RALLY OF CATALUNYA

Loeb wins, Citroen clinch constructors world title

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, with Spanish teammate Dani Sordo in second place, assuring the constructors world title for Citroen on Sunday. In the driver's standings, Loeb is one point behind Finn rival Mikko Hirvonen with only one race to go.

Issued on: 04/10/2009 - 15:32Modified: 04/10/2009 - 23:17

Text by: NEWS WIRES

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AFP - Frenchman Sebastien Loeb took another step towards a sixth consecutive world rally championship title by winning the Rally of Spain, his sixth victory of the season, here on Sunday.

In finishing one-two, Loeb and Spaniard Dani Sordo assured the constructors world title for Citroen.

Loeb finished the weekend 12secs ahead of Citroen teammate Sordo, and a massive 54sec ahead of title rival Mikko Hirvonen of Finland.

Hirvonen, driving a Ford Focus, finished third to retain the championship lead but he now has only a one-point lead going into the 12th and final race at the Rally of Britain in Wales on October 23-25.

Hirvonen's presence has injected some much needed excitement into this year's championship and the Finn has pushed Loeb hard but with the race going right to the wire the Frenchman's experience could prove crucial.

Loeb looked to have closed to within one point of Hirvonen after winning the Rally of Australia in early September but the Finn was awarded the victory after stewards found that Loeb's Citroen anti-rollbars did not conform to FIA technical configurations.