Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +07mins 37.4secs M
7. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +07mins 54.9secs M
8. Federico Villagra Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 +08mins 35.0secs M

9. Henning Solberg Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 +09mins 15.2secs M
10. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +13mins 49.0secs P

WRC Standings:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 86 points
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 78 points
3. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 51 points
4. Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 40 points
5. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 34 points
6. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 32 points

7. Henning Solberg Stobart/Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 22 points
8. Gigi Galli Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus WRC 17 points
9. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus WRC 12 points
10. Francois Duval Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus WRC 11 points

Manufacturers points:

1. Citroen Total WRT 141 points
2. BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT 121 points
3. Subaru WRT 74 points
4. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford RT 51 points
5. Munchi's Ford WRT 22 points
6. Suzuki WRT 20 points

PWRC Points:

1. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 30 points
2. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV 26 points
3. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 23 points
4. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 22 points
5. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 17 points